| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| JoltinJoe |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 08:17:06
Hi Everyone, wanted to get your thoughts on how to handle the age cutoff. My son was born just after the age cutoff of May 1, he's 7 now, will be 8 in a few months. As a 6 year old he played with 7 year olds and this year as a 7 year old will be playing rec ball with 8 year olds. A lot of the 8 year olds he plays with are in the same grade as him. We'll be looking to get out of rec ball in the Fall. What do people do about this issue? Should he play 8 year old KP ball in the fall, or stay with his grade and play 9 year old?
Thanks for the opinions. |
| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| newkid |
Posted - 03/03/2012 : 06:33:30
At 7 it should be about fun!!!! No stress for your kid or the parents!!! |
| birdsofprey |
Posted - 03/02/2012 : 17:32:02
I think at that age its all about finding that love of the game and desire to continue to keep playing as many of the other posters have said. I think the point in which it becomes necessary to decide whether to play up or not will come more in the middle school ages, 13 or 14. Thats really the time where you can get a good comparison of how the kids stack up against each other talent wise. For the kids I helped coach, we suggested that starting at 13, if you are ready, then its beneficial to play one age group up. (13 play 14U, 14 play 15U, etc.)
To the poster who said that 16U tournaments are a waste of time for college coaches, I helped coach a team at a 15U event this past summer and there were a few scouts there, then at the 16U event there were droves of college coaches. Many of them are scouting for a year or two in the future. At the same time, if a kid is overmatched by playing against older kids, it could crush his confidence and you never want that. This blog post touches on this trend http://recruitingcycle.com/recruiting-trend-early-commits/ . For a 7-8 though, its all about just having fun and enjoying the game. |
| DecaturDad |
Posted - 03/02/2012 : 12:11:51
quote:
Originally posted by Triple
This just goes back to baseball should line up with the school year like it used to and like other sports do. Then this would be a non issue. Kids should play with their grade and age. Shouldn't matter if they were kept back in school. The school cut off is September 1st. Sports should line up accordingly.
Just FYI: Ice hockey goes by your birth year, not your grade. So baseball is not the only sport where the grades seperate. Not saying it is right... |
| TAZ980002 |
Posted - 03/02/2012 : 09:39:44
It's very simple really. Do what is best for your kid. Isn't it our job as parents to evaluate and determine the best path for our kids and teach them to eventually make good decisions on their own.
"Kids should play with their grade and age. Shouldn't matter if they were kept back in school." You're saying that it's OK for a June 1998 kid who has been held back to play 13u but a May 1998 kid who hasn't been held back should play 14u ?? Seems silly to say that. The guidelines are there in black and white - do what's best for your child. Eventually, if your kid has a May-August birthday and you haven't held him back in school, he will be forced to play with his classmates. Until then, let him have as much fun as possible on the ballfield. There are enough elements working against him keeping focus on baseball as he grows up (girls, jobs, competition, etc.), seems like it's best to do what you can to keep him interested in baseball. If that's playing with his classmates, then great. If it means playing with the kids he's been playing with since T-ball, that's great too.
JMHO |
| Steel-Will |
Posted - 03/02/2012 : 07:37:35
quote:
Originally posted by ripacad
Stinger1 is right on the money.....but as parents we all want our player "stand out", whether it be the newest bat that promises an extra 30 feet or the new pitching contraption that adds 10 mph to a fastball in 6 weeks.....if any of it worked we would buy it, do it or sign up for it. This website shows IMO some proof of what you should do.....look at last years 14u astros they spent many a birthday on the baseball diamond last summer.
http://sportsologist.com/birth-month-effect-on-baseball-players-part-i/
According to this similar study, age cutoffs have the potential to effect academic performance as well (see link below).
http://www.socialproblemindex.ualberta.ca/RelAgeMLB.pdf
Hmmmmmmmmm??????? |
| Triple |
Posted - 03/02/2012 : 00:56:58
This just goes back to baseball should line up with the school year like it used to and like other sports do. Then this would be a non issue. Kids should play with their grade and age. Shouldn't matter if they were kept back in school. The school cut off is September 1st. Sports should line up accordingly.
|
| Bigwhitevan |
Posted - 03/02/2012 : 00:32:07
Funny how that graph also can be seen as 8-10 months after new years there are more players born. Hmmmmmmmm. |
| baseballnutz |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 15:11:22
With the data used being from 1965 until present I'll bet that graph moves from August to May in the next 10-20 years with the greater % being born in May. |
| AllStar |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 14:43:57
quote:
Originally posted by ripacad
Stinger1 is right on the money.....but as parents we all want our player "stand out", whether it be the newest bat that promises an extra 30 feet or the new pitching contraption that adds 10 mph to a fastball in 6 weeks.....if any of it worked we would buy it, do it or sign up for it. This website shows IMO some proof of what you should do.....look at last years 14u astros they spent many a birthday on the baseball diamond last summer.
http://sportsologist.com/birth-month-effect-on-baseball-players-part-i/
Pretty sure there is a similar stat for the NHL. |
| ripacad |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 13:51:40
Stinger1 is right on the money.....but as parents we all want our player "stand out", whether it be the newest bat that promises an extra 30 feet or the new pitching contraption that adds 10 mph to a fastball in 6 weeks.....if any of it worked we would buy it, do it or sign up for it. This website shows IMO some proof of what you should do.....look at last years 14u astros they spent many a birthday on the baseball diamond last summer.
http://sportsologist.com/birth-month-effect-on-baseball-players-part-i/
|
| Stinger1 |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 10:47:42
A kid that small should have fun first. If he stands out and is better than his peers as he gets older - adjust then. This is a critical point for a young baseball player. If they are having fun - they are learning. If he is not having fun - he will not want to play. Mine are at the 9u major level and I still make sure they are having fun first. Without that you will not have a ball player... |
| Steel-Will |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 10:27:40
As with most stuff that has to do with baseball, there a never ending stream of opinions. I heard early that players should play with their graduating class as opposed to their age. For my son, that meant playing up an age.
It's worked out so far, not because that advice was inherently correct, but because of him and his makeup. It turned out he seems to relish in being the "youngster" on the team and likes the challenge of playing up in age, especially when his team plays up another age group, now he gets to compete against kids 2 years older. He feels that he has to play harder against the older kids and has had his best performance on the mound and at the plate playing up. This all adds up to making baseball fun for him.
You can have all the tactics and strategy from all the experts, but if they don't like playing baseball (if they aren't having fun in a meaningful way to them), it won't matter.
It's actually kind of funny to see a "newer" baseball parent with all the anguish, etc, etc vs. the experience parent/coach, calm, steady, relaxed letting the boys be kids and have a great time all the while learning the game.
As to 8u KP or 9u ball next fall I don't think it matters much.
We started KP at 7u which is probably a little early; maybe not. But regardless if you 1st do KP at 7u, 8u, or 9u, you should be pitching to him throughout. If you're doing that, enjoy CP and the exciting high scoring games and use the time to help him improve defensively.
Good luck with your season. |
| AllStar |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 09:34:56
Several of the kids on our HS JV team play in their age group despite the fact that they would need to play "up" to play against their grades, i.e. Sophomores playing 15, Freshman playing 14.
I think you would be hard pressed if you watched them practice or play, to identify which was which.
Pick the one that is the most fun for him. At all ages, but especially at the young ages. |
| gasbag |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 08:36:17
A lot of times parents have their kids play their grade vs. age at and early age and it backfires as it can erode their confidence "sometime". It's not as important at a younger ages until they get to high school and are forced to play by grade vs age. This is really what you need to prepare them for if they intend to play for their school team. You need to balance this as well with just plain old fashion fun and learning team work, comraderie and the fundamentals of the game. Too many have rushed through this portion of their childhood baseball so that the parents could brag about how they have the next "professional phenom" at the ripe old age of 7-13 or 14 only to find out that the parents removed the fun from the game by pressuring their kid. Seen it happen many times over through the years. My advice is to enjoy the moment as it will pass all to soon and don't look to far out in front of your ski's at the younger ages. |
| Bigwhitevan |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 22:05:18
Let him play where he has fun. Most likely you will move teams to kids you don't know so playing with friends becomes irrelevant. My son is in same situation. He plays 11u now his grade is 12u. But last year we played with 12u at end of season and he was competitive. Pitching well and hitting his first grand slam. Baseball right now is baseball. Have fun!! Learn learn learn. |
| TAZ980002 |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 17:15:51
Wherever he will have the most fun. You will have plenty of opportunities to move him to his grade age later. What's the rush ? |
| bballman |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 13:26:30
quote:
Originally posted by EastsideBB
Your child is only 7 years old. He may not want to play baseball at 12, 14, or 16. IMHO he should play at the level he is comfortable with right now or the level he can compete and have fun. When he reaches 12 or 14 and is still in baseball you can move him up then. My son was in the same sitution and he went from playing 14U to 16U and did very well. He can play 16U this summer but he is on a 17U team for this summer because he is a junior in HS.
I agree with Eastside. Right now it doesn't matter. Have him play where is going to enjoy it more. If it's with his friends that are up an age group and he can compete, let him play there. If it's with his present actual age group and that's where his skills fit, let him play there. Doesn't really matter until they are in the 17u age group, especially when you're talking about scouting. Once you get to your sophomore or junior year in HS, you should be playing with your class. Until then, keep him having fun and enjoying the game so that he is still playing when he reaches that age. |
| HITANDRUN |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 13:09:42
If he is good enough strong enough fast enough and big enough then let him play up. I will tell you if he is a stud at rec ball that means he will be average or slightly below average in travel most likely. Unless he can really pitch hard or has a great arm. |
| prestont |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 13:04:07
JoltinJoe - at his age, let him play with his friends.
|
| EastsideBB |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 11:16:04
Your child is only 7 years old. He may not want to play baseball at 12, 14, or 16. IMHO he should play at the level he is comfortable with right now or the level he can compete and have fun. When he reaches 12 or 14 and is still in baseball you can move him up then. My son was in the same sitution and he went from playing 14U to 16U and did very well. He can play 16U this summer but he is on a 17U team for this summer because he is a junior in HS. |
| Tribe |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 10:22:44
Agree with injunchief. If you don't start playing with your grade now, you may eventually be forced to jump an age group to catch up. Going 12U to 14U or 13U to 15U is quite a leap..play up... |
| sicemdawgs |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 10:13:15
It's a bit too early to worry about scouts, IMO. If he is good enough that playing 8u will bore or frustrate him I'd move him up to get some better competition and to face better pitching. The most important thing, though, is for him to have fun playing so if he has a lot of his friends in one division or the other I'd probably let him play with his friends. |
| injunchief2 |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 09:47:46
ALWAYS play your school grade !!
If you want your son to play ball in college, he needs to play where he will be scouted ... which is 17/U ball.
The scouts just don't have the time to watch a 16/U team with 3 juniors on it. |
