Competitive sport for children younger than 12 years
Australian Sports Commission is determined to have more Australians participating and excelling in sport, from grass-roots right up to the pinnacle of elite competition.
Competitive sporting activity and children who are younger than 12 years of age
Xanthe is a ten year old girl, who was assigned male at birth. Xanthe plays water polo. Xanthe’s team is playing in the local girl’s tournament next weekend.
The tournament organisers have contacted Xanthe’s club to explain that because her birth certificate indicates her gender as ‘male,’ she won’t be able to participate. When Xanthe’s club asks for an explanation the organisers explain there is a concern that the competition won’t be ‘fair’ because Xanthe is ‘too strong’ and that ‘the law allows for her exclusion on this basis’.
Xanthe’s club writes to the tournament organisers indicating that the Sex Discrimination Act specifically provides that the competitive sporting activity exemption does not apply to ‘sporting activities by children who are younger than 12 years of age’. Xanthe is able to participate in the tournament.