Is there really a difference “in age” for 16 year old to be in class with 15 year olds? It’s about physical maturation for an athlete, not some spiritual awakening or maturity growth. Also, if you repeat at on the Parisi type places you aren’t repeating the same thing. They actually do a lot of cool real world experiences like visiting banks, PT places, restaurants and learn real world stuff like balancing a checkbook.
Holding a kid back is a huge advantage because of the physical and mental maturity. That’s exactly why people do it. If there was no difference between a 15 and 16 year old or 17 and 18 year old nobody would bother reclassing. People will do anything to get a leg up on the competition. At the same time, if nobody did it you would have a level playing field but that’s never going to happen. It’s why wrestlers cut two weight-classes for major events. If all wrestlers just competed at their natural weights we wouldn’t have kids starving themselves and they could focus on wrestling instead of the scale. At this point, you almost have to hold back your kid just like a wrestler has to cut serious weight in order to compete. It’s unfortunate.
There is obviously an advantage or people wouldn’t do it. I was responding to someone who said it created some social awkwardness being a few months older than your classmates
I think it could impact a kid socially and may not be the best for high academic achievers, but the athletic advantage is unquestionable.
Note that the more parents do it, the less of an advantage it is. But -- more importantly -- Merry Christmas and (starting tonight) Happy Hanukkah.
