[Coach Howard]

I am a coach that has had parents hold my players back while they were in Middle School. They stated that they wished they had done it earlier but didn't realize it back when they were in the Elementary grades but now realize that their child needs it. I see no problem with it. Why whine about 14 year old kids when all parents have the option to hold their child back or not. Do you whine when your child is only 8 and playing against 12 year old kids in Little League? " those big ol' boys throw the ball way to fast and hard for my little 8 year old." Currently the rules are what they are, if you don't like competing against teams that have hold-backs get your school to start up an intramural program and then you can make your own rules. I would be willing to bet that there isn't one coach in the state of Ky. that hasn't had that one player in the past that hey knew deep down in that if they could keep them for just one more year they could teach/tutor that child a little more individually and know that it could make the difference in a possible scholarship down the road. Sure it sucks if your opponent has hold-backs and yours don't but that's just the way it is some years. I loved it when my school was basically the only one that had hold-backs in the Big Sandy but now it's pretty much common practice for my opponents to hold kids back and now that edge I had for a few years is shrinking and I have no problem with it. In the past I have spoken to some of those very coaches and told them they had to change the attitude in their areas because it really helps the high school programs and the kids, it's a win/win situation and it's within the rules. Now those coaches have their own hold-backs and they are reaping the benefits at the next level and are better preparing kids for not only high school but also college.