My family and I are playing in the Washington State Series. My kids are 8 and 11 yrs old. Some of these events do not offer Jrs divisions. How would you feel if you had to play with little kids in your group?

I have been told kids just take spots away from Pros and they should not be allowed in Series events.

Tough luck for those folks that sign up late in my opinion. If you have the means more power to you.

As a parent and a newer player, I really enjoy playing in the tournaments with the kids. It gives me an opportunity to take time out with my son. As long as the children have a good attitude, I really enjoy it.

Now, the other point of view is that of the kids. Will they enjoy playing with strangers and will the strangers modify their behavior for the environment.

Thank you,

Steve

"How would you feel if you had to play with kids??"
Naturallly, it depends on the setting. Folks with very weak skills and/or a short attention span shouldn't be participating in some events -- no matter what their age or gender. (Think A tiers, USDGC, Rennny Gold in Charlotte, or even Stoney Hill in SC!) But other events and courses are -- and should be -- welcoming to those who are farther down on the learning curve. I don't know what your Washington State Series events are like - do they draw 100% pros and 950+ Ams? If not, and you've got Intermediates and Rec level players, then kids are probably appropriate.

I'm so fortunate to belong to a disc golfing family. When they were younger, my kids probably irritated some older golfers *just because they were there*. After all, who wants to play with "kids"? But (from the kids' perspective) its been a wonderful learning experience. From the family perspective -- it has given us tons of family time through their teen years that we wouldn't have had otherwise. From the disc golf perspective - I've got 2 kids that have grown to have 400+ foot drives and plan to tour as soon as they possibly can. From the perspective of those they play with nowadays ... well, who likes to get beat by a kid??

Get your kids out there if you can! I'm not very clear on the specific rules that "require" opening a division (my kids play Adv and Int now). But when the kids were little, I found that TDs around here were always open to having a Jrs division ... I'd suggest calling ahead and letting the TD know. If its not a real high-level event (so you feel that kids would be appropriate there), but the TD still takes an attitude that "kids can't play", then vote with your feet and your pocketbook and don't attend. (Let's say you have four players in your family ... that might be 5% of the tournament's entire registration and purchases or plastic, not a trivial number!)

As a women who has played for a number of years, I have played my fair share of rounds with kids. One event, it was me, an advanced woman and a junior on the card. The TD asked if we minded and we said "no problem". This particular junior is a great kid who has been playing for years even though he is still pretty young. It was a fun round.

In the past, TDs had the habit of having the juniors play with the women. Some women felt as though they are unpaid baby sitters. They were constantly keeping tabs on the juniors that they couldn't fully concentrate on their games.

The real issue is not the age of your kids, but can they play without you? Some kids lose interest as the round goes on and need constant prompting to keep playing. Some kids are serious enough or mature enough to be able to play solo. I know kids in both categories.

If your child is one who needs some prompting, then a parent should walk with the group. It isn't fair to the others in the group to have to look after your kid and would you really want them too? /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

On the other hand, I don't have much sympathy for people who don't like playing with kids just because they are kids. That kid has just as much right to play in a tournament as anyone. There have been guys who thought the same thing about women players. :mad:

I've no problem with kids on my card (until they start beating me), and don't think anyone has a complaint if the kids have suitable skills for their division---not just disc golf skills but rules knowledge, etiquette, behaviour, scorekeeping, etc. I've certainly played with adults who behaved like kids or worse.

We have a local who played Advanced at age 10 and Open at 12, and I doubt he ever caused a problem for anyone, other than a bit of embarrassment at losing to him.

We need as many kids as possible in the sport, and it's a great experience for them to play among the adults as long as the adults conduct themselves responsibly. As a parent, are you confortable sending an 8-year-old out with strangers, whose behaviour, language, or illegal activities you find inappropriate? (Vanessa, did your boys start playing in adult divisions before age 13 and, if so, did you have many problems?)

I've no problem with kids on my card (until they start beating me), and don't think anyone has a complaint if the kids have suitable skills for their division---not just disc golf skills but rules knowledge, etiquette, behaviour, scorekeeping, etc. I've certainly played with adults who behaved like kids or worse.

We have a local who played Advanced at age 10 and Open at 12, and I doubt he ever caused a problem for anyone, other than a bit of embarrassment at losing to him.

We need as many kids as possible in the sport, and it's a great experience for them to play among the adults as long as the adults conduct themselves responsibly. As a parent, are you confortable sending an 8-year-old out with strangers, whose behaviour, language, or illegal activities you find inappropriate? (Vanessa, did your boys start playing in adult divisions before age 13 and, if so, did you have many problems?)




Let the kids play! My 1st few events were in the Jr. division and it was a blast but playing up in the larger divisions always seemed to be more fun.

I have two sons that have played tournaments off and on for years. They currently are 16 and 15, but let me tell you the pros and cons from the standpoint of a parent

Pros:

My boys both talk of rounds they have played with very good players and it was an experience they have not forgotten.

They have become better players by playing with better players.

They don't like playing with kids..... kind of funny, but some kids are very well mannered and a joy to play with and some are too immature to be playing without parental supervision. When a kid has this issue even other kids don't like playing with them.

Cons:

For a kid to feel like they are competing they tend to want to play in a division they feel like they have a chance at, so they play with recreational players. Sorry to a lot of recreational players, but...... rec players don't know the rules a lot of the time and won't listen to someone younger that does and is trying to help them.

Rec players tend to party while they play. Goes back to not knowing the rules again. Some even know the rules and don't follow them. This is not always true, but if there is a division that tends to drink and smoke more than any other, it is the recreational division.

Youths can be intimiated very easily by some adult players. I have seen my boys call a rule and stand by it when playing with other youths, and not make a call against an adult for fear of reprisal.

Just a few comments....

Alacrity, I am the father of a 11 year old disc golfer. your post in 100% on target. great job.

Yeah, what alacrity said. My older junior is now as good as most pro women and occasionally plays in that group. She is glad to be in the Intermediate Men's division and out of Rec for all those reasons. She gets more respect from the Intermediates. If you treat her badly because she's a kid, she'll just whup you on the course and smile politely.

I usually enjoy playing rounds with a couple women or juniors. I would almost rather 90% of the time see them playing in the am2 or REC divisions. I was blessed with having a 14 yr girl in my group at BG and not only was it a pleasure seeing her compete at that level, she was also very considerate ad knew the rules.

However, I also feel that maturity should also be considered for the juniors. My 5 yr old loves playing, but I m waiting to take him to tourneys until I am sure he can maturely play 2 rounds in that type of a setting.

I am the proud father of a Jr. World Champion (Wyatt Coggins is too!) and my son has played in 34 tourneys in his almost 4 years of playing. In all of those years I have never had any adult complain about my sons behavior or lack of knowledge for the rules, although there has been many a tournament where after the fact my son would tell me about numerous rules violations by the adult players. A little over a year ago I began coaching/caddying for my son after he told me of adults he was playing with were smoking pipes while they were playing (it was tobacco I'm sure). I haven't played in a PDGA event since then. and it really was a blessing in diguise cause he did improve rather quickly and did end up winning a World Championship. So sometimes it might just not be the kids who require babysitting, but the adults themselves. By the way Mr. Carlos, my boy was signed up to play in the St. Patricks Classic with your kids, but we just couldn't make it. Next year we plan to make it a point to be there.

Manny, Another good one. Andrew and I played a monthly in Bigrock hometown/course. Andrew usually plays Pro at this event. so to speed the story up. I was ask by a top NC pro who played on Andrew's card " does Andrew ever get mad?"

Andrew knows his playing depends on his attitude and his sportsmenship (I would DNF him if need be). he knows not to let his actions reflect badly on himself or his sponsors.

Bottom LIne.

I would rather play Disc Golf with Andrew and David Wiggins Jr. than some adult I have played with in PDGA events.

My son just played his home course and had 2 rounds rated over 800. Then he played the Beaver state fling( Estacada) the longest course in the Northwest; rounds rated above 700. He knows the rules and has a great attitude for the game. Everyone he plays with has a great time and encorages him to keep it up. He is excited to go to Worlds.