Track In CC

[Ball Coach]

orangewashed said:

Just like in basketball and football, the track team is loaded with what should be 9th graders participating in the 8th grade. Maybe one of these days LaFollette will participate on a level playing field. So do not jump so quickly to say how much better the teams are than other teams around. True enough, they have been winning, this year, but 9th graders are going to have an advantage over 8th graders every day in athletics. That is just a fact of life.

Now, like I said in another forum, I know most of these boys, and they are some great kids, but it is just not fair to compare a 9th grade dominated team against a 7th and 8th grade team. I know this is the way the TSSAA has it set up for them to compete, but the truth is the truth.

Although I have no ties to LMS, I have cheered these boys on as they have gone for championships this year. We should as Campbell Countians cheer on our own whenever they go beyond the county lines and take on challenges.

I am sorry, but you sir are a moron. The TMSAA and TSSAA have strict guidelines on what age a child can be and when he/she can be that age and in what grade. To make such a statement is ignorant to say the least as these kids, nor their parents, would not put their high school careers at risk just to dominate middle school level. Children are graduating too young as it is today because of morons that put them in school at 3-4 years old and they graduate at 16-17, and they are not ready for college or work.

[Cougs]

orangewashed said:

Just like in basketball and football, the track team is loaded with what should be 9th graders participating in the 8th grade. Maybe one of these days LaFollette will participate on a level playing field. So do not jump so quickly to say how much better the teams are than other teams around. True enough, they have been winning, this year, but 9th graders are going to have an advantage over 8th graders every day in athletics. That is just a fact of life.

Now, like I said in another forum, I know most of these boys, and they are some great kids, but it is just not fair to compare a 9th grade dominated team against a 7th and 8th grade team. I know this is the way the TSSAA has it set up for them to compete, but the truth is the truth.

Although I have no ties to LMS, I have cheered these boys on as they have gone for championships this year. We should as Campbell Countians cheer on our own whenever they go beyond the county lines and take on challenges.

Very well said, Redhound. I guess my son is one of the 9th graders you are referring to! Not that I owe you any response...but my son has practiced with the LaFollette football team since he was in the 2nd grade!!! He knew the plays the ends and outs of football more than the 6th graders coming in each year. He was very small up until these last couple of years. In the 6th grade he probably weighed about 70-80 lbs, in comparison to his 185 now~. You know as parents...(the ones that care)..do what is best for their kids! And if that steps on YOUR toes...oh, well!!! I don't do anything to benefit anyone in the school system except my kids! And your little analogy really don't add up very well....He broke the discus record last year...very handily...and he would had been an 8th grader then in your eyes....so what my son is doing is because he works very hard for it! And he wants to be better no matter his age.

You know there isn't much difference in the span of age and the school yr with my son compared to my daughter that is 16. She has always been almost a whole yr ahead of all of her classmates because of the way her birthday fell...so what do you do about that?...and she is also very good at sports...so it that wrong, too? Do we just make them sit out??

I think one good example of being a yr older and it bettering your future. Brance was held back his 6th grade yr. And he led the Courgars to their first winning season and signed with a college to further his career in football!

[gbabyreese]

orangewashed said:

Just like in basketball and football, the track team is loaded with what should be 9th graders participating in the 8th grade. Maybe one of these days LaFollette will participate on a level playing field. So do not jump so quickly to say how much better the teams are than other teams around. True enough, they have been winning, this year, but 9th graders are going to have an advantage over 8th graders every day in athletics. That is just a fact of life.

Now, like I said in another forum, I know most of these boys, and they are some great kids, but it is just not fair to compare a 9th grade dominated team against a 7th and 8th grade team. I know this is the way the TSSAA has it set up for them to compete, but the truth is the truth.

Although I have no ties to LMS, I have cheered these boys on as they have gone for championships this year. We should as Campbell Countians cheer on our own whenever they go beyond the county lines and take on challenges.

GIVE ME A BREAK!
Do you actually think that LMS is the only school that has students that were held back one year somewhere along the way? If so you are an idiot! It is not uncommon and it is not unfair to have supposed 9th graders competing with 7th & 8th graders. They are 8th graders no matter what you think because that is how the system works. The TMSAA would not allow them to compete if they were not eligible.

[Ball Coach]

owlsqb2mama said:

orangewashed said:

Just like in basketball and football, the track team is loaded with what should be 9th graders participating in the 8th grade. Maybe one of these days LaFollette will participate on a level playing field. So do not jump so quickly to say how much better the teams are than other teams around. True enough, they have been winning, this year, but 9th graders are going to have an advantage over 8th graders every day in athletics. That is just a fact of life.

Now, like I said in another forum, I know most of these boys, and they are some great kids, but it is just not fair to compare a 9th grade dominated team against a 7th and 8th grade team. I know this is the way the TSSAA has it set up for them to compete, but the truth is the truth.

Although I have no ties to LMS, I have cheered these boys on as they have gone for championships this year. We should as Campbell Countians cheer on our own whenever they go beyond the county lines and take on challenges.

Very well said, Redhound. I guess my son is one of the 9th graders you are referring to! Not that I owe you any response...but my son has practiced with the LaFollette football team since he was in the 2nd grade!!! He knew the plays the ends and outs of football more than the 6th graders coming in each year. He was very small up until these last couple of years. In the 6th grade he probably weighed about 70-80 lbs, in comparison to his 185 now~. You know as parents...(the ones that care)..do what is best for their kids! And if that steps on YOUR toes...oh, well!!! I don't do anything to benefit anyone is the school system except my kids! And your little analogy really don't add up very well....He broke the discus record last year...very handily...and he would had been an 8th grader then in your eyes....so what my son is doing is because he works very hard for it! And he wants to be better no matter his age.

You know there isn't much difference in the span of age and the school yr with my son compared to my daughter that is 16. She has always been almost a whole yr ahead of all of her classmates because of the way her birthday fell...so what do you do about that?...and she is also very good at sports...so it that wrong, too? Do we just make them sit out??

I think one good example of being a yr older and it bettering your future. Brance was held back his 6th grade yr. And he led the Courgars to their first winning season and got a scholarship to further his career in football! So go away!!

Just for the record...Division III schools do not give "athletic" scholarships...but he is going to a GREAT school, and is continuing his education and football career...and that is what matters most.

[Cougs]

Okay...he signed with a college to play football~...and my point was if he hadn't been held back that might and might not of happened.

[gbabyreese]

Well my "9th grader" Garrett won the high jump Monday night at the AC meet. He cleared 5'6''. The boys placed first.
GO OWLS

[Cougs]

gbabyreese said:

Well my "9th grader" Garrett won the high jump Monday night at the AC meet. He cleared 5'6''. The boys placed first.
GO OWLS

Way to go Garrett! Keenan placed first in the shot and disc and broke his record again!

Go Owls!

[Rhino]

orangewashed said:

Just like in basketball and football, the track team is loaded with what should be 9th graders participating in the 8th grade. Maybe one of these days LaFollette will participate on a level playing field. So do not jump so quickly to say how much better the teams are than other teams around. True enough, they have been winning, this year, but 9th graders are going to have an advantage over 8th graders every day in athletics. That is just a fact of life.

Now, like I said in another forum, I know most of these boys, and they are some great kids, but it is just not fair to compare a 9th grade dominated team against a 7th and 8th grade team. I know this is the way the TSSAA has it set up for them to compete, but the truth is the truth.

Although I have no ties to LMS, I have cheered these boys on as they have gone for championships this year. We should as Campbell Countians cheer on our own whenever they go beyond the county lines and take on challenges.

As Redhound stated the TMSAA and TSSAA have age limits that are strictly adhered to. As long as an athlete falls within this they are cleared to play. Now they have instated a rule that if a child is held back in 6th-8th grade they have to set out their freshman year. The year after my son was held back in 6th grade is when this took effect. As a coach and future teacher I would recommend this to every parent who has a child that is involved in athletics. This is one way for the county as a whole to be more competitive in every aspect including the maturity that comes with the extra year. As I have stated earlier, my 2nd grade son was given the option of when he can repeat a grade. The kids are punished in the sense that they cannot participate in school organized athletics while they are repeating a grade.

[orangewashed]

So you all are proving my point for me, your kids that should be 9th graders out competing against kids that have not been held back, and the true 8th graders and 7th graders are at a disadvantage, your kids are dominating them.

And the one parent Redhound states, and I took this directly from his post "This is one way for the county as a whole to be more competitive in every aspect including the maturity that comes with the extra year. As I have stated earlier, my 2nd grade son was given the option of when he can repeat a grade." Seems this parent realizes the advantage of holding a child back and that child competing against younger kids that have not been held back and wants to give his child that advantage. That is the only way to interpret that statement.

As I have stated earlier, I have no problem with the kids, they are all busting their butts to do as well as they can to compete. The problem I have is that the TSSAA and/or TMSAA allows this to happen. It is especially wrong when you have a child that has a late birthday that causes him or her to start school late anyway, and they are held back also, yet still get to compete when they are basically 1 and 1/2 years older than other kids. As one parent apparently agrees with the, the extra maturity is definitely an advantage.

Thanks you for agreeing with me.

[Cougs]

Apparently you don't go to many sporting events here in the county! Have you seen Robertsville, HHMS just to name a couple. They always have guys that look like they drove the bus to the games. Don 't tell me some of them aren't suppose to be in the 9th grade. It always evens itself out..they have just as many or maybe even more than we do! You know what? LMS ruled in every sport this year so what are you griping about? And I can say that including football and basketball there is only 3 or maybe 4 kids that I know of that are older. Compare that to about 50 football players and 12 basketball!

[Ball Coach]

I didn't say anything like that. Also...the term should is not appropriate...could is more fitting. A child SHOULD be whatever his/her parent thinks is proper in order for the best development of the whole child...and yes athletics are a part of the whole. But also no 16-17 year old is ready for graduation either. Socially, academically, mentally, athletically, and any other -ally one wants to site an 18-19 year old young person is far better suited for life after high school and mommy and daddy.

Yes vixen that is right...he has a golden opportunity to receive a top-notch education and continue playing the sport he loves...that is great.

[Rhino]

orangewashed said:

So you all are proving my point for me, your kids that should be 9th graders out competing against kids that have not been held back, and the true 8th graders and 7th graders are at a disadvantage, your kids are dominating them.

And the one parent Redhound states, and I took this directly from his post "This is one way for the county as a whole to be more competitive in every aspect including the maturity that comes with the extra year. As I have stated earlier, my 2nd grade son was given the option of when he can repeat a grade." Seems this parent realizes the advantage of holding a child back and that child competing against younger kids that have not been held back and wants to give his child that advantage. That is the only way to interpret that statement.

As I have stated earlier, I have no problem with the kids, they are all busting their butts to do as well as they can to compete. The problem I have is that the TSSAA and/or TMSAA allows this to happen. It is especially wrong when you have a child that has a late birthday that causes him or her to start school late anyway, and they are held back also, yet still get to compete when they are basically 1 and 1/2 years older than other kids. As one parent apparently agrees with the, the extra maturity is definitely an advantage.

Thanks you for agreeing with me.

As long as the child meets the age requirement there is no violation of rules. EVERY parent has the option to hold his/her child back. Ask any coach worth their sand and they will tell you they wished every child they coached had been held back. Other schools use this to their advantage and it shows. What you quoted was from my post and if my daughters shows the same amount of athletic interest as the rest of my kids they will have the same opportunity. There are quite a few parents that have seen what Keenan is doing that have told me they wished they would have held their kids back. What is being done is not wrong it is just affording the children the best chance at success. I don't mean just athletically but in the classroom as well. Don't knock it until you have tried it. Besides, I believe that every school would fight an age limit change at this point. Most kids who have to start school late because of how there birthday falls would be ineligible to participate in sports. This is very different from kids who are not academically promoted and reach the age of 16-17 and continually cause trouble at the middle school level.

[orangewashed]

I love this guy Rhino, he admits purposely to planning on doing what I am talking about.

Someone made a statement about Keenan, I would not have singled out a specific child, but since he was singled out, let me say this. I may be wrong, but I do not think his parents held him back a year just to give him an advantage in sports as Rhino obviously says he intends to do. If he was held back a year (I do not have any idea of this), I would think it was to give him an advantage towards making sure that he got a good education. I think his father is going to school at this time, so this tells me, that education is very important to that family.

[georgia 1974]

bot keenan is rhinos kid

[Cougs]

orangewashed said:

I love this guy Rhino, he admits purposely to planning on doing what I am talking about.

Someone made a statement about Keenan, I would not have singled out a specific child, but since he was singled out, let me say this. I may be wrong, but I do not think his parents held him back a year just to give him an advantage in sports as Rhino obviously says he intends to do. If he was held back a year (I do not have any idea of this), I would think it was to give him an advantage towards making sure that he got a good education. I think his father is going to school at this time, so this tells me, that education is very important to that family.

Rhino is his dad and he is my son~ Keenan was held back his 6th grade yr. He was an A & B student. He passed with no question. It was for his future in all aspects. He was very immature and sports played a big part in our decision. As everyone knows! We have 8 kids. And yes, education is very important. Rhino is going to school and finishes this summer. Our oldest is in college, 4.0 GPA.....and our 16 yr old has a 4.12 in HS. Maturity was one of the factors and it has paid off. In everyday life and in sports! Like Redhound said, kids are graduating to early and no where ready for the real world. Like I stated before we are going to do what is best for our kids. We don't factor in who might get mad or who thinks we are crazy we just factor in what is best for our kids!