IMO the softball season starts in the fall. So if your team ages out on Jan 1st and you have to move up to the next age bracket. IMO you are doing the kids a disservice by hanging around in the fall and playing and playing younger teams! I deffinately don't look at it as "playing up" for the teams that are actually going to be playing spring season in that age class. But I do look at it as playing down if your team ages out Jan 1st.
42's Dad,
I agree with you that it does a disservice to the players not going up in the fall. And it is "going up" because they are true to the calendar year. I also think that all 9th graders should play 16u or gold. But then again that is my opinion, I have a lot, but I don't make the rules. I only have say over my DD. It will drive you crazy worrying about what other teams do. Good luck in finding coaches who have a similar ideology (not sarcastically said). When you find it do everything in your power to keep it.