Yeah, this is kinda what I've been told. Privates and small schools that have one administrator over middle and high school, can have 8th graders play for the high school team. At our school the high school is connected to the middle school, but each has its own principal. This is the reason I've been given that our 8th graders can't play high school ball. Not sure the logic behind this "rule". TSSAA's by-laws do not cover this ....maybe its a school system rule?