quote:
Originally posted by fillsfan:
Like someone said they are competing against other same grade players for opportunities at the next level.
While there always will be guidelines, the idea is to have the best playing against the best. In HS freshman play against seniors in many cases if they are good enough. Why change it in the summer. I see the age rules as more important pre high school. Once they are of HS age and looking to be recruited, it really doesn’t matter to the top player or the recruiter what ages or graduating class they are playing against. How many times do we hear on this board,"Why is my freshamn not on varsity". Last summer on my 18u team I had a 2010 (Jr college freshman) whose age fit and played with us and received at least 8 D-1 offers and is now signed for his last 2 years. Conversely we had a 2013 that was good enough to play 18u and benefited in the recruiting process and playing in the 18u level and will soon be signed. A Big Ten team that came out to see the 2010 grad also really liked the 2013. Sure the bulk of the players were 2012 grads with some 2011’s, but to the college coaches coming out to recruit my players it did not matter and does not matter one bit. They were all playing against great competition.
In fact, most if not all of the college coaches liked the variety I did have on the team. It worked for them in the recruiting of several different graduating classes. Most of the tournaments are 17/18u anyway so even in that regard you have different grad classes playing against each other.
I guess from my perspective, what is the problem with the way it is now. If it’s not a problem for the coaches recruiting, and its not a problem for those playing, why is it a problem at all?