Arizona Republic Response

Response to Arizona Republic Sports Article by Tom Kuyper

            You may remember me for another response about types of coaches because I am the eleven-year-old tennis player. Today I have to respond to your September 4^th article about “fudging” ages to let kids play sports. I adamantly believe that parents should not lie about kids’ ages so that they can play in lower age brackets. Lying is never acceptable. Your first example of a child with a physical disability playing in a lower age group is erroneous. If a special needs child wants to play with children his or her own size, there is a whole league just for this situation: Special Olympics, an organization for empowerment. Your second example about a first time basketball player in high school is also flawed. There are alternate teams that this student can join to hone his or her abilities before joining a highly skilled team. Your third example is really lame. Even with seven children, the parents can find bicycles, personal helicopters, or carpools to schlep the kids around to all their activities without compromising age bracket rules. Finally, the example about the girl playing down just because she is a girl does not mean the rules can be broken, so please do not judge a girl by her gender. Age bracket rules are rigid for a very important reason: to insure fair play. If these vital rules can be broken for “exceptions”, then why have rules at all? And who is to judge the “exceptions”? Do not get me wrong, I believe that sports should be fun and open to every child, but this can be achieved while strictly enforced age brackets.  - Lauren