I find it strange when for example a stacked 13U team with all 8th graders with May and June birthdays get excited about how good they are when playing against teams made up of 13's that are in the 7th grade. They get a trophy and the manager gets a bigger ego. Many of these older 8th graders should be playing up with their classmates at the 14U level. I get excited when I see a team with "normal" size kids who play the game well and sometimes beat these stacked teams.

You see it all the time - these huge kids who are physically bigger and stronger playing against younger players half their size - for what? And why the managers get so excited is beyond me. If I am coaching and I have a team that is bigger and stronger than my opponent what fun is it if I win all the time. You have the biggest/strongest players - you should win! Play against similar or better competition at every opportunity. Never play down IMHO.

Hey warningtrack,

I think you just hit my button. We see the same thing at U12. How hard is it for a 150 lb. 12 y.o. 7th grader to go yard with a 210 foot fence? There are teams out here who specifically draft only kids with May and June birthdays. I would sure expect them to be able to beat a team with a bunch of kids with March and April birthdays too.

I just love it when a bunch of 95 lb. 6th graders take it to those 7th graders. I love it even more when they find out it was a 6th grade pitcher that only gave up a couple of hits the entire game

There are a lot of kids that bloom early who will get a large dose of reality about the time they turn 16 and those small kids are now the same size running rings around them because they had to work so much harder when they were younger.


Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Bill L.:
Hey warningtrack,

I think you just hit my button. We see the same thing at U12. How hard is it for a 150 lb. 12 y.o. 7th grader to go yard with a 210 foot fence? There are teams out here who specifically draft only kids with May and June birthdays. I would sure expect them to be able to beat a team with a bunch of kids with March and April birthdays too.

I just love it when a bunch of 95 lb. 6th graders take it to those 7th graders. I love it even more when they find out it was a 6th grade pitcher that only gave up a couple of hits the entire game

There are a lot of kids that bloom early who will get a large dose of reality about the time they turn 16 and those small kids are now the same size running rings around them because they had to work so much harder when they were younger.


Bill

I think you and warningtrack have muddied several points here. Is this a discussion about age, grade, or ability. In my case, I have a (recently graduated 6th grader) who's 12 with an October birthday. He clocks in at 5'9" and 140, thus he's both "physically stronger and bigger" as well as "younger". Thus, your arguments are not that simple.

My conclusion... play to their ability where they are challenged, but not overwhelmed.