Does your state allow 7-8th graders to play varsity SB ?

[ManitouDan]

I grew up in Ky and they have always allowed 7-8th graders to participate in any/all sports (maybe not football? ) that the adminstration/coaches deemed appriopriate. This even includes boys (OJ Mayo started varsity in the 7th grade , maybe 6th ?) .I see several Ky 8th graders playing jv-varsity BB every year , not just the super athelet like OJ. Now I'm Ohio and their rules are extremely strict. Example: 7 total football games each year for 7-8th graders. And no 7-8th graders can play in any varsity sport , girls or boys.

The reason this rule should have some flexibility added is that the smallest schools struggle with numbers. My kid will be attending a very small private school. At their 1st tryout they had 9-10 girls come out . I was told they had to persuade some girls who had never played (even rec ball) to come out for the team. But the 7-8th grade have a few girls who have played travel ball and could play circles around the newbies on the HS team. So does your state allow Jr high girls to play JV or varsity ? MD

[Sam]

SoCal no

However....SoCal does allow people with 7th-8th grade knowledge and education to coach HS teams...

[DonnieS]

>> However....SoCal does allow people with 7th-8th grade knowledge and education to coach HS teams... <<




Texas - No

[Lefty's Dad]

Clarification on Texas. 8th graders CAN play Varsity HS ball but if they do so, they give up one year of H.S. eligibility (UIL rules) in the process which is why it is rarely done. They can however play in any non UIL sanction events such as a Fall High School league where the HS coach cannot be a part of. We have seen that in a few cases down south.

[coolstuff]

No players that I know of in Indiana. I think you need to be enrolled in the HS. Lots of issues could pop up in other sports if this was allowed to happen. We already have the occasional "recruiting" flap in the boys' sports. For instance, what if a kid in a public MS plans on attending a local private HS, so he/she plays JV at the private school as an 8th grader? Oh man I can see the headlines now.

HS coaches in any sport are usually on staff at the HS as teachers or administrators, especially in the "major" sports like football and boys' basketball, but I'm pretty certain that's not a requirement.

[slim00]

Tennessee no, Mississippi yes.

EDITED

As stated below, it is possible in Tennessee. I should have said generally no. There are usually enough restrictions and hoops to jump through that it is very rarely/seldom done.

[TN_BUCKETDAD]

Tennessee no, Mississippi yes.

Not necessarily so for Tennessee. In Tennessee a player has 5 years of elgibility, but there are rules in place that prevent alot from being able to play their 8th grade year. Most DII (private) schools meet the standards set forth by the TSSAA.

[DonnieS]

>> Clarification on Texas. 8th graders CAN play Varsity HS ball but if they do so, they give up one year of H.S. eligibility (UIL <<

Didnt know that but I guess it makes sense. Lots of kids here never get past the 8th grade.

[jofus]

I don't think so in WV, for the most part (other than "maybe" some of the private schools...which don't recruit by the way ) middle school is separate from high school, so the 7th and 8th graders aren't even at the same school. That's probably not the reason, but I don't think they can.

I would rather get my DD on a good travel team than let her play HS early, anyway

[Kat]

For the most part in Washington state no...but small schools have an exception mainly private ones if htey are under a certain amount of kids they can pull up younger kids. We have 4 years of eligibility at high school here,not sure how the smaller schools deals with that to be honest.