Dishonesty in Children's Sports

My children play sports.  Zachary has participated in: soccer,baseball,lacrosse, football, rugby, swimming, tennis, basketball.......  We have always had to provide birth certificates,etc. for him to play.  Once I did lie about his age- to play up...... and that was because coach told me to (he was well past "scoopers" for lacrosse when he was 7). He is a solid "b" team player- he could probably make a team, but we love the team he is currently on.

I have come to realize that in tournaments there is MUCH dishonesty.  People play their kids down- 13 year olds competing against 10 and 11 year olds; AA kids playing against B kids...... Zachary is one of the older ones on the team,and is a big kid....... red flags go up when there is someone towering over him on the field.  Then we start to find these kids are on rosters for AA 13U teams..... and that real team members were told to not attend this tourney and new ones were recruited.  For what? A t-shirt?  Last year there was a tourney in which Zachary's team was undefeated, until the final game- against a AA team. Not fairly matched, we knew what the outcome would be before the game began. A good comparison is this: Baltimore Ravens vs. Podunk Middle school.  Not fair. 

Who benefits from this playing down?  The team who is appropriately stacked gets their butts whooped up and down a field and feels frustrated and deflated.  The ones who have used questionable tactics to build a winning team score goal after goal and do they REALLY get  a true sense of championship?  Is it that important to win?  The emphasis should really be on sportsmanship and skill, not an easy win.  

The kids are not the ones at fault here.  I blame parents and coaches.  I would never let my kid play down (in fact we have been asked and said no).  Parents who do this- you are teaching your kid to shoot fish in a barrel, to keep using the bumpers when you bowl, to CHEAT, to take the easy class, to get something for nothing.......  Exactly who's self esteem are you trying to build?  Does it make you feel good that your kid played and won an easy game??  How about you make them rise to a challenge instead?  

And Lacrosse officials- do what other sports have had to do- all members must register with a valid picture ID and show proof of age.  No player can be on more than one level- and they are registered to a team so it is known that they are AA, A or B, etc.....