[barrel]

This argument will never end! Holdbacks arent going anywhere! There are bright spots to each argument. It is not an unfair advantage to hold a kid back because every school can do it! Anytime someone loses to a team that has holdbacks, they blame it on that. Well the rules say 15 before august first for 8th grade and 14 before august first for 7th, so as long as you arent 15/14 before august first you are legal. The same rules apply to high school except it is 19.

Those of you who have your kid in the 8th grade at 12-13 that is your choice. Are there huge differences in a 15 and 13 year old? Of course!!! There are still big differences between a 17-19 year old, although I agree it is not as significant.

Ok you state there is a huge difference between a 15 and 13 year old but you also state that it is not an unfair advantage. The fact is not in every district are you allowed to be held back and still play sports. Its a district by district thing.

I'll compare it to private schools. Ask the teams that have to compete with private schools if they think it is a level playing field.