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Another TSSAA rule that should be changed


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It`s ironic but this rule actually seems to benefit private schools more than public, but nonetheless in my quest of political correctness and a desired level playing field LOL!! /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> here is a rule that makes absolutely no sense at all regardless of which side of the fence you reside. It`s the rule that allows 8th graders to participate with the high school as long as the middle school/junior high of the school reside under the same roof. At least I think how it is worded. Please correct me if I have it wrong.

 

But why on earth in our infinite quest for fairness and our everlasting search for that "level playing field" would we ever allow some high schools to bring up middle schoolers early to get high school experience or playing time?

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It`s ironic but this rule actually seems to benefit private schools more than public, but nonetheless in my quest of political correctness and a desired level playing field LOL!! /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> here is a rule that makes absolutely no sense at all regardless of which side of the fence you reside. It`s the rule that allows 8th graders to participate with the high school as long as the middle school/junior high of the school reside under the same roof. At least I think how it is worded. Please correct me if I have it wrong.

 

But why on earth in our infinite quest for fairness and our everlasting search for that "level playing field" would we ever allow some high schools to bring up middle schoolers early to get high school experience or playing time?

 

 

I tend to agree...and my daughter did it. Our school is no longer able to do so. It should be the same for all.

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It`s ironic but this rule actually seems to benefit private schools more than public, but nonetheless in my quest of political correctness and a desired level playing field LOL!! /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> here is a rule that makes absolutely no sense at all regardless of which side of the fence you reside. It`s the rule that allows 8th graders to participate with the high school as long as the middle school/junior high of the school reside under the same roof. At least I think how it is worded. Please correct me if I have it wrong.

 

But why on earth in our infinite quest for fairness and our everlasting search for that "level playing field" would we ever allow some high schools to bring up middle schoolers early to get high school experience or playing time?

 

I can somewhat see the point of the rule. For example if you have a very small school, you may need to supplement your roster with 8th graders. However, you are correct that this rule does benefit private schools more than public schools.

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I can somewhat see the point of the rule. For example if you have a very small school, you may need to supplement your roster with 8th graders. However, you are correct that this rule does benefit private schools more than public schools.

 

 

There are very few 8th graders ready to play anyway.

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I had an 8th grader that started for me at shortstop last year in AA baseball. He was the best one I had for the position.

 

 

There`s no doubt that there are 8th graders around that can contribute to a high school team, especially at smaller schools. But my point was that this whole public/private debate has been pretty much centered around the complaint that playing field is not level. Yet here is a rule that just sits out there with very little attention. Yet if people were truthful about trying to level the playing field then this rule would never exist.

 

Basically it allows kids from some schools to have five years of high school athletic experience. It allows their athletes to have an extra year in a structured weight lifting program. It allows football players an extra year of learning the system. But it doesn`t allow other schools to have the same luxury.

 

People can argue all day about whether the public/private thing creates an unlevel playing field but with this rule there is no doubt that it creates an advantage for some. The TSSAA just ban 8th graders altogether from high school sports.

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There`s no doubt that there are 8th graders around that can contribute to a high school team, especially at smaller schools. But my point was that this whole public/private debate has been pretty much centered around the complaint that playing field is not level. Yet here is a rule that just sits out there with very little attention. Yet if people were truthful about trying to level the playing field then this rule would never exist.

 

Basically it allows kids from some schools to have five years of high school athletic experience. It allows their athletes to have an extra year in a structured weight lifting program. It allows football players an extra year of learning the system. But it doesn`t allow other schools to have the same luxury.

 

People can argue all day about whether the public/private thing creates an unlevel playing field but with this rule there is no doubt that it creates an advantage for some. The TSSAA just ban 8th graders altogether from high school sports.

 

 

I know things have changed over the last 20 years, yet does anyone ever remember an 8th grader actually good enough to play back then.

A lot of the times....especially around here, in the modern times of Magnet schools and Privates, most of the local 8th grade standouts are "hold backs" that will turn 19 the second day of their Senior year. Not saying that is the case with all, yet I know this of some. Back in the old days, you started school based on whether or not you were old enough to start, regardless of athletics.

 

As for this being an advantage for the Privates, in our area, I do not recall any 8th grade contributors that were not at a Private school over the last few years. We are a Baseball Strong Private and seem to always have an 8th grade phenom or two play varsity and contribute, whether they have been there since the beginning or just showed up in the 8th grade. Not saying it is right or not........just the way it has been.

 

From what I see......this puts a tremendous pressure on these specific 8th grade atheletes. If you are good enough to play in the 8th grade...there are sometimes very high expectations placed which are not always fullfilled. I have seen some go from being the talk of the town to hardly mentioned due to the simple fact they Peaked early and did not mature as expected. Like it or not.....these are still kids.

 

I agree that this rule should be changed. Not only for the obvious advantage to for the Privates but for good of the kids as well. For those "glory day" parents that insist their child is good enough in the 8th grade and should play varsity high school atheletics I would simply ask if they achieved the same goal when they were 14?

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There was a time when the Mt. Juliet 9th (yes, ninth) graders were housed at the junior high - and unable to participate in high school varsity athletics. If I'm not mistaken, a student could be picked up and transported to attend a class on the high school campus to be varsity eligible ... but that meant having transportation every day and that was a LONG time ago. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> I don't remember anyone ever doing that though.

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There`s no doubt that there are 8th graders around that can contribute to a high school team, especially at smaller schools. But my point was that this whole public/private debate has been pretty much centered around the complaint that playing field is not level. Yet here is a rule that just sits out there with very little attention. Yet if people were truthful about trying to level the playing field then this rule would never exist.

 

Basically it allows kids from some schools to have five years of high school athletic experience. It allows their athletes to have an extra year in a structured weight lifting program. It allows football players an extra year of learning the system. But it doesn`t allow other schools to have the same luxury.

 

People can argue all day about whether the public/private thing creates an unlevel playing field but with this rule there is no doubt that it creates an advantage for some. The TSSAA just ban 8th graders altogether from high school sports.

 

 

 

We are one of the public schools that have 7th and 8th grade in the same building. Our 8th graders do not play varsity in the fall while they are in the 8th grade but they are able to participate in spring practice in May. They don't get reps with the first or second team but they do get some work in fundamentals. Being part of spring gets them used to varsity ball but even as 9th graders very rarely do they get to contribute except in mop-up duty. I think the impact of 8th graders being allowed to play varsity is very, very small in all but the smallest schools. I think having a good middle school program helps a whole lot more. I would be willing to bet that very few (if any) schools actually have 8th graders participating during the fall football season.

 

BTW the 7th and 8th graders can lift weights at any school. No rule prohibits that. Even in baseball our MS coaches have them lifting

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