How unreasonable would it be to lie about my son’s age so he can join our gym?

[WinoLino]

He’s 14. Getting into things he shouldn’t be getting into a bit. I think the gym would be a great distraction. Me, his dad and his 18 year old sister all go to the gym. It’s aged 16 and up though. I’m a rule follower at all times so I’m not saying we will do it. However, how unreasonable would it be if we were to say he is 16? Is it even possible, thinking they might want to see ID.

He will train only with us and his dad really knows what he’s doing (has spent his whole life training in the gym) so the risk of injury is lessened but of course it’s there nonetheless. Am I not thinking straight?

It may invalidate their insurance should he be injured. Also it's fraud.

I’d think if an accident happens it will null and void the insurance. If he wasn’t far off 16 then maybe but he’s not. Theres lots of gyms that have kids from 13 up. Find one of those

Find a gym he can join, my 8 year old comes to the gym with us.

Its a Total fitness.

They’ll check id, almost certainly.

find one that has a junior gym

I wouldn't lie, and think you would probably be caught anyway. Lots of gyms do allow younger members, my local leisure center allows 11+, if accompanied by an adult. I think there are also restrictions on what they can use.

I would think that the gym's insurance policy has an age limit for safety.
He would not be covered in the event of an accident.

Everyone saying it will invalidate an insurance claim…yada yada. How likely is that going to happen if he is training with you his family? I would do it OP. Sometimes in life rules are there to be broken

Our local council run gym has junior gym from age 12. Maybe there is one like that near you he could go to.

I'm sure they'll ask for ID

I would lie. If they ask for ID then just cancel. You’re not going to sue if he gets injured and he’ll be supervised.

Please refrain from responding to my post if you’re not OP. This is MY opinion and there’s no point asking for opinions on a forum if honestly leads to being roasted. Because all you get then are the people who always do the right (moral) thing answering and it actually skews the results rendering it pointless.

Thanks all, helpful to have a range of replies. For a variety of reasons it’s going to be too difficult to train somewhere else and there aren’t any gyms in our area that accept 14 years olds that I could afford.

You are all right about insurance!

@aWeeCornishPastieI like your style! I’ve never been very good at breaking rules.

I think we will have to wait. Just doesn’t seem like there’s much to do for him of an evening. He didn’t like SoulChurch and he doesn’t use his brain when he’s with his friends these days. (Who does at 14?)

I have done this recently. He’s 16 in the summer.

It could be anything. The roof could collapse on him, he could slip or tip. He could hurt someone else by accident and would not have the insurance to cover the claim for medical treatment. Anything. That is whole point of insurance.

I'm not the OP! But I've responded to your post! Ooh! Naughty.

@LamentingalwaysThank you, I completely agree! No I wouldn’t sue in a million years, wouldn’t cross my mind to. Oh what a dilemma

If a child were using my adult only gym I'd report it. I purposely don't want to be around hormonal teenagers.

Yes to the insurance thing too.

Most councils have teen sessions in their gyms. Can you not switch to one of those?

You’re not going to sue if he gets injured and he’ll be supervised.

He might get sued though.

I think it's unfair on the gym and will affect their insurance whether you want to 'sue' or not - if there was an accident, then it would be investigated and his true age would be discovered. As others have said, there are gyms which allow younger members and I would find one of those.

Why would you teach him to lie to get his own way?

Could you get some equipment at home? It sounds like you'd get good use from it with you all being gym goers. Your DH could supervise presumably?

Or get him into a different sport/activity, football/rugby/swimming/cricket.

Scouts is great if you can convince him to give that a try.

I probably wouldn’t at 14 because it’s not that close. Our gym is a council one and it’s from 11 but restrictions on which things you can use at 11, then 13 then you can use it all at 16. Is there another gym you can find? Or any fitness classes- we have weightlifting for teens by us which is good. Or boxing/boxing fit?

It’ll probably be fine but I’d be too worried they’d ask for ID and then I’d just find it awkward every time I went, knowing I’d suddenly without reason withdrawn my son’s gym application upon being asked for ID.

Good point

We have been gym members for a long time

• they will need to see ID
• it could get the gym into massive trouble
• it could cause your son to be seriously hurt
• it could get you into trouble

Have you got a David Lloyd around? They will take them from 10. Our local council one takes from 12.