It's unusual to stop junior athletes from "playing up" with older age groups isn't it?

[mrspa]

DC plays a sport which is popular in other countries, and played by a small community of adults here, but just in the early stages of developing junior competitions. They have four age groups, u12, u14, u16, u18, but juniors who have been playing for a while are finding their own age groups under-challenging and are wanting to "play up" against stronger athletes. This isn't prevented by any written rules but is being discouraged by some competition organisers. Surely playing up according to ability rather than age is normal in most sports, isn't it?

Doesn't sound safe if it's a physical sport surely?

Doesn't really seem fair. Are the groups not to ensure fair competition? What if one team was full of kids who were 'playing up'. You would affectively have one older team against a younger team. And surely some would use this to their advantage

If only played by a small number, then 'playing up' may mean that younger age teams become unviable in numbers?

I agree, it might depend on the sport. It happens for things like tennis and swimming I think. But it would be more dangerous for something like American football.

Depends on whether it's a contact sport. Obviously size is an issue and some have rule modifications for younger age categories.

If there’s a risk of being injured by a bigger or much taller player/competitor then no

It may be that the older teens and adults just dont want to be dealing with a load of kids tbh. I dont think many 16 year olds would feel able to use their full strength against a 12 year old, even if it wasnt a sport that had direct contact, if there was a chance they could be hurt (thinking of volleyball here).

I do a sport that's relatively small in the UK. We have a hard cut off that U13s can't compete against over 18s and rankings for U17s don't include any "senior" competitions (but might well include U20s).

In countries where the sport is bigger most use 2 year age groups for competition. It's accepted to compete up 1 age group but exceptional to go up 2.

The international rules allow anyone from 13 up to compete at any age group (obviously not including veterans!!). Success as a young person happens for women but is pretty well unheard of for men.

The US

If it's not very popular perhaps they worry about the numbers in the younger agree groups?

*age

The US has a strong old enough = good enough but longevity is rare - the sport is seen as "good" for getting into prestigious colleges.

No, not IME - here in the UK in organised football, rugby, cricket, hockey, it's not generally done. The RFU for example refer to it as "rare", especially in primary, maybe more done when there are only small teams. Tennis is more flexible though.

So no, it's not generally done.

Depends on the sport. My DC play 4 sports between them.
In one, playing up is an absolute no-no.
In one playing up as you describe is the absolute norm.
In one playing up can happen but they can only play up one age category (and I think in the age categories that span 2 years they have to be in the second year of the category below to play up).
In one they have to ask permission as a club from the governing body for the child to play up and they have to detail the specific reason and a judgement is made, but there is a maximum number per club that they can have playing up.

Don't even ask about how they determine "age" as that differs by sport too!

Sounds like the sport my DCs play.

At competion level it isn’t allowed, you have to ID to prove your age. I’ve seen it happen in friendlies when they’re short of players
If it is the same sport, strength and height are huge advantages so It could be potentially dangerous. I know just from messing about with my own DCs that a playfulshove from a 6ft+ kid could knock me over.

Compare to something like cricket once you get past he softball stage it’s pretty much the same.

ime, normal to be allowed to compete with older kids in non-contact sports and even in some semi-contact sports (like basketball). Also normal in judo (they have weight classes anyway, for age 8+)

Thanks. I don't want to say the sporting as that would be a bit 'outing', but it's potentially analogous to tennis or badminton.

My 2 nephews play up in cricket. One for the age group above and the other for the adult seconds team. Both still play in their own age group too. I think it’s fairly normal for progression.

@mrspa

Thanks. I don't want to say the sporting as that would be a bit 'outing', but it's potentially analogous to tennis or badminton.

What? A sport could outing?

Is it particular niche?

Outing?

I dont think tennis and badminton are analogous btw.

Handball!

I'm thinking Basque pelota! Similar to squash in many ways. If it were that, I don't think it would be safe for children to play in an older age group because they would be competing with people physically stronger.

No, not IME - here in the UK in organised football, rugby, cricket, hockey, it's not generally done. The RFU for example refer to it as "rare", especially in primary, maybe more done when there are only small teams. Tennis is more flexible though.

So no, it's not generally done.

Not true. My boys have been playing cricket since they were 5. They've played up since the age of 11. Last weekend there were 3 U11s in our adult team.

It can depend on the sport. I played in above sections in Netball and Basketball when I was younger (I was about 11-12 years old and played with the 15-16 years old).

To be honest it actually sucked and made me lose my love for the sport. Whilst the competition was more challenging it was very socially isolating for a shy 11 year old. I really missed my peer group.

So 1 on 1 racquet sport without physical contact... Rather than team contact sport.

Risk is presumably getting in the way of ball/shuttlecock hit hard by opponent which is obviously mitigated by skill... Less of a risk of an actual collision between opponents?

I'd be fine with playing up an age group with the proviso that playing older age groups might not be tactically useful for long term development.

I play netball, the leagues I’ve played in have allowed people to play in the adult leagues from age 14, if that counts as ‘playing up’. I think they tend to play in their own age bracket when they play in junior leagues though.

I can’t see it could ever be ‘unfair’, but in a contact sport potentially dangerous.

From a social point of view, im a teacher and netball is my hobby. Quite honestly, I’d rather not spend my hobby time with children. But if they’re good enough, I have no objection to them playing, from a sporting point of view.