USATF and AAU, giving kids born early in the year a tremendous advantage over those born late in the year.

A lot of middle school kids are two or three sport athletes. We lose a lot of talent to the soccer field. These kids know pressure.

Our club had 5 all Americans and we took two team titles including the 13-14 year old boys race which was a barn burner.

I agree on burnout. Seen lots of kids wash away because of demanding parents.

For trying to help their kids get a leg up in life? I’m sorry your parents never loved you

Not true at all. One of my kids was born in late Dec. For indoor track meets just a few days removed from being 11(!) he was competing against 13-14s. Turned 12 late Dec, calendar flipped over, and suddenly he was "13".

In the USA Swimming world (he also swims) he was competing against 11 and 12 year olds until the day he turned 13.

I hear you, we went through this. But it all comes out in the wash. Soon he will "track 9" then "track 10". It hurts the most at that new age group and a december Bday. Its WAY worse with a size sport like hockey. Some 13s are squeaky voiced and no growth spurt yet, some 13 y/o are full beard and 6-3 on skates.

Yes this is the pay off. Half full!

No. You would think so, but no. Its baked in that you are the youngest for perpetuity. You tune 12 in dec, you are 13/14 the entire next year. Then the next year you are still only mid year. You catch up in HS. In hockey, kids born in Jan and feb get to the show (NHL!) more easily. You hit puberty way quicker, get on better travel teams that need size etc...

Holding them back a year and starting their life a year later for the remote chance of getting a sport scholarship is helping? I have two kids, both are on athletic scholarships, no I didn't hold them back nor are they old for their grade.

But then the day he turns 13 he would have to compete against a whole new set of kids. On his birthday he is suddenly "13" as well. It will all work out in the end. In other sports parents love to play their kids "up" an age, I think it's a questionable tactic, but they seem to think it's an advantage.

On his birthday, he'd be potentially running against kids 364 days older than him, the day before his birthday, he'd be potentially running against kids 364 days younger than him. Over the course of the year it would even out. As it stands now a kid with a December birthday would always be competing almost exclusively against kids older than him. I think the OP asks a fair question. Why can't they determine your age group based on your age on the day of the competition? Every road race I run does it this way.

In the US August has the most births.

livescience.com

In Which Month Are the Most Babies Born?

@LiveScience

Hint: It's a summer month in the U.S.

Link:www.livescience.com/32728-baby-month-i...

Also human gestation is closer to 40 weeks...

Look at the numbers and odds of getting a collegiate grant in aid...

Would love to see if anyone has numbers on if holding a kid back improves them any.

It helps way more in the younger levels of hockey. Here is a list of birth months. July is right there with Jan-March. October is only slightly less.

quanthockey.com

NHL Totals by Birth Month - Career Stats

NHL Totals by Birth Month - Career Regular Season Stats.

Link:www.quanthockey.com/nhl/birth-month-to...

No, it does not "work out".

Track: He competes in a range of 1st-to-50th percentile age (0=youngest possible in the age group). Kids born a week later compete entirely in the 50th-to-99th percentile of age for their 2 years in a given age group.

Swimming: He competes in the entire range of 1st-to-99th percentile over 2 years. And, importantly, that's what EVERY KID DOES.

It’s works out because they get to HS and compete by grade. If you don’t like it then plan when your kids are born better. Youth athletics are great but it shouldn’t be all about wins, it should be about fun and planning for the future development. I have been coaching young kids for a very long time and I don’t spend anytime worrying about what month they were born

I also coach youth sports and kids born on the wrong side of the age-up date, on average, have a tougher time. Thats all. Its not the end of the world but swimming handles it better, imo.

That's because you don't know what fair is. I guess you were born late in your birth year, if you are just figuring this out now. STFU!! This is the way it has always been. Guess what, if he has bigger running aspirations(College, World Champs, Olympics) they don't care what year/part of year you were born. Let him run and enjoy the experience. Sport is about being the best, no matter the age, race, gender etc...Snowflakes like you ruin sport for everyone.

Nico young during his second year in college lost to two guys who were 23 years and older in the outdoor 5000. We all know how she plays a huge advantage in aerobic-based events.

Eliud Kispang broke the NCAA 1500m record last spring at the age of 26. The previous record holder was Yared Nuguse who was 21/22.

Age will always be an obstacle on the track, they just gotta race.

True. I have two sons and I prefer running them up. That's where the competition is at anyway.

USAT&F Masters (five-year age groups) puts you in your age-group as of the first day of any given meet, but doesn't help if you turn 50-55-60 when your event is on day two of a multi-day meet championship. Then you can be 60 but forced to compete in the 55-59 age group. The National Senior Games, on the other hand, puts you in a five-year age group based on your age on December 31st. In this case, you can 59 at the NSG, but if your birthday is December 31st, you can run in the 60-65 age group. For Masters, the best option is your age is your age on the day of your first event of any given meet.