[Baller24]

What are the benifits and bad things from holding a middle schooler back?Whats your opinon?Heard from a few different familes of kid that could be held back this year.I am from NKY.So im talking about NKY Boys.

[vundy33]

I don't like it at all.

But it doesn't happen as much these days does it?

[Baller24]

Down south it does.Not much in NKY.only a few times in the past few years.

[EKYBubbaWatson]

Not a fan of holding kids back late especially in middle school. Gives kids a false sense of how good they are especially if the kid is matured quicker. But there is rules of how old you can and can't be and as long as those are abided by then I don't see too big a deal in it.

[OrangenowBlue]

I think recruiting is a much bigger issue then holding kids back. They at least cannot play high school ball the year they are held back.

[kai]

I am a fan. I think the benefits from maturity helps as much in academics as sports. I believe it happens more now than ever before.

[Gameman755]

I'm a fan of holding back. I believe that if the kid is serious and dedicated about the sport, then holding back is best to there benefit!!! And besides an extra year of education can't hurt a kid, can it????????

[ibldblue]

I'm a big fan of holding kids back, athletics is just a bonus to helping them out maturity wise.

[Mountain]

Leave it up to the kid

[Wildcat1]

I'm neither for nor against it....I know there can be benefits both ways. It did seem, however, a little "unfair" when my son as a 7th grade, 12-year old football player stepped onto the field and JC last year and heard the PA announcer wish one of the opposing 7th graders a happy 14th birthday.....

Additionally, holding back is VERY common throughout southeast KY I know....

[sprucepinetiger]

In Eastern Ky. holding back is like breathing. It's done at every school and in some cases for more than one year. I was never a fan of it, but a couple of years ago decided to hold my son back, and here's why. He was in 7th grade, 12 yrs old and playing against 14-16 yr old 7th and 8th graders! I held him back, not because of grades, maturity or anything that you hear people say they hold back for. It was simple as this, he could not physically compete with his peers. My son is a good sized kid, but you can just tell the physical difference between a 12 yr. old and a 15-16 yr. old. I now recommend it to anyone who is even thinking of it. Especially here in Eastern Ky. I know there's a few who haven't held back but they are strongly in the minority. Hope this helps.

[Trust Me]

I'm not in favor of holding a child back for athletic reasons. If I could, I'd push them forward a grade, rather than hold them back for athletics.

The way I see it, you're stealing a year of his life. Instead of graduating college and starting a career at 23, he'll be 24. Instead of working for 40 years and retiring at 63, he'll be 64. All for a year of high school glory? Or not? It's not worth it.

[Curveball 24]

I am for it! If a kid is born in August or September!!

Here is a question of mine!
What do you think about moving a kid up a grade because of academic excellence?
Then he or she wants to play sports! And They are way behind in the maturity of athletics!! I think this is crazy!!! I have seen it happen in some schools! I think this is just crazy!!! Thoughts???

[sstack]

I'm not in favor of holding a child back for athletic reasons. If I could, I'd push them forward a grade, rather than hold them back for athletics.

The way I see it, you're stealing a year of his life. Instead of graduating college and starting a career at 23, he'll be 24. Instead of working for 40 years and retiring at 63, he'll be 64. All for a year of high school glory? Or not? It's not worth it.

Started my daughter in kindergarden as a 4 year old for the reasons you listed. Blows my mind that people hold kids back for HS glory. My daughter has been playing varsity sports since 6th grade; a good athlete will be OK not being held back.My daughter grew a lot between 7th and 8th grade; Would it help to mature for a year, probably, but not worth it.

[Johnny_Ringo]

God I cant wait for my kids to start working. Nothing like getting up at 6 AM and going to work every morning. Playing sports is a waste of time. Nothing like working like a dog your whole life and dropping dead when your 55 or 60. I say kids are WAY TO YOUNG when they get out of high school. It takes them 2 to 3 years sometimes before they even figure out what they want to do when they do go to college. These so called smart kids you move up a few grades usually go to college to be what their mommies and daddies want them to be. Usually end up waking up at 21 and say screw mom and dad, I quit school. Believe I'll join the national guard for a year or two. Nothing wrong with the National Guard but thats 5 wasted years of college and National Guard. Now they are really starting school when they are 22 and 23. Got a kid by now of their own, going to school, and working at BP on the side. Nothing wrong with being 19 year old your Senior year. Start College when you are 20. Get out when you are 24 or 25. You are ready to do whatever you need to do. Retire from the State Police force when you are 45. Quit teaching school at 52. You could go into the Military for 20 years and start out really high on their pay scale. Get a job in the mines. WHO CARES. I LOVE SPORTS. I'd love to of had another year or two of high school.

[Curveball 24]

I think reality of life dont set in till your 24 or 25!!!

[BigVMan23]

I personally think holding back kids EXPRESSLY for athletics is ridiculous and should NOT be allowed by the school systems (though I don't know how they could stop it). And its a HUGE problem in some parts of the state and more or less sactioned by some schools. If a kid is doing well academically and socially, then I think as much harm than good can come from holding a kid back, and there would be no reason to do so anyway.

The issue then perpetuates itself by having everyone trying to "keep up with the jones'". One school starts keeping kids back, they start beating other area schools, so to compete other parents/schools start holding kids back (talking middle school here)...and so the circle goes and it feeds on itself.

I know there are many examples now of kids graduating just a few months shy of 20 yo simply becasue they were held back for athletics. Sorry, can't agree with that.

[warmachine]

Big V man everyone isn't 6'7-275 like u. Some need and extra year to grow. Lol

[ky playmaker]

I have talked to many people about the hold back issue. I have talked to alot of adults who was held back in school and have never had one say I wished my parents had not held me back but I have talked to alot that said boy I wished my parents would have held me back. parents choice really I guess

[Cat Daddy]

I have never been a fan of "holding a child back" once they have started school. I see nothing wrong with keeping a child at home an extra year and starting kindergarten when they are six.

[sstack]

I personally think holding back kids EXPRESSLY for athletics is ridiculous and should NOT be allowed by the school systems (though I don't know how they could stop it). And its a HUGE problem in some parts of the state and more or less sactioned by some schools. If a kid is doing well academically and socially, then I think as much harm than good can come from holding a kid back, and there would be no reason to do so anyway.

The issue then perpetuates itself by having everyone trying to "keep up with the jones'". One school starts keeping kids back, they start beating other area schools, so to compete other parents/schools start holding kids back (talking middle school here)...and so the circle goes and it feeds on itself.

I know there are many examples now of kids graduating just a few months shy of 20 yo simply becasue they were held back for athletics. Sorry, can't agree with that.

The areas that this is being done is usually the areas with the poorest State Testing Scores, this should tell you something! You do not see this happening in NKY.

[Stardust]

Hmm, I've never seen this conversation on the site before:eyeroll:

[BriarCreekBrave]

Regardless of whether you agree with it or not...Parents are doing what THEY think is in the best interest of the child. Granted some parents (mostly dads) live through their kids, but maturity is a funny thing, it comes early for some and later for others. To be on a level playing field, in academics, athletics, music or what ever, being older and more experienced is not a bad thing.

I held my daughter back and not my son....weird huh? Both were solid in the class room but my daughter started early and I did not want to send her off to college too soon so I held her back. It did not hurt her game either, but honestly that was not the goal. In hindsight I should have held my son back too, he was a little immature even at 18 and not ready for the responsibility of college and it cost me another 23,000 (and extra year of tuition) for him to get his college diploma, while my daughter is flying through with no problems.

I am favor (in a case by case basis) of holding back.

[Observing]

What are the benifits and bad things from holding a middle schooler back?Whats your opinon?Heard from a few different familes of kid that could be held back this year.I am from NKY.So im talking about NKY Boys.

While I think it is usually done with totally misplaced priorities,
the reality of it is, there are probably next to NO kids that
wouldn't benefit from another year of maturing before getting
out of high school.

If you're older than 30 and reading this, think of everyone
you know that's 25 and younger right now, and think about
how comfortable you'd be about them taking care of themselves
on their own? SCARY isn't it?

[catfanmd]

I am for holding back, and this thought started when I was in highschool during the early 80's. I played my senior year of football at 16 and then turned 17 in December. I was an above average football player, but I was 16 competing against 18-19 year olds. I wish my parents had held me back and because of that, I have now held my son back.

Also, similar to the man's son above, when I went to college as a 17 year old, the first semester was a bust, and I eventually retook all my classes.

When you ask for the negatives, normally the only negatives we here are from people complaining about their kids being at a disadvantage to the holdbacks. That is not a problem for our son, but a problem the other adults and their children have to deal with. The only thing close to a negative is the fact that our son will turn 18 during his junior year of highschool and considered an adult in the eyes of the law. I hope the childish, highschool pranks do not become an adult issue.

Our son is an exceptional athlete, and a straight A student. We tell him he is more likely to get an academic scholarship than an athletic scholarship.
Either way, the example I always use, whether you are competing for an academic or an athletic scholarship, and you have 100, 19 year olds and 100 18 year olds, and you have 25 scholarships available, would you rather be a 19 year old competing against 18 year olds, or an 18 year old competing against 19 year olds.

The person that states their son is playing against 16 year olds in middle school, is likely mistaken. The KHSAA rules state you have to be 18 on August 1st of your senior year. This would mean you would have to be 15 on August 1st of your freshman year. So if anyone is 16 in the 8th grade then they would be ineligible to compete as a senior in highschool, and would either have to go to prep school, or not play as a senior.

Of all the holdbacks I know, they will all be eligible for their senior years, which means as an 8th grader, they will be 14 on August 1st, then turn 15 at some point during their 8th grade year.

[rojas]

When I was in the 8th grade (a million years ago) the high school football coach approached me about "staying back" in 8th grade. I was all for it. However, my mother wouldn't hear of it. Looking back, it was the best move my mother could have made. I graduated college in 3 years and obtained a great job that would not have been there the following year. I was able to retire with full benefits at a young age due to beginning my career so young. This enabled me to start a new career in a profession I love.

Fast forward a few decades. There was talk of my son holding back after his 7th grade year. After much consideration we all decided against it. Again, it turned out to be a great move not to hold back. My son graduated from UK and got a fantastic engineering job with a great company. Who knows if that position would have been available if he was a year behind.

My nephew, on the other hand, repeated 7th grade. If not for repeating 7th grade he would have never been a 1st team all-state basketball player and had a great Sweet 16 experience.

There is no right or wrong answer. It depends on the kid, family and exactly how important athletics are in the long term. It's the highlight in some people's lives, while others it was only a footnote in a full life after high school and college. I don't see that it has any real value in academics. The kids are not getting an extra year of education. They are getting the same year of education twice.

[kai]

Poor test scores? What in the world does that have to do with anything? Vast majority of kids that hold back have excellent grades and test scores. I think this is one of the biggest benefits of the hold back year, graduate and go to college at 17, as I did, or be 18 turning 19, as my son will do. My son will be much better prepared the I was and in today society any edge he may gain is a plus.

[rojas]

Start College when you are 20. Get out when you are 24 or 25.

I can't imagine graduating college at 25. I graduated just after my 21st birthday and was 4 years into a great career by the time I was 25. To each his own I guess. Part of my motivation was that I was broke and from a low income family. I was in a big hurry to have a little money of my own.

[Observing]

I am for it! If a kid is born in August or September!!

Here is a question of mine!
What do you think about moving a kid up a grade because of academic excellence?
Then he or she wants to play sports! And They are way behind in the maturity of athletics!! I think this is crazy!!! I have seen it happen in some schools! I think this is just crazy!!! Thoughts???

Worrying about it's affect on athletics shouldn't be a high priority.
But here's what I'd say about it. DON'T do it. The intelligence
and academic performance may be advanced, but that does not
mean the maturity matches it. It may be tough keeping the kid
motivated and challenged in the classroom, but having a kid get
out of high school at 17 is a mistake for way over 99% of them.

[BigVMan23]

Big V man everyone isn't 6'7-275 like u. Some need and extra year to grow. Lol

Haha Well you got me there. However I will say that if I had been held back, it probably would have benefitied me somewhat athleticly, but not otherwise, and personally I would have hated it. And again, I'm saying I don't agree with holding back for the purpose of athletics, which is why it is being done the VAST majority of the time.

Someone posted that they wish they would have been held back as they had just turned 17 when they graduated. That I would have no problem with, in that situation the student is actually younger than the class average and maybe they don't fit in as well or lack some maturity and could use another year. But guys graduating when they are almost 20? Come on now.

Someone also said the reason it's being done in parts of KY is becasue of low grades/test scores. Nope...being done so little Johnny can grow another inch or put on 20 pounds and hopefully compete better in "X" sport. At least it's being done enough that its an issue, I know EVERY case isn't becasue of sports.