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[quote=Anonymous]Really depends on: 
-what sport 
-just how late to puberty he is 
-how fast they grow once they do hit puberty 
-expected eventual size 
-current body type- skinny, stocky etc

Both of my boys play/played baseball as a favorite sport and I can say that size and strength start to matter around 12U-13U, and at 14U size is more important that nearly any other attribute. To make or get playing time on any large HS team even as a freshman (even if it is JV) boys are generally expected to be through puberty and nearly fully grown.

My oldest was very late to puberty and was 5’3” 95lbs at 14. At 15 1/2 he is 5’10” 130 (grew 5 inches and 25lbs in the last 9mos alone) and is projected to be 6’1” (he had an endocrinologist work up with bone scans etc due to concerns our ped had about late puberty). He has surpassed many of the former  “big kids” in height but honestly it will be years before he fills out. Despite working with a trainer all summer, following a special diet etc. he really can’t put on weight. He made the JV team last year as a freshman but didn’t play much, and doesn’t intend to continue with baseball this year. He is just too far behind physically in terms of strength. If he had started to grow a year earlier or was of a stronger/bulkier build in general- it would be very different.

The earlier to puberty kids tend to get in the door early- best teams and coaching, pitch & play key positions etc-  and they tend to remain there. If they end up quite short (plenty do, sure)- they are moved to other defensive positions as long as they are strong and/or fast.

My rising 8th grade DS also plays baseball and is no giant at 5’7” 125 (and I don’t think he is going to end up as tall as his brother will be) but has hit puberty relatively on time if not early-ish. He is in a far different situation than his brother and will probably be in a good position for high school if he continues growing and developing. So even though I think he will be smaller in the end- it doesn’t really matter.

Note I am referencing making/earning playing time on  a high school team in this post- certainly not college recruiting or anything like that.

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