The Sony Ericsson WTA tour 10 year age eligibility and professional development review

Abstract

Concerns have long existed over the participation of adolescent athletes in the world of professional sports. In 2004, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour (WTA Tour) commissioned a Professional Development Advisory Panel (PDAP) to evaluate the Tour’s Age Eligibility Rule (AER) and Professional Development Programs (PDP) for female tennis players since their inception in 1995. More than 75% of the 628 respondents supported the principles of the AER and 90% indicated a need for PDP. Statistical analysis of WTA Tour players’ careers found premature retirements (players leaving the Tour at or before age 21) decreased significantly from 7% pre- AER to less than 1% afterward, and players’ career length increased by 43%. The PDAP recommends the WTA Tour continue a phased-in, developmentally appropriate AER, enhance the PDP, and work with other sport- governing bodies to coordinate rules and programs at earlier ages to aid the transition of adolescents into adult sports.