August Birthday. Repeat a grade?

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.

I know this happens on a regular basis with boys, but most girls are fully mature by 16, so not sure it would provide the same advantages that it does for males.

If she hasn’t played yet I would bet there is a chance, you need to look at your state rules. Football will have more information about it so you might want to focus your search on those rules.

IMO it would be a mistake.

Quincy thank you. I suspect you are right and I doubt she would go for it. She got a late start in softball, starting rec ball for the first time in April 2013. Wish I had a time machine, I would go back and start her at five years old with tee ball She has not played yet BTW we are in New Jersey.

Most states the clock starts ticking on eligibility once they start HS classes 4 years eligible. Add another year in there and her softball probably ends when she is 17 either way. Then add in the fact that most colleges are looking at players when they are younger then 17 and during the travel season, I'm not sure there is an advantage to be gained.

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.

Click to expand...

My DD will only be 17 when she graduates...will be playing in college DIII. Didn't hurt her. All through HS and college players will be older then your DD at sometime or another. Help her to be the best player that she possible can be and the rest will take care of itself. JMHO.

She has not played yet BTW we are in New Jersey.

Click to expand...

Can't help you there...

I had a question about the rules and sent the AD an Email, they answered right away.

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.

Click to expand...

Interesting....
My DD is a December birthday. At the time to start school, she was on intellectual par with the other 2000 kids, but she was small and a little more immature than the others, and missed the date cut off. Regardless, DW and I fought heard to keep her in the same grade as her friends and other birth year 2000 kids. In Texas, the age cut off to enter school was September 1st, but if you can enter 2nd grade at any age as long as the kid completes K and 1st successfully. We went so far as to complete private kindergarten and enrolled in private 1st grade with the plan to re-enter 2nd grade with the other kids. 1 day before beginning private 1st grade, we had cold feet and changed our minds and DD went to public kindergarten (again). Here we are 10 years later in 9th grade and we are so glad we didn't force the age issue any further. I couldn't imagine her being a sophomore right now. I'm already dreading the day she leaves home and so glad it won't happen one year sooner than it will now.

None of the above had anything to do with softball. DD plays travel with the 2000's and holds her own well, but what really matters is that she will ultimately be judged as a 2019 graduate and not a 2018.

Ironically, she went back into the private school system in 8th grade !

FWIW, DW and I were both 17 when we graduated.

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.

If your DD is not on board (and I can't imagine any teenage girl who would be), it's a moot point and non-starter anyway.