PEDIATRICS Vol. 67 No. 6 June 1981, pp. 927-928
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow This Policy is no longer valid.
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Schaffer, T. E.
Right arrow Articles by Malacrea, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Schaffer, T. E.
Right arrow Articles by Malacrea, R.

Competitive Athletics for Children of Elementary School Age

Thomas E. Schaffer MD, Elizabeth Coryllos MD, Paul G. Dyment MD, Thomas G. Flynn MD, Eugene F. Luckstead MD, Nathan J. Smith MD, William B. Strong MD, Clemens W. Van Rooy MD, Frederick W. Baker MD1, Lucille Burkett 2, Henry Levison MD3, and Richard Malacrea 4

1 Canadian Paediatric Society
2 American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
3 Section on Diseases of, the Chest
4 National Athletic Trainers, Association

Competitive sports sponsored by schools or other community agencies are now so universally played by boys and girls 13 years old and younger that there is a compelling need for positive and realistic guidelines to govern participation.

Young children are not miniature adults; they are boys and girls in the process of maturing into adults. They seek and can profit from suitable play opportunities, but the benefits do not come without prudent planning. High quality supervision and a broad range of physical education activities, including sports adapted to the needs and capacities of growing children, are required for a full realization of benefits.

A sound physical education program includes a variety of competitive and recreational sports to guarantee that all children in the school system or community have a fair share of available funds, facilities, instruction, and leadership. A varied sports program provides a meaningful experience for all children, not just the physically gifted, the well developed, or the precocious.

Sports have important effects on stamina and physiologic functioning, and some have lifelong value as recreational activities. These positive aspects should be emphasized in athletic programs by encouraging sports that are appropriate for children of elementary school age. These sports include bowling, golf, skating, swimming, tennis, and running.

There is no physical reason to separate preadolescent children by sex in sports, physical education, and recreational activities. However, girls should not participate against pubertal and postpubescent boys in heavy collision sports because of the risk of serious injury due to their lesser muscle mass per unit of body weight.