|
There is some point, that someone born in the first quarter has an
advantage, over, someone born in the last three months. Junior tennis is a small part of the game, as you reach adulthood,
things tend to even themselves out. You can go by age, class, race, results. I do not think it is a big issue,
over the long term, we know that junior sports, players tend to only last about six years. They are gone, before, it
all sets in. According to the statistics in this area across sports.
We are age conscious, as this the only way we can categorise people. The rules, could be done
here; moreover, we have a different system. Many people like a non competitive fun approach to sport, and believe that
competition causes harm- most sports. It might be better, to have the date of birth at the competition, to ensure fairness.
An interest, with Sport
England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, which make up Great Britain, only the footballers, have had a look at, age bias. Frankly, i do not think they are that
bothered with so many other serious concerns floating around. It would be nice to know how other sports cope with all
this. Whether it is an issue for them.
Most of the body, is deteriorating in the fourth decade, according to the experts- mostly in the medical profession,
or common sense. You can age at least 15 years. Most people stop doing exercise, in there thirties. Other
factors such, as drinking, smoking, not being sociable, No fitness, these are time bombs, that can cause problems with
people. As a Doctor said: " they eat the wrong foods, and do not do enough exercise ". It is possible with the
negative habits, that someone in there 20's can have a body of 40 or 50 year old.
You can slow down, the ageing process, by a healthy lifestyle, sadly, when people need to be doing exercise, eating properly,
like in the 3rd and 4th decade. People are not doing it. The figures, for this slump is as high as 70%.
Once again Sport England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland. Will have there programmes, which have little affect on human nature.
As Walter Smith, the Scotland Manager said, that they would be looking into why there team, did not make the finals - World
cup. Some investigation, they should look at the fans. Get them off there backsides, and playing more.
Some of the Managers/ Coaches, who run teams, can age quickly with the stress involved. As one said: " I just aged
ten years after that loss ". All that stress, and pressure, who needs it. Amateurs are best. Sadly, too
many off our people want quick fixes. Do not worry about this one, as the song goes: " Get out of your pub life,
and go out and get some exercise ". I am getting younger everyday..........!
A lot of the talent that is being " overlooked " is not real talent. As a, coach said: " Totally undeserving ". Or as a national coach commented: "
How many of them?, including our coaches, want to be really good at what they do? ". It is true that a player born in
the first half of the year, is more likely to be selected than someone born in the 2nd half. This evens itself out once
again, once they are older. It must be hurtful, to know that you have been overlooked in this way, especially
for young children. You have to look at the long term, most juniors, simply do not, do that well, when they get older.
Compared to adults, they tend to continue to play, at junior standard.
Most of our players will
not be World Class players, maybe national at best, so they are not aiming that high. It is costly, expensive,
a lot of time from everyone; and you have to be rich. Coming from the higher classes will help a lot. More class
bias, than age bias. That runs across most areas. There are not many, people who last long, you do not see
many fifty or sixty year olds in games. As one coach commented: " See that, person over there, he is nearly sixty,
and he has more energy, than all you, lot put together ". They win sometimes. As a Rugby coach said: " There
are only 2% of those ". Concerning, people who go way beyond the norm, in terms of years. There are
changes happening to the body, which affects performance, as well as day to day living which is difficult to
counteract.
I still think age bias, still
exists, in our society, and age concern are doing a good job on this. They make people aware. If they do change
the rules as you suggest, i doubt it will make a big difference, at all. We are short of talent, and have
a low playing base. if you look at the participation rates they are very low, so human behaviour has not changed that
much over they years. As a Counsellor pointed out: " It gets harder to fit into society, as you get older ". Or
better still: " We are not retired pensioners; we are recycled teenagers ".
|
