[JMac]

I agree with much of what you say Basketballonlyfan. I think it would be good to have a kid either sit out when they stay back the same grade or have to play athletics with the grade they should be in the next year. (i.e. stay back in the 6th have to sit out or play with the 7th/8th. Stay back in the 8th have to play Freshman or sit out.) Eventually they catch up in high school, but it doesn't have quite the same effect at that point.

I also agree that holding a child back won't help with some types of maturity. It can help with physical and social maturity, but not in other types. I'm a believer that pecking orders are established early in school and mostly based on physical behaviors. Social maturity can go along way toward a child's development.

A big reason I agree with hold backs at a younger age is that I feel children are molded and build their base on life in the early grades. Given the cir***stances in many high schools, it can be too late to deal with it at that age and grade levels.

Thanks for the great input.