Why is this such a hard issue? Do the 6U (who have the most participants and parental support)have to wait their turn or their shot at competing when every other age group in the wrestling room has an opportunity to compete at this higer level?
I have always thought that burn out could be possible if started too young. It is already happening every year every age group. These 6U practice from the first of november until the season is over just like everyone else. I do have a problem with 6U State by itself. 64 or 32 man brackets in 1 day. No tournament should be like that. If 6U were allowed to compete at SUBS and Districts and then have 16 man brackets at State it then would be something special for them. Not something they have to wait for. If you want wrestling to keep growing in Kansas then we need to accept the 6U as an important age group and help them to grow. Maybe we will have more 16U wrestling in 8-10 years. This is not about wrestling through my kids it is about rewarding them for their hard work and love of the sport.