[single shot]

I agree 100% BlackcatAlum. There's a slight advantage at the grade school level and an even slighter one at the Middle School level, in my opinion. But once you get to high school I don't see an advantage whatsoever. For one, 80% or more of the starters are juniors and seniors. Another is that what freshman and sophomores that do start usually make up for the little difference there is in age with their athletic ability or they wouldn't be starting.

People that do have a problem with hold backs are just using it as somewhat of an excuse, I'll be honest.

Here's an example. Say there were no hold backs. Everybody on the field are in the grade they should be in. You still have starting freshman and sophomores out there going up against seniors on the opposing teams that's 2 plus years older. Do some of you that have a problem with hold backs have a problem with this as well? I mean what's the difference?

Fact of the matter is there is no difference. Just something to complain about. And here is why I think people complain about it. You take programs like Belfry and Johnson Central, I'll use them because that's who this guy that started the thread is talking about. They want to blame their success on illegal players. They get tired, year in and year out, of taking the losses to these type programs and have no other answer other than they have to be cheating or playing kids old enough to buy alcohol. When the answer is simple.

These programs start grooming their players at a very young age. Preparing them on how the high school team does it long before they get there. It's not a 10-12 month age advantage. It's the system. The programs with winning traditions have a very successful feeder program.

Belfry football players don't start learning how Coach Heywood wants things done their Freshman year. Coach Danny Oliver has already implemented the system into these kids in the 7th and 8th grade before they even get to high school. By the time Coach Heywood gets these kids, they already know his playbook and system, he just has to trim off the rough edges. This is why these programs are successful. Not because a couple kids are a few months older than some of the others. Like I said, in my opinion, there is no advantage only excuses. You dont ever here winning programs parents complaining when their kid, that wasn't held back, is out there going up against kids that was held back do you? There's a reason. It's because they play in a system that has taught them how to go out and play against athletes that are bigger and older than they are. It's taught them how to win. And it's also taught them that when you do lose, it's not because the guy across from you is older, it's because he was better. It also teaches them to not make excuses. Be honest, 99% of the crying is coming from Mommy and Daddy's not the players anyway. Lol! Some of you parents need to stop making excuses for your kids, your only hurting them.

Yep, this everyone gets a trophy epidemic is destroying kids...I never could make the basketball team in middle school and the ole man didn’t pamper me, asked me what I expected, the coach wasn’t blind that I was about as athletic as a cow on ice...:Sad04: