[wireties]

For teams considering taking students less that 15 or before 9th grade I recommend you have policies, procedures and infrastructure in place to shield/protect/shepherd the younger students. The difference in maturity level from 13 to 18 is sometimes huuuge. Throwing 9th and 12th graders together is already difficult and adding middle schoolers to the mix is daunting.

We've had some trouble with such things, regretted it later, and decided no middle schooler can join unless his or her parents will come with them to every meeting.

My two cents!