We have a winner!doubleplay643 wrote:Not that this is exclusive to Ironton or Burg, but I think becoming prevalent in a lot of communities, and that is the practice of "red-shirting" kids. 19 year old seniors is pretty commonplace now. I know an 8th grader that will be 15 before end of school this year and seems to be alot of freshman with drivers licenses around. Seems every parent trying to get an edge for "little Johnny" and starting him/her in kindergarten when they are 6+ or waiting to middle school and holding them at 6th/7th grade years.
When you have 19 year olds playing against 17 year olds it is a huge difference. The physical and mental maturity of just one or two years is huge when kids are that age. I know one of the schools mentioned in this thread did have, and I think still does have, Pre-Kindergarten and Pre-1st. With those you don't even have to 'hold back' a kid. Also, there are exceptions to the rules of being 19, there have been kids playing their senior year at age 20 during football season in recent history.
Now don't get me wrong I'm not saying there is a thing wrong with this, in fact maybe other schools should follow suit. Also, don't think it is a coincidence that wheelersburg routinely has some of the highest academic ratings in the area. That extra year or two of maturity is huge on the field and in the classroom.
