QotD: Age Limits
Posted July 8th, 2005 @ 07:26am by Erik J. Barzeski
Question: Should there be an age limit to play professional sports?
My Answer: I think that an age limit of 18 - the age at which you can be legally bound to a contract - is all that's needed, and I'd also like to see exceptions made on a case-by-case basis. Morgan Pressel finished tied for second a few weeks ago at the U.S. Women's Open (golf) and is only 17, but is the country's top-ranked amateur. She should be allowed to turn pro. Michelle Wie? I'd make her wait until she was at least 17. NFL, NBA, and MLB players? If you can buy porn, you can play sports. A job is a job, after all (which, yes, I realize would mean that my argument should be 16 or even 15, but I'm sticking with the "contract" thing. You don't sign a contract to work at McDonald's).
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Posted 07 Jul 2005 at 11:47pm #
Pro Sports Age Limits
In response to :
Recurring: QotD: Age Limits o…
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Posted 08 Jul 2005 at 12:00am #
Yeah... 13+ year old olympic gymnasts?
Posted 10 Jul 2005 at 5:45pm #
By lawy, age 18 is the age of majority. But children (even infants) have been working in the entertainment industries since time immemorial. It's a shame. Their parents "sell" their children's talents without the legally-recognized consent of the minors, and the parents generally cash the checks.
But the real question is: why should any child need to play professional sports? Is it too much to ask to wait until age 18?
Posted 10 Jul 2005 at 9:29pm #
I think it should be the same age as to work any job. Which, in Australia, is 15 years 9 months. I don't have a problem with seeing a professional tennis player at this age. Otherwise it's inconsistent. You can work one job at that age, but not be a pro sportsperson.
Posted 11 Jul 2005 at 10:18am #
Let's hope Michelle Wie makes the cut at any professional golf event! The boys had Tiger Woods - let the girls have a champion. MommyCool.com believes mixing the genders a bit on the pro-golf tour is great for the sport - and for young women who aspire to be able to do anything another person can do!