Reclassifying Graduation Year

[kekoa]

I've heard of a few kids do this now for golf and was wondering if this really helps in the college recruiting process.  For instance, their original graduation year is 2028 but they hold the kid back so his new graduation year is 2029.   I would assume a kid is trying to stand out more within a graduating class, but eventually the kid will need to play with kids older and within their original graduating class so why not just stay put?   Sorry if I'm over simplifying things, but I don't know a lot about the process as you can tell.

[leezer99]

From a golf standpoint it can go either way. We know a kid that went from ‘25 to ‘26 but I think as a ‘25 he might be ranked higher. There’s another kid we know that went the other way and seems to be thriving. 

[mojomover]

Curious- when is it absolutely too late to do the switch? I am assuming moving from ‘23 to ‘24 is too late?

[MB19]

This guy ruined it for all of us trying to reclassify!

 

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2019/01/23/25-year-old-posed-as-dallas-isd-student-to-relive-basketball-glory-at-hillcrest-high-officials-say/

[wildcatden]

3 hours ago, MB19 said:

This guy ruined it for all of us trying to reclassify!

 

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2019/01/23/25-year-old-posed-as-dallas-isd-student-to-relive-basketball-glory-at-hillcrest-high-officials-say/

 

 

Geeeez!!! It's either that or sometimes I wonder if parents are giving their 5'10", 190lb 12YO kids HGH for golf domination.

[heavy_hitter]

I think you should hold kids back in elementary if you can.  After that it is too late in my opinion.  Reclassifying as a high school student and taking a GAP year isn't worth it in my opinion.  If there isn't a scholarship for you in 2023 there isn't one in 2024.  Taking a GAP year now a kid is also fighting the transfer portal.  Why would a coach take a GAP year kid when he can get a kid out of the portal that has collegiate training, collegiate training table, collegiate travel, collegiate competition, and has already proven they can handle while being in a collegiate classroom.  Just makes no sense to take a GAP year.

Edited September 22, 2022 by heavy_hitter

[jigsaw1011]

Reclassifying in high school is difficult to do with NCAA.  If you were to do it, I would suggest repeating 8th grade.

[ChipNRun]

For football or basketball, maybe.

 

For golf: Unless the child is noticeably smaller than classmates, I would say no.

[heavy_hitter]

20 hours ago, jigsaw1011 said:

Reclassifying in high school is difficult to do with NCAA.  If you were to do it, I would suggest repeating 8th grade.

It is happening a lot after the senior year and is not that difficult.  A lot of kids in sports other than golf are taking a GAP year after their senior year.  

 

Again, doesn't make sense to me, but they are doing it.

 

 

Edited September 3, 2022 by heavy_hitter

[DArnie]

My 16 yo son is in the 10th grade and was held back after we moved back to the states from living overseas for 7 years (we've been back 7 yrs.). He was smallish and a short hitter up until 6 months ago. Made it hard for him to be competitive at 15 on longer courses.  I am very glad that the school held him back a year upon admittance when we returned. 

 

He has grown to be 6' within the last 6 months and now can hit it 300. If he were a Junior this year, I doubt he would be looked at by coaches as much as he is now as a 2025 graduate. Grateful for the extra year.

[Noles]

10 hours ago, heavy_hitter said:

It is happening a lot after the senior year and is not that difficult.  A lot of kids in sports other than golf are taking a GAP year after their senior year.  

 

Again, doesn't make sense to me, but they are doing it.

 

 

A friend of my son's was convinced by a school to take a gap year and then come to school the following year.  They agreed.  I couldn't believe it.  I asked the mom why didn't he just go to school and redshirt but apparently that was not offered by the school.

[jigsaw1011]

On 9/3/2022 at 10:13 AM, heavy_hitter said:

It is happening a lot after the senior year and is not that difficult.  A lot of kids in sports other than golf are taking a GAP year after their senior year.  

 

Again, doesn't make sense to me, but they are doing it.

 

 

I realize that kids are taking a GAP year but to reclassify while in high school with the NCAA is more of a challenge.

[heavy_hitter]

On 9/3/2022 at 8:33 PM, Noles said:

A friend of my son's was convinced by a school to take a gap year and then come to school the following year.  They agreed.  I couldn't believe it.  I asked the mom why didn't he just go to school and redshirt but apparently that was not offered by the school.

There is a log jam in 2023.  Kid just talked to a college coach last night.  All of his seniors decided to come back next year.  They have 17 on the roster this year and will have 17 next year.  A lot of 2023's are having problems.  Go where you can and enter the transfer portal.  I don't see how taking a GAP helps.  It helps the school asking, imo, it doesn't help the kid.  Go somewhere they can play then transfer.  That gets them on a college schedule, in college classes, on a college regiment, with college travel.  Much more beneficial than staying on the Junior Golf circuit.

[Noles]

22 hours ago, heavy_hitter said:

There is a log jam in 2023.  Kid just talked to a college coach last night.  All of his seniors decided to come back next year.  They have 17 on the roster this year and will have 17 next year.  A lot of 2023's are having problems.  Go where you can and enter the transfer portal.  I don't see how taking a GAP helps.  It helps the school asking, imo, it doesn't help the kid.  Go somewhere they can play then transfer.  That gets them on a college schedule, in college classes, on a college regiment, with college travel.  Much more beneficial than staying on the Junior Golf circuit.

This kid was a 21, but then took a year and is a freshman now.

[Chipperyamane]

When I was finishing playing tennis, reclassing was getting very popular. It was usually at the lower levels. Say a kid who was like 350-450 in his class. Would reclass to drop a year behind and would immedatiely jump up 100-150 spots. So now they’re like 200-300 in their new class. Basically just take a gap year and just train an extra year too. If parents are willing then I guess it’s a benefit to get looked at better schools than otherwise would.

[Chipperyamane]

Will also say at the higher levels it’s probably not going to make a huge difference. Mostly helps at the lower levels. At the higher levels it’s more about timing scholarships. I know kids who have been asked to come a semester late, a year late, a semester early. If you’re good but not good enough for them to work around you this might happen. These examples are of pretty top juniors wanting to go to a top 3ish program. 

[mrshinsa]

I've seen few kids who are a year older than my son, but same graduating year.  

I've also seen kids who are at the same graduating year, but suddenly switched over summer to a later year and now at the top of their graduating year.  

 

 

There is definetly a benefit in terms of ranking.

Edited October 17, 2022 by mrshinsa

[iteachgolf]

Depends on kid.  I’ve had 3 do it. All of them were kids who would have started college at 17 if they didn’t reclass.  It definitely helped them from a ranking and interest standpoint.  My top 2026 reclassed to 2027 this year based on my recommendation, which was 100% about social and educational reasons. He would be a top recruit regardless 

[heavy_hitter]

11 hours ago, iteachgolf said:

Depends on kid.  I’ve had 3 do it. All of them were kids who would have started college at 17 if they didn’t reclass.  It definitely helped them from a ranking and interest standpoint.  My top 2026 reclassed to 2027 this year based on my recommendation, which was 100% about social and educational reasons. He would be a top recruit regardless 

I would consider this the correct reasons to do it.  Staying back solely for athletics is the wrong reason.

[Army_golfer]

On 9/1/2022 at 7:52 PM, mojomover said:

Curious- when is it absolutely too late to do the switch? I am assuming moving from ‘23 to ‘24 is too late?

It has to be done no later than prior to the beginning of the Senior year.  I'm looking into it for my 14yr old who is a freshman. He started school early with a summer bday.  

[iteachgolf]

On 1/17/2023 at 2:05 PM, Army_golfer said:

It has to be done no later than prior to the beginning of the Senior year.  I'm looking into it for my 14yr old who is a freshman. He started school early with a summer bday.  

If you want it to not affect NCAA eligibility it has be done before you start high school. Which is why all my players who’ve done it did so in 8th grade.  If you’ve started high school your option is to take a gap year after you graduate but you must graduate on time or you risk losing some college eligibility

[heavy_hitter]

12 hours ago, iteachgolf said:

If you want it to not affect NCAA eligibility it has be done before you start high school. Which is why all my players who’ve done it did so in 8th grade.  If you’ve started high school your option is to take a gap year after you graduate but you must graduate on time or you risk losing some college eligibility

 

It also effect High School eligibility.