- Dec 29, 2010
- 1,255
- 2,397
I actually would want to go the other way and have smaller gaps between divisions. In most other youth sports, there's a conscious attempt to kids of the same age on a team. For example, our soccer program doesn't even promote the idea of a 11-year-old playing on a U14 team unless there's an exceptional reason to do so. And I know, especially with younger kids, that the difference between a 7 and 10-year-old is dramatic - much more than the difference between a 14 and 17-year old. So what I'd propose in a perfect world is:
Tiny (under 6)
Mini (under 8)
Youth 1 (under 10)
Youth 2 (under 12)
Junior (under 14)
Senior (under 18)
I understand the negatives to that - likely would see fewer teams in a division, smaller gyms would likely be forced to put younger kids on teams with older ones anyway.
I haven't thought about how the levels would work, but I'd say that maybe Mini maxes out at 3, Youth 1 maxes out at 4, and then Youth 2 would be the first age group that would allow level 5.
Tiny (under 6)
Mini (under 8)
Youth 1 (under 10)
Youth 2 (under 12)
Junior (under 14)
Senior (under 18)
I understand the negatives to that - likely would see fewer teams in a division, smaller gyms would likely be forced to put younger kids on teams with older ones anyway.
I haven't thought about how the levels would work, but I'd say that maybe Mini maxes out at 3, Youth 1 maxes out at 4, and then Youth 2 would be the first age group that would allow level 5.