August Birthday. Repeat a grade?

I skipped a grade and graduated at 17. The disadvantages are mostly in the younger grades. It really wasn't a problem by high school.

ETA, I didn't play softball so I'm speaking more generally. But I can't imagine holding her back now would be helpful.

I think that whether or not she plays softball in college is the least important issue here.

As I had said she is not likely to do it and at her age that will always take precedence. She is always the youngest on her team and sometimes I think that hurts her that's all. Trust me I have her best interests at heart. It was a question of curiosity, that's all.

I realize softball is going to end long before her true career begins. She loves the game and wants to play in college and I'm just trying to map out a route to get her there that's all. Please don't judge This is not likely happening anyway but it was a thought I had knowing that many parents have done it in other sports that's all.

Maybe I'm wrong but it seems like after about 14U, the ages are really varied at every age group anyway. I'll see posts for 14U girls wanting to pick up for 14 or 16U, 16 year olds for 16U or 18U. It doesn't seem like it would really make any difference to me.

I feel your pain. DD is a 2005 very late August b-day. We do her party in the first half of September, since many kids are traveling the last weekend of August. Problem is she has more than a few September birthdate friends. We celebrate turning 10 and then she goes to their party for them turning 11.

It more irks DD to ALWAYS be a year younger but, fortunately, in her peer groups the one year doesn't really mean much - except for bragging rights.

She has it worse on her travel team since it is a 2004. Many of the kids are turning 12 while she is still 10...

Like mentioned above, at some point it will mean less and less. We either feel good because she plays as good as kids a year or two older, or we have a built in excuse when she comes up a little short.

My sister did this with my nephew when he was in 8th grade. Turned out to be a very good decision. Went from struggling in school and athletics to being a rockstar. But as others have said it is more typical with boys than girls.

beachball said:

OK I'm not sure if I'm even thinking of this as a possibility but wanted to get opinions anyway.

My daughter is a young high school freshman. I probably should have kept her out of school for another year in kindergarten but that is water under the bridge at this point. She is developing into a good player and I would suspect at some point pretty soon there may be some interest from colleges.

My question is this: Is there anyway to have her repeat a grade in high school to catch up with her peers in terms of age and development? Has anyone done this? I believe she is at a disadvantage as she will be 17 when she graduates and that extra year could make her more valuable as a player.

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TBH, I dont think its a great idea at this age, but I don't know you or your DD. Assuming she was on board and it made sense for her and your family, I would say you could probably do it if she transferred to a private school. It would probably be easier socially too than repeating in the same school. In NJ I believe there are only 4 years of varsity sports allowed so she would probably have to sit either this year or her last year (or one in between?). I'd check the rules on that.

Another thing I have seen is boys attending a prep school after graduation for one year to get bigger/stronger for college sports. But again, thats boys. Havent heard of it for girls.

She could work for a year and still play TB and then go to College.

goinglefty said:

TBH, I dont think its a great idea at this age, but I don't know you or your DD. Assuming she was on board and it made sense for her and your family, I would say you could probably do it if she transferred to a private school. It would probably be easier socially too than repeating in the same school. In NJ I believe there are only 4 years of varsity sports allowed so she would probably have to sit either this year or her last year (or one in between?). I'd check the rules on that.

Another thing I have seen is boys attending a prep school after graduation for one year to get bigger/stronger for college sports. But again, thats boys. Havent heard of it for girls.

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A good number of kids go PG in order to get into more selective schools. A PG year can better prepare them for the transition to college by focusing on developing academic study skills, efficient time management, concentrated SAT/ACT test prep in a somewhat controlled independent co-ed living environment.

canyonjoe said:

Unless there is an academic problem, I can't imaging the issues involved with repeating a grade would be worth the possibility of playing ball in college.

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I can't imagine that the education system would be onboard with this proposition either.