Question
Dear Alina,

I’m writing to you on behalf of the parents of 6 little girls who go to the Reutov Olympic Reserve Sports School. We have a problem with the school’s director, who says that under the regulations they can’t enroll children under the age of 6. Our children have already been going to classes for a year, but they won’t give them choreography lessons. They only give them one and a half hours of training three days a week, though the kids would like to go six days a week. After just three months of training like this they won first place at a competition in Tolyatti. But they won’t let them go to competitions, again because of the regulations. The director says that the kids are too small (born in 2001) and are not allowed to travel to competitions (the parents took them to the Tolyatti competition themselves at their own expense).

Please help us. Are there really age restrictions for young sportsmen? How many hours a week a child can train?


Answer

Dear parents,

Here are the answers I got to your questions from the Department of State Policy for the Development of High-Level Sport under the Ministry of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation: The only regulations currently in force regarding Olympic reserve sports schools are the Sanitary and Epidemiological Regulations on Children’s Extended Education Establishments “SanPiN 2.4.4.1251-03” (which I talk about in para 2).

These regulations recommend that children do not enroll for classes in more than 2 groups (sections, studios etc.) and that they combine sports and non-sports activities. It is recommended that the number of lessons of any one kind be limited to no more than two per week. Children’s classes in extramural establishments may be held on any day of the week, including Sundays and public holidays. These classes should not last more than 1.5 hours on school days, or 3 hours on weekends and public holidays. After 30-45 minutes, there must be a break of at least 10 minutes to allow the children to rest and ventilate the premises. As far as choreography specifically is concerned, they recommend 2 classes per week of 30 minutes each for junior pupils, and 2 classes of 45 minutes each for other groups.

However, as you have probably noticed, these regulations are mainly recommendations. The Department also explained that the Ministry of Health has given official permission for children to start training from the age of 6 in sports schools and from the age of four and a half in sports clubs. They are also allowed to take part in Level 3 Young Gymnast competitions from the age of 6, according to the Unified Russian Sports Classification. Children may travel to competitions with their parents or accompanying adults with the mutual consent of the sports school management and the parents.