Rec League Question on Age

[IACoach]

So we are reviewing our rules for this coming rec season. Currently we are grade based with 4 divisions.
A - 6th & 7th grade
B - 4th & 5th
C - 2nd & 3rd
D - K and 1st

Current rule is you can't play up a grade without board approval - which creates problems. We are considering making it a hard rule - no playing up. Looking for a little feedback from DFP - Does your rec league hold to age/grade guidlines or do you allow playing up?

Thanks!!

 

[JoeSoftball]

We follow the ASA age groups (8U - 14U) for our rec program. Since some of the girls will show more skill at different ages, we allow players to move up but do not force it. Some of them start playing for travel teams and begin to outplay the girls their own age. In some cases, it is safer for them to play with the right skill level.

Just don't take the parents word on skill...it should be approved by the previous coach or during an evaluation.

Good luck.

 

[CLM265]

We don't want to dilute the next level up with less quality players but there are times when a player should play up if it's really obvious. It can be a safety issue in that a year round player will most likely throw/hit the ball harder than a younger rec player can handle. It doesn't do either player any good. It holds back the polished player and intimidates the less experienced player who might get hurt.

 

[Axe]

We use the ASA ages as well but its not necessarily better because you split school grades. Its just a widely accepted way to do it.

I think you need an evaluation process to determine playing up. It creates issues in the higher and lower league when kids start playing up and its important to make sure its the right fit. They should really only play up when they've clearly outgrown their current league physically or from a skill standpoint. Every case is unique.

Any decent player from a lower league should be able to be an adequate in a higher league, that's why the bar should be set high to determine who's really ready to play up. You will get grief from parents who get turned down and may lose some but the job is to protect the league also.,

 

[Sweet Lou]

We do age based not grade based.

We allow playing up but player must attend a tryout to see if it is appropriate for her to play up.

 

[canyonjoe]

Most leagues I know allow you to play up. I even played in one that would let an unskilled player play down.
I like the age based better than school grade. Some kids go to school early or ski grade. Others go late or repeat. Age is much more common.

 

[Axe]

We encourage beginners or less skilled players to play down. Finding the right skill level is more important than age.

 

[Eric F]

We follow the ASA age groups (8U - 14U) for our rec program. Since some of the girls will show more skill at different ages, we allow players to move up but do not force it. Some of them start playing for travel teams and begin to outplay the girls their own age. In some cases, it is safer for them to play with the right skill level.

Just don't take the parents word on skill...it should be approved by the previous coach or during an evaluation.

Good luck.

This ^

We have one girl in our league who can technically still play 8U because her birthday is 5 days after the cutoff date. For our draft, she was ranked as the 3rd-best player at the 10U level. Having her play in 8U would be a waste of her skill level, and a very possible danger to a majority of the 8U players.

Thankfully, this girl is on my DD's team!

 

[JJsqueeze]

what everyone else said with an emphasis on age based instead of grade based. There are a variety of reasons why grade based could lead to some imbalances. keeping it age based prevents these, or at least minimizes them.

 

[starsnuffer]

Age and grade are not a good way to balance out players, but it's a start. Most rec leagues are small enough so that the individual needs of every player can addressed and exceptions made where needed. This includes playing up and playing down.

-W