Savannah,
Little League required people to provide umpteen types of proof of birth if their birth certificates were registered more than 30 days after their birthdate. My son's was registered 31 days after his birth and we had to get things notarized, etc.. It wasn't cheap. This was in response to the Danny Almonte fiasco. It created a mess and they had to change it to a year after the date of birth. LL's track record with dates is not very good.
The reality is that those who were put at the greatest disadvantage were going to be the most aggressive about changing the rules. In a few years it will be the turn of the February, March, April parents to push through their change. At that point they'll probably go to the International standard.
Can't wait to see those 13 yrs 7 mos old kids playing in the LLWS as 12yo, throwing 80 mph at 46' and hitting with 200' fences using flex bats.
Where does 13 yrs 7 mos come from. Lets say your birthday is May 1st (the best possible position). It is true that you would be a 13-year-old plus 2 or maybe 3 months. The season is over by the end of July for tournament play. Actually, ours is over the end of June. So, The May kid would be 13 yrs. 2 months at most. Take another look at your math.
Oh, if they make it to the LLWS, yes it would be more. However, the kids from, say Panama, could be as old as 13 yrs. 9 mos. Their cutoff is Dec. 31. for the next year. We have always been on an unlevel playing field with kids from outside of the U.S. At least we are a little closer now.
Also, it hasn't changed in 60 years. I doubt it will change again for a long while.
Also, it hasn't changed in 60 years. I doubt it will change again for a long while.
Savannah,
I was extrapolating to a time when the international cutoff was used. Do they really allow the international teams to use the Dec. 31st cutoff date in LL?
I went through the ages of the kids from a couple of the foreign teams, Taipei and Curacao, and the players birthdates all fit within the July 31st cutoff date.
I was extrapolating to a time when the international cutoff was used. Do they really allow the international teams to use the Dec. 31st cutoff date in LL?
I went through the ages of the kids from a couple of the foreign teams, Taipei and Curacao, and the players birthdates all fit within the July 31st cutoff date.
This was the rationale used in the statement by Little League for their reason for chosing Dec. 31 (even though the date of April 30 was chosen). I am not involved with the Little League Baseball organization, however, like a lot of baseball programs, we follow their lead. It is possible that they have to go by U.S. rules when playing us. Again, I don't know, I am not a member or rep. for them.
Finally, my two cents; - Dec. 31 makes the most sense to me, however, April 30 is better than July 31. I don't really see the problem with December 31, but obviously there was one, because USA Baseball voted unanimously on it.
Lets don't get crazy about this. Baseball America's own stat's showed (123) MLB players with August birthdays, and (89) with July birthdays. -(thats not all that impressive a stat to me).
Finally, my two cents; - Dec. 31 makes the most sense to me, however, April 30 is better than July 31. I don't really see the problem with December 31, but obviously there was one, because USA Baseball voted unanimously on it.
Lets don't get crazy about this. Baseball America's own stat's showed (123) MLB players with August birthdays, and (89) with July birthdays. -(thats not all that impressive a stat to me).
I know my 2 cents aren't worth much but I am going to give it out anyways 
I really think any and all sports activities should be based on school age cutoff. These boys are going to be playing together when they hit the high school ages and there is always going to be the young players and the old players on the same team. There are always going to be the fatter kids and the skinnier kids. There are always going to be the taller kids and the shorter kids. Point being someone is always on the short end of the stick, whether by birthdate or by genetics and only one thing will eventually be in common ... they will be forced to play ball together when they are in High School.
If the reason LL changed their dates is because of international competition than force the other nations to comply with us (just like they will have to do when they are grown-ups on many other levels other than BB ... GO USA
)
None of this makes since to me but as I stated before ... my two cents is not worth much.
I really think any and all sports activities should be based on school age cutoff. These boys are going to be playing together when they hit the high school ages and there is always going to be the young players and the old players on the same team. There are always going to be the fatter kids and the skinnier kids. There are always going to be the taller kids and the shorter kids. Point being someone is always on the short end of the stick, whether by birthdate or by genetics and only one thing will eventually be in common ... they will be forced to play ball together when they are in High School.
If the reason LL changed their dates is because of international competition than force the other nations to comply with us (just like they will have to do when they are grown-ups on many other levels other than BB ... GO USA
)None of this makes since to me but as I stated before ... my two cents is not worth much.
I would agree if all schools had the same cutoff. That is why the July 31 started. It was the school year cutoff in Williamsport, Pa back in the early 1940's where Little League started. Again, I think Dec. 31 is the best/cleanest, but I can live with April 30.
Not directly related but since some people think that kids should play youth baseball according to their school grade and not their age I noticed that there was a 2008 who had showcased and done pretty well, topping out in the mid to high 80s. Of course when I looked a little closer I noticed he was born in 1988 and could have been a 2006. We have several kids who will be the same age as this freshman when they are juniors.
As long as everyone is playing by the same rules who cares? If that is why they changed it thats great. Why didnt they just make the internationals conform to our rules? But it doesnt make any difference as long as they are the same. As far as age in HS here in NC they can not be 19 before Oct of their Sr year. If parents are concerned about their son being young as a freshman just hold him back a grade before he enters HS. When my oldest was in the 7th grade he was struggling a little with the books and we made the decision to hold him back a year mostly so he could mature a little and catch up academically. It helped him out a great deal. He will turn 19 in June just after graduation. Ive had 17 yr old Srs and Ive had 19 yr old Srs. Some of the 17 yr old guys have been more mature than the 19 year old kids. Everyone situation is different.
The only people who are disadvantaged are those who believe they are disadvantaged.
Coach May,
It is darn hard to come up with a valid justification for holding back an honors student. We had our chance when ours wasn't really mature enough in first grade and should have held him back then. Too late now.
Personally I'd rather see HS sports be age based where kids could play HS ball from 15 through 18, with a December 31st cutoff, and even play after graduating HS if they weren't playing in college. If they were attending college but still playing HS ball they wouldn't lose a year of college athletic eligibility.
Not ever going to happen but that would level the playing field for everyone and not put anyone at a disadvantage because they were ahead or behind in school. That would also end the practice of holding kids back a couple years for football that is so prevalent in some states.
I think after all the controversy with Danny Almonte he may have ended up being a 16 or 17yo HS freshman and gaining a big advantage again.
It is darn hard to come up with a valid justification for holding back an honors student. We had our chance when ours wasn't really mature enough in first grade and should have held him back then. Too late now.
Personally I'd rather see HS sports be age based where kids could play HS ball from 15 through 18, with a December 31st cutoff, and even play after graduating HS if they weren't playing in college. If they were attending college but still playing HS ball they wouldn't lose a year of college athletic eligibility.
Not ever going to happen but that would level the playing field for everyone and not put anyone at a disadvantage because they were ahead or behind in school. That would also end the practice of holding kids back a couple years for football that is so prevalent in some states.
I think after all the controversy with Danny Almonte he may have ended up being a 16 or 17yo HS freshman and gaining a big advantage again.
Any date they select is arbritary and therefore the change is an illusion.
After all - the kid who misses the cut off by one day now, will be in the same position as the kid who missed the old cut off by one day.
Nothing has changed except which dates are the "good" birthdays vs. the "bad" birthdays.
Keep in mind some of those "good" birthday kids are late bloomers and some of those "bad" birthday kids mature early anyhow and it works out for many of them.
If you get a double whammy with the "bad" birthday and a late bloomer better plan on working twice as hard as everyone else. It may not be fair, but that's what it takes.
Do
After all - the kid who misses the cut off by one day now, will be in the same position as the kid who missed the old cut off by one day.
Nothing has changed except which dates are the "good" birthdays vs. the "bad" birthdays.
Keep in mind some of those "good" birthday kids are late bloomers and some of those "bad" birthday kids mature early anyhow and it works out for many of them.
If you get a double whammy with the "bad" birthday and a late bloomer better plan on working twice as hard as everyone else. It may not be fair, but that's what it takes.
Do
Hey, speaking of Danny Almonte; what has become of him? How long has it been now since he was 12....I mean 14......I mean 16, or whatever?
quote:Originally posted by Savannah:
Hey, speaking of Danny Almonte; what has become of him? How long has it been now since he was 12....I mean 14......I mean 16, or whatever?
I saw a mention of him on the web recently. He pitched very well for some HS in the U.S. last spring. Varsity pitcher at age 15 or 16.
I didnt hold my oldest son back because of sports. I did it because he was struggling a bit in the classroom and he was I thought a little immature. It did help him out on the football field because he was a year older as a senior a year bigger and stronger and more mature. It really helped him in the classroom. I would never have even thought about it if he was an honor student and mature for his age. It is a personal decision that is different for each family. As far as Almonte goes wasnt he 14 playing LL? There is a huge difference between a mature 14 yr old and a 12 year old. Not as much difference 17-19 as there is 12-14 in my opinion. What was he throwing 74-75 as a 14 yr old from 46'? Ive seen a ton of kids in AAU and Freshman in HS that could do that. It would be interesting to see what he is doing now.
Almonte did real well last spring winning the PSAL title game 4-0 vs a strong George Washington HS team-- he was overpowering that night at Shea Stadium
Coach May,
He'll be an 18yo junior this season. He's got from a one to two year advantage. As a freshman he had about a 6 to 8 mph advantage over the other freshman due to the age advantage. As a junior he has a 3 to 8 mph advantage over the other juniors due to the age difference.
Not as much difference at 17-19 but still a big difference. About 5 mph, not to mention much better command of the off speed stuff, for me between turning 17 and 19 and I stopped playing at 18.
His birthdate is currently listed as 4/7/87 so most kids his age would be fighting to make their college team. He's a junior in HS. He supposedly had an 84 mph fastball at 16 which is pretty good but still nothing special on the national level. My guess is he's topping out at about 87 or 88 now and projects to have a ml average fastball at best in the future. He's a lefty and got a lot of publicity so he may get a look.
As far a the kids go mine is an honor student but he is immature for his age in many ways.
He'll be an 18yo junior this season. He's got from a one to two year advantage. As a freshman he had about a 6 to 8 mph advantage over the other freshman due to the age advantage. As a junior he has a 3 to 8 mph advantage over the other juniors due to the age difference.
Not as much difference at 17-19 but still a big difference. About 5 mph, not to mention much better command of the off speed stuff, for me between turning 17 and 19 and I stopped playing at 18.
His birthdate is currently listed as 4/7/87 so most kids his age would be fighting to make their college team. He's a junior in HS. He supposedly had an 84 mph fastball at 16 which is pretty good but still nothing special on the national level. My guess is he's topping out at about 87 or 88 now and projects to have a ml average fastball at best in the future. He's a lefty and got a lot of publicity so he may get a look.
As far a the kids go mine is an honor student but he is immature for his age in many ways.
I know you don't want to hear this, but the kid has 100% chance of getting drafted. His name will pull in the crowds at any minor league field.
Hes 5'10 but yes he is left handed. Hes 87-88 and a Junior. Im sorry but here in NC he would be projected as a possible D-1 pitcher and alot would depend on what hes throwing as a senior. I had a lefty 6'4 210 6.5 60 time 92-93 with a nasty hook and change. Went in the last pick of the second round. People 5'10 160 87-88 that aint draft time yet baby. Long way to go. Ive got a freshman thats 5'10 170 85-87 15 years old. A soph thats 6'3 175 87-88 15 years old. There names are not Almonte so I guess you have not heard about them. Thats my problem with this whole thing. You would not know who is he and neither would I if he had not cheated those other 12 year olds out of a dream. Im not mad about it or bitter no skin off my back. Its just the facts.
Now that the youth baseball cutoff date is to change to the same as high school, (April 30) How has this changed your situation.
quote:Originally posted by Savannah:
Now that the youth baseball cutoff date is to change to the same as high school, (April 30) How has this changed your situation.
Our HS date is Oct 15th ....
I really don't see where any of these changes matter one drop.
Our school cutoff is August 31st.
My oldest has a September 19th birthdate. They were changing the cutoff from September 30th to August 31st about the time my oldest was starting Kindergarten. Since he had been in organized day care, I had a choice of starting him in Kindergarten or waiting a year. Due to being broke in those days, and at the recommendation of his day care teachers, I chose to send him on to Kindergarten.
As the years went on, I realized he was one of the youngest in his class, but didn't worry about it too much cause he was doing well and still was always the biggest in his class.
If had to do it over again, I would have kept him back cause now he would have still been a senior, still playing ball, and we would still have this year to work on getting to the next level. (Especially now that I know more due to HSBBW) (Although he is giving it one more shot this summer. He has his name on lists to try out for a couple of 18U travel teams this summer.)
My oldest has a September 19th birthdate. They were changing the cutoff from September 30th to August 31st about the time my oldest was starting Kindergarten. Since he had been in organized day care, I had a choice of starting him in Kindergarten or waiting a year. Due to being broke in those days, and at the recommendation of his day care teachers, I chose to send him on to Kindergarten.
As the years went on, I realized he was one of the youngest in his class, but didn't worry about it too much cause he was doing well and still was always the biggest in his class.
If had to do it over again, I would have kept him back cause now he would have still been a senior, still playing ball, and we would still have this year to work on getting to the next level. (Especially now that I know more due to HSBBW) (Although he is giving it one more shot this summer. He has his name on lists to try out for a couple of 18U travel teams this summer.)