YOUTH sports is a concrete response to the challenge of Article 31 of the Rights of a Child.
However, where do we draw the line between engaging in sports as a child right and becoming a venue for child abuse?
It is about the buzz created by House Bill 1526 titled "An Act Banning Minors from Full-Contact Competitive Sports," filed by Reps. Alfredo Garbin Jr. and Elizaldy Co. The proposed bill seeks to "prohibit the participation of minors in competitive full-contact sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts...." While the proposed legislation intends to protect minors, it will also impact the identified sports' grassroots development programs.
Almost all coaches are aware of the LTAD or the "Long Term Athlete Development."
The LTAD provides the template for preparing the athletes starting from age 0 until old age. The LTAD does not discriminate participation; instead, it allows for budding athletes to develop according to their capabilities at a given period.
HB 1526 aims to prohibit participation in full-contact sports until 18 years of age. Before reaching 18 years old, athletes engaged in contact sports are assumed to have trained on the fundamentals (Age 0-12).
At age 12, these athletes start to prepare and train to compete. At this point in their training, the athletes are more or less ready for full contact competition rigors.
Not all children are into organized team sports such as basketball, football, and volleyball.
Others excel in individual sports such as swimming, tennis, and incidentally contact sports.
Genes and parental influence also play a factor in the choice of sports by children. And in an ideal setup, our educational systems, starting from pre-school, should help children maximize their potential to develop physically.
Full contact sports cannot become a venue for child abuse if all stakeholders know how to help.
When children are aware of their potential and limitations while engaging in sports, we become responsible parents, coaches, and sports associations. When children are allowed to enjoy engaging in sports with other children, we give them a chance to become better citizens. These are better opportunities presented for children. Rather than prohibiting them, can we instead advocate and allocate measures to maximize physical development, social inclusion, and fair competition? This is our responsibility as adults, an environment where children are safe as they develop and become adults themselves.