is 80 really 80?

I think you already know the answer to the question.

Playing up is always good, unless a player is overpowered and gets disillusioned, demotivated, etc.

The only time I would recommend not playing up is on a scout or team playing in showcase events where scouts/coaches are looking to fill out a roster that is almost complete. I.E. 18u vs 17u.

That's what I was thinking, but why would he try and convince me otherwise? odd.

I would be more concerned about the conversations in the dugout a fourteen year old is exposed to than the pitching. Yes, I heard conversations in a girl’s 18u Gold (15-18yo) dugout that curled my ears. But adult males would be worse.

Agree with @BOF. Playing up is good for all the reasons you described. The only  time it might not be advisable is a 17U playing 18U - if he hasn’t been recruited. College coaches recruit 17U players but rarely watch 18U looking for players. As for your friend, he isn’t giving you good advice. But getting bad advice from other baseball parents isn’t unusual.

Thanks, I will continue to have him play then.

The biggest thing I've seen freshman struggle with is trying to hit varsity pitching. I've seen D1 committed freshman after D1 committed freshman get thrown into a varsity lineup and hit .220. A lot of these kids never played up. As I'm typing this I can only think of one D1 committed freshman who did well over my son's 4 years of HS. This year as a sophomore that kid hit .550 with 5HR against elite arms.

So this guy you talked to, wouldn't happen to own a travel ball program, would he?  ;-)

Worst thing to happen to youth baseball is the age based team structure, as has been said by others, it's a business model, not a baseball development model.  Same thing with the all games no practice time model.  Before this age level stuff,  Even when you weren't playing with an "elite" team, at least you had older kids who could throw harder and play better than you could at the time.  You get better by who you play and practice with more than who you play against. (outside of seeing better pitching when you hit, but that used to be handled by facing the older kids on the other team, because the younger kids didn't typically pitch)

I'm kind of concerned by what you said:

He mentioned a kid who is really good that is going to either be drafted or go to a great college and this other kid who is committed but will be drafted both play in their age group.  My argument to him was, yes, but these kids are playing against 14u

Predicting what will happen to 14U kids tells you something right there.

@HSDad22 said something that is absolutely true and  lot of people just don’t realize it:

”the age based structure to youth baseball is a business model and not a baseball development model.”

I will take it a step farther. EVERYTHING about youth baseball is a business model. Showcases, travel ball tournaments, rankings, scouting services, etc. are ALL business models that the public has bought into hook, line & sinker. Everyone is getting taken for a ride. I got into a disagreement with a neighborhood friend a few days ago. Her contention was that her daughter needed to drop all other sports and play year round soccer so she doesn’t fall behind. She continued to say that it was her daughter’s decision and that I didn’t understand modern day youth sports. I got up and left. Oh, by the way, her daughter is seven years old.

adbono, excellent point.  Thanks for everyone's input.  Reaffirms what I was thinking but he had me questioning myself.  Makes a lot of sense about the whole age structure too. Purely a business model.  a way to get more kids involved too (but at a lesser talent)

Makes me sad to hear that someone is putting those expectations on a 14 year old. I have seen first hand how devastating that can be if it doesn't work out.

My son played up on his local team for 7 years. Every fall they played up an age level or two which mean as a 13/14 year old he played against 16/17 year olds. He had the talent and size to not be overmatched but it definitely challenged him and prepared him for HS and beyond. He played on age for the big summer tournaments in HS for prior to his sophomore-senior years.

If you can play with older player, it is great preparation for what's next.

P.S. for the most part, the guys knew he was younger and treated him like a little brother. I don't want to know what he learned in the dugout but that's part of life too.

Agree with above if it's challenging and the team is supporting him, play up.

At some point, if they have the skill, they have to play up. (Fresh/Soph in HS/Fresh in college)

Thanks, pt.  Son has the size (6’1), needs to add muscle (155) which I am sure he will.  But he holds his own.  The older kids like him (based on my observations) and I have seen them try and help him.  And most importantly, he absolutely loves it.  Is having the most fun playing in this league versus his summer team or the colt (jv) league.

Absolutely let him keep playing.  Never understood playing "with your age" if you are able to play with kids older than you.  HS freshmen are competing for spots against HS seniors.  College freshmen are competing against 23 or 24 year olds in some cases.  It sounds like  he is at least holding his own and isn't completely overmatched....so there's no reason not to play.  Also the fact that the coach is the HS varsity coach is even better.  The coach obviously has seen something in your son or he wouldn't have asked him to play.

@Dadof3 posted:

That's what I was thinking, but why would he try and convince me otherwise? odd.

One very important thing I’ve learned is to never ever listen to advice from local friends or other travel ball Dads unless they are MLB affiliated or former pros.  And even then, get second opinions

Most of the travel ball Dads you meet are about as clueless about Baseball as a newborn baby, and are mostly looking for affirmations to ease their insecurities about their own kids

(with the exception of most of the people on this site.  I’m talking about the average Joe travel ball Dads you meet along the way on your kid’s teams or at tournaments)

Late to the party on this one, but if your HS varsity coach is asking your son to fill in on his summer adult team is there really a choice?