Can parents or guardians force a child to participate in extracurricular activities against the child’s will?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Can parents or guardians force a child to participate in extracurricular activities against the child’s will?

Specifically, sports. I realize that parents have the rights to make the majority of legal decisions, especially for essential things, but with something as frivolous as a sport, and participation be forced? And is there any kind of law on either the state or national scale to support an answer?

Asked on August 5, 2012 under Family Law, Michigan

Answers:

M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

Even if you could legally, practically how would you enforce it?  If the child sits on the sidelines or stand in the outfield and does not move what would you do?  As a Judge to hold them in contempt of a court order and throw them in to jail?  What ever your concerns are for your child - and I am sure that they are concerns born out of love - you are going to have to find a way that incorporates their voluntary participation in the end, don't you think?  Good luck. 


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption