If you have a promising young athlete that shows potential, but is one of the youngest in their grade (May to August birthday,) would consider holding them back in 8th grade just for sports? Why? Why not?
Redshirting in Middle School?
- Thread starter JNreturns
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Only if you think they could go to college at a D1 or D2 level on an athletic scholarship. Also they may not be very happy about this decision during there senior year.
It depends on how old they will be their final season, if too old they would not be eligible to participate
Education is the only reason why I might hold one back, because they are struggling in school. If they are talented enough in sports college's will find them. If you hold one back in 8th grade because of athletics how would that child be emotionally knowing all their buddies went on and he has to repeat for what, because Mom and Dad are trying to live thru their child's success on the field.
The rule is if you reach 19 years of age prior to July 1, you will be ineligible the next school year. So I'm talking about someone born in May or June, July or August...typically, they turn 17 before their senior year. So if they were held back, they would be turning 18, and be eligible.
Or their mom and dad are broke, and they have a chance for a full ride? I think you underestimate the outlook of results oriented college coaches that want results asap.
Might as well redshirt them in kindergarten and just start them a year later
Maybe...but I have a child playing a sport in college and we have gone thru the college recruitment process twice now. Like I said college scouts will kick over a lot of rocks. If you can tell a kid is going to be good enough you are considering holding him back in 8th grade that talent will show thru when in high school.
My experience was...I was 17 as a Senior..got recruited 50% D1 and 50% D2. The offers kind of sucked--partials and the like. I went to a D1, and then my soph year, I had two school records...and I was getting a crap scholarship still at 50%. I think being young hurt me big time. BUT...if I was held back, would I have grown as much from the competition? In other words, maybe someone not held back is pushed to develop more than they would if they are held back.
There are a ton of kids these days that get the preK redshirt. Seems anyone born in the summer gets the automatic redshirt these days.
Being one of the older kids in elementary gets you huge advantages. Never start a kid early. Holding them back in middle school is something entirely different.
My dad for some reason was the same way he did not turn 16 until the summer before his senior year. We did hold back my first son his birthday is in July, my second son's birthday is in June, Dad said based on his experience it can be harder on boys socially once they get into high School just like you said driving and dating is hard and high school is hard enough anyways so why make it any harder, so we did do it based on his recommendation. But to do it in 8th grade you could socially outcast a kid if you ask me but hey what do I know.
That was very similar for my child, but she did have almost a full ride offer from a Juco, so I told her she could do that for 2 years and then look again those others would still be there. So she went there did really good, we started the recruiting process all over, funny thing some of those schools just offering 50% had now really come up, at one point we visited every school in one conference and they were all asking what the others were offering. She got a nice ride in the end.
My dad did the same thing. He skipped grades and was 16 when he graduated from high school. So he went to college with WWII vets that had come back and were already like 25-28 years old. He learned how to play cards from those guys.
Oh those good ole days. I have heard some stories from old timers who like you said when WWII ended came back and went to college what a different time back then. I know one guy locally who out of college was offered to play pro ball, he said back then he looked at the pay of a pro player versus going into his profession and it was not even close went into his profession. Back then college football really was used to get an education.
Redshirt in kindergarten.
School District wanted to push me ahead at a young age and parents said no for sports purposes. Parents wanted me to be one of the oldest and most developed kids in my grade.
Malcom Gladwell writes about this idea in Outliers.
School District wanted to push me ahead at a young age and parents said no for sports purposes. Parents wanted me to be one of the oldest and most developed kids in my grade.
Malcom Gladwell writes about this idea in Outliers.
Exactly. Teachers subconsciously expect more from and challenge the older kids in elementary because they are more mature.
Gladwell cited how kids born in certain months are more likely to be NHL players because when you dominate in your early years it snowballs.
After 21 years of teaching, my theory is to go ahead with females (they mature sooner mentally & physically) but hold the males back (they mature slower mentally & physically) Nothing like a an older & very mature 8th grade female sitting in class with a young and immature male. Not to mention academics (Males mature later) as well as Athletics. (Males mature later). Just my opinion and would be my suggestion if a parent were asking.
If your kid is younger when they start school and you want them to be one of the older kids when it comes to sports why not go to a prep school after they graduate... same concept except instead of playing against middle school kids they get to play against some of the better talent in the US and don't have to repeat 8th grade which would be embarrassing!
