Age limit in gyms?

Devon

Someone touched on this in my previous post on stretching, and I think it needs more discussion.

A certain gym chain offer child memberships to their gym from age 9 upwards. They are supposed to be supervised by their parents at all times and are also supposed to be restricted in what they are allowed to use.

As you can imagine though, it's not enforced, and often you see very young guys on the weights machines not having a clue what they're doing, or just plain showing off.

There's supposed to be an instructor in the gym at all times, but obviously that's not adhered to either, so these youngsters are pretty much free to wander over to the free weights area and swing dumbells around in a motion they probably consider to be bicep curls.

The question is should this be allowed at all in gyms? It's obviously a money driven issue but I personally feel it takes away from the atmosphere to have kids running around when you're trying to 1RM.

Anyone else?

Superdub2

i think the age limit shud be 15 or 16 , especially since its not good for a child to lift weights before they are bout 16

GerryRyan

With most gyms (in my area at least) the age limit is 18. Not sure if its insurance reasons or that they don't want anyone younger lifting weights (growth etc).

With others like myself, for example, who have been playing sports competetively (hope I spelled that right) since the ages of 9-10, it would be an advantage to have some access to weights even if its restricted and heavily supervised.

Just an example - not trying to start a second debate.

I can't see it being relaxed any time soon thought.

poobum

Superdub2 wrote:

i think the age limit shud be 15 or 16 , especially since its not good for a child to lift weights before they are bout 16

well this is a load of crap! look at america! them kida are doing weights since about 11-12 for football and they have 14 year olds lifting 100kg on bench press etc...now look at the nfl these are the best of them! they have been lifting since they were about 12 and how many of them are unhealthy or short or anything like that? if regulated well and programmes are adjusted to the person by someone good and supervised and more importantly hey are shown technique there is no problem doing weights younger then that! the problem is when one or more of these things is neglected!!! if you do it right it is good! do it bad and it will have bad effects!
if this gym dosent do these things then i feel they should be shut down! its hurting people or hurting their future fitness/health! all for money!

g'em

Superdub2 wrote:

i think the age limit shud be 15 or 16 , especially since its not good for a child to lift weights before they are bout 16

unfortunately thats still a huge misconception about weight training. there's really nothing wrong with kids younger than 16 working out, as long as they're well supervised, and lift properly, which tbh is true for anyone. Lifting does not stunt growth/ weaken the skeletal frame/ mess with homrones. In fact, all throughout the teens is when levels of growth hormone is at its highest, when the growth spurt is occuring, so this is most likely time when huge gains can be made. Correct techinque will encourage good posture and reduce the risk of injury whilst playing other sports by strengthening not only the muscles but the connective tissue and support framework around the skeleton.

poobum

at last someone who agrees! there is no proof to say its bad for you at young ages once done right!!! its when its not one right there is a problem

SprostonGreen

I'd prefer if there were no kids in the gym, there would be less people and less time waiting on a equipment.

GerryRyan

SprostonGreen wrote:

I'd prefer if there were no kids in the gym, there would be less people and less time waiting on a equipment.

Most ignorant comment I've heard in a long time.

You'll have people of all ages hogging the equipment. How would the "kids", as you put it, make it any worse?

SprostonGreen

ThatGuy wrote:

Most ignorant comment I've heard in a long time.

You'll have people of all ages hogging the equipment. How would the "kids", as you put it, make it any worse?

Ah would you ever get over yourself.

Less people, did you get that bit?

Stark

Well call me ignorant but I prefer not to have kids running around the place in my gym.

And the urine/feces free pool is nice too, search through my previous posts, it's a soapbox of mine, dirty feckers.

poobum

well the kids would bardly be running! like if they are supervised they would be acting properly!