Outside the US, most of the countries building their next generation by ISU guideline which is age requirement. Even though in some countries still use skills level for their national but when it come to international competition they will be under the ISU regulations. Like this year US national for example, A lot of the competitors in the Juvenile were over ten years of age. In other countries at that age, you should be in the Advanced Novice and preparing for the Junior level already. It seems most of their coaches set their eyes on the podium by using the ages and experiences advantages. In the long run, the tactic is killing these poor skaters' career in the long run.
Joshua Farris was 10 the year he was Juvenile National Champion. Jason Brown didn't even make the FS that year. (He was Juvenile Champion the next year.)
They were also among the oldest of the skaters at the 2013 Junior World Championships, where they were 1 and 2.
Doesn't seem to have hurt their career.