My first grader is really into sports and not getting a chance to shine due to his age

[Anonymous]

I don't understand the connection to people redshirting for school (which is what you seem to be saying in your OP) and sports cut-offs. Almost every sport is by birthdate (and it varies from sport to sport) not school grade. So yes, it stinks if your son is younger for their sports year, but there isn't anything that he can do about it except play his best.

[Anonymous]

Aren’t most sports (other than swimming) just by calendar year? The 2011’s, 2012’s, etc. ?

[Anonymous]

Teach him to enjoy the sport for the fun of it, not for the competition. You can tell him that because he's smaller/younger he's going to have to work harder to make various teams if you want -- nothing wrong with a little honesty -- but never let him think that this isn't "fair." Someone's always going to be more suited the sport/environment that they're in.

--signed, a figure skater who was too tall by age 10

[Anonymous]

He’s upset that he isn’t getting a chance to “shine?” This is a 7-year old. Is he having fun, making friends, learning the sport, learning how to be a good teammate? That’s what a 7-year old should be doing. I’m sad for this kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t most sports (other than swimming) just by calendar year? The 2011’s, 2012’s, etc. ?

Several sports, including AAU basketball, have an August 31 cutoff.
Rec sports are by solely grade where I live.

[Anonymous]

Are you complaining about school sports? If it really bothers you, put him in a travel sport that goes by birth year. 2014 only, 2013 only etc.

[Anonymous]

Many of the youngest kids are never going to shoot up or go through puberty first. My daughter is 30th percentile and will likely always be so looking at our genetics. As the absolute youngest in her grade and on most sports teams, she looks both smaller and younger. If she had a birthday a few weeks later she'd be the oldest on the team and look larger than at least 50% of her teammates. She'll never be the biggest, but she also wouldn't be the smallest.

It does stink. Life isn't fair.

Depending on the sport, it may not matter. IN a recent tournament, my son's soccer team got beat by a team of boys two years (U levels) lower. They were much smaller, but much better soccer players.

[Anonymous]

Switch to tennis.

[Anonymous]

Switch to tennis.

For a seven year old? My older (currently 8th grade) son plays seriously, and it is generally not a sport that little kids have the correct frustration tolerance to be good at yet.

[Anonymous]

Who cares. Teach some sportsmanship and resilience. It doesn’t matter if he wins or “shines.” There is always going to be an oldest and youngest kid on the team. No matter how you slice these age cutoffs, there will be kids with birthdays that fall extremely close to the cutoff at both ends.

Instead of trying to lessen the blows of his defeats and blame it on his age, teach him to have fun for the sake of participating and trying his best.

[Anonymous]

My 17 yo is one of the fastest in the state for swim despite being one of the youngest. If you’re talented, you’re talented. Teach him some resilience.

[Anonymous]

If your kid likes baseball, he has a lucky duck birthday for that May 1 cutoff. He will be able to play with kids a grade down from him, indefinitely. Big advantage actually.

[Anonymous]

Your SEVEN year old is not getting a chance to SHINE?! Give me a freaking break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think your kid is as good as you think, OP. Mine plays a travel sport is the youngest on every team he's been on, and always outshines everyone else, including kids who are 1-2 years older than him.

So glad traveling sport bragging mom showed up

[Anonymous]

OMG OP you are nuts. Your child is six. Get ahold of yourself.