<p>FYI, they’ll be changing eligibility rules to keep 13 year olds out. The rule has been born on May 1 or later of their 13th year is eligible. It will become no 13 year olds, but not for a few seasons. </p>
<p>The idea is that kids are reaching puberty earlier and there can be larger differences in size and strength now.</p>
<p>Makes a lot of sense. A lot of disparity in sizes of players at 13. </p>
<p>Someone mentioned girls can be advanced by as much as two years at that age.</p>
<p>No matter how you cut it there are kids on the cusp. My kid who played baseball is an early June birthday. Kid was the youngest always then after a year as a young “11” they changed the rules so kid was playing age “11” a second time. Yes - not being the youngest helps and someone is always going to be in that situation. It is about the playing age for that season on baseball not how old they are come August. A lot of kids who are 12 through the season will turn 13 over the course of All-Stars which is selected in early June and can keep running through July and into August if your team keeps advancing.</p>
<p>Good point but there’s no harn in trying to make it as equitable as possible physical development wise.</p>
<p>My grandson will lose one year of eligibility when the age change rule goes into effect. I’ve always liked how every kid is one of the youngest one year and then one of the oldest the following year. When I look at old team photos it’s funny how some kids stop growing and others sprout up a foot or more.</p>
<p>Tonight’s game was great and between the well-matched teams from Philly and Chicago, with the latter winning by one run as the game went the full 6 innings. The kids and parents of these teams conducted themselves with grace and dignity and it was really a pleasure to watch them. While I have little doubt that Las Vegas will win this weekend, my heart has to be with the Chicago team- with all of the problems in the neighborhoods where some of the kids live, this LL Urban Initiative program is the lifeline that may keep them safe and give them hope for a productive future.
And it’s been terrific hearing how the major league players have become involved with so many of the LLWS teams. Two pros are paying the tab for the parents/families of the Chicago team to be there with their sons- way to go, guys!</p>
<p>The original age change was to make it as equitable as possible - kids sports are just weird that way.</p>
<p>Youth football in our area uses an age/weight grid. How it ends up shaking out is that big, young players end up on teams with smaller kids who are a year or two older. The big kids are usually at a significant disadvantage not due to size, but coordination and mental maturity. The older little kids (who ultimately seem to switch out to wrestling) play all the skill positions.</p>
<p>In football, pop warner has had a lot of pressure over the years to modify their age/size grid, and I think they have done so. The parents of the biggest kids don’t like having them play against older kids who are more athletic and more mature. Some towns have leagues with modified weight limits and age limits. Some have gone to grade based divisions rather than age to ensure that kids can play with their school class friends (and that older kids for their grade can play against younger kids). </p>
<p>I think it all sorts out over time in high school. Youth and high school sports reward early physical maturers, which regrettably don’t always turn out to the best players later. Some certainly do, but others find they’re not much bigger as seniors than they were as freshmen, and it sometimes creates displeasure as coaches recognize those who are the best players at the moment, without regard to history.</p>
<p>I liked the PA Illinois game last night. All the teams have a lot of really good players. </p>
<p>I’m wondering how you even begin to prepare your team for a game against a team that beat you based on the slaughter rule less than two weeks ago.</p>
<p>Way to go Chicago!</p>
<p>Evidently, their coach DID find a way to prepare them.</p>
<p>Amazing game! It’s crazy that the same two teams played to such a lopsided score just a few-ish days ago!</p>
<p>Watching the local news highlight Jackie Robinson West has been wonderful. The City has embraced this team. They will be returning to a ticker-tape parade. </p>
<p>Yep… so glad to see the city embrace the win (shows the south side obviously is better baseball territory!). I didn’t know that they had two viewing parties going on. I was going to say if I’d known about the one at the local ABC station, I would have gone, but after experiencing the rain we had this afternoon, I’m glad I didn’t. </p>
<p>It is exciting to have a non Cali, Hawaii, Texas team representing. Also, last I knew Japan was going down to South Korea so there will be some variety in the final for a change</p>
<p>Impressive run, Chicago. I loved seeing no tears at the end of the game.</p>
<p>At least they made the last inning interesting.</p>