Sports and age restrictions
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Anonymous
| My son is on a basketball team. There is a birthday cut off for the team so when a child has a birthday he ages up to the next team if applicable. For example, kids who as 7-8 play with that team but upon the 9th birthday, they age up to the next team. This is the leagues rules, not the team's rules. Our coach is allowing kids who age out to remain. These kids are competing against other teams who are probably following the rules. Even though our team is doing great, ifeelthis is wrong and not fully deserved. Should I say something? I don't want my kid ostracized if I do... |
Anonymous
|
They age up mid-season? I've never heard of anything like that. If that's what is supposed to happen it sounds very disruptive.
But I have held my younger kid back a year in a lower league. He needed additional help with skills. Unless your kid is playing in a very competitive league, I wouldn't worry about strict age compliance. |
Anonymous
| I am not sure how I'd feel about my age appropriate kid playing against a kid who was supposed to age up. Are they keeping them in so that their team is better - i.e. bigger and better players unfairly playing against smaller and less experienced players? If so, that isn't right - isn't that teaching that you win at all costs? Breaking the rules is okay? It might make an otherwise good age-appropriate player appear moderate when compared to players who don't belong there due to aging up. |
Anonymous
| I'm surprised it doesn't show up in the league's system. In soccer we have player cards that need to be produced at each game to make sure that every kid is carded and rostered to the team. We have to produce proof of age to get the player cards. You can play up a year but never down a year. The age cut off is in the summer so that kids can play on the same team for the whole soccer year/school year. So yes it's unfair. And the games could all be forfeited if another team complains. I've seen this happen - one team lost nearly its whole season of results because they were using a player who was carded to another travel team. He was basically a ringer. The rules are supposed to prevent this kind of unfair advantage, which is what your team theoretically has. |
Anonymous
| Would you anonymously report this, talk to the coach privately or report it to the league? |
Anonymous
True of travel soccer but not rec level soccer. I also have never heard of the kids aging up mid season. I can't picture how that works without being super disruptive. If the kids are less than a year older I wouldnt think it would be a big deal, but when you start getting kids who are almost 2 years older playing down that doesn't seem fair. |
Anonymous
This happens with swim sometimes. If NVLS finds out, the team is reprimanded. I also don't think it is good for anyone. My cousin did this with his son - football though. She felt it was more important to be a big fish in a little pond than to age the kid up. I thought it was disgraceful. (This kid turned 13...so he certainly knew he was being held back and why). Oh - and he was 6'2" playing with kids under 12. It was ridiculous. But boy was he great. 
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Anonymous
| Coach is cheating and should be banned from coaching. |
Anonymous
| I also can't imagine you understand the rules correctly. Age up in the middle of the season? Don't believe it..... |