--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is ludicrous. Seven- and…" description: "\"This is ludicrous. Seven- and eight-year-olds valiantly trying to cover the same acreage as those grown-up chaps in the Premier League is absurd. To ad..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/gary-lineker-2899_absurd_this-is-ludicrous-seven-and-eight-year-o_647759.jpg" --- # This is ludicrous. Seven- and eight-year-olds valiantly… ![“This is ludicrous. Seven- and eight-year-olds valiantly trying to cover the same acreage as those grown-up chaps in the Premier League is absurd. To add to the lunacy, a little goalkeeper, barely out of nappies, has to stand between posts that are eight strides apart - adult strides - and under a…” quote by Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/gary-lineker-2899_absurd_this-is-ludicrous-seven-and-eight-year-o_647759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/gary-lineker-2899_absurd_this-is-ludicrous-seven-and-eight-year-o_647759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/gary-lineker-2899_absurd_this-is-ludicrous-seven-and-eight-year-o_647759.jpg) > “This is ludicrous. Seven- and eight-year-olds valiantly trying to cover the same acreage as those grown-up chaps in the Premier League is absurd. To add to the lunacy, a little goalkeeper, barely out of nappies, has to stand between posts that are eight strides apart - adult strides - and under a crossbar more than twice his height.” [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child trying to match adult standards in professional soccer is unrealistic and highlights the mismatch of expectations. **In simple terms:** Kids can’t realistically match adult athletes in size and skill. Key Takeaway Recognize appropriate levels for different ages. Themes sports age expectations fairness Mood concerned critical Type observational critical When to use this quote - youth sports - coaching - training programs - policy making Key Concepts development physical disparity role models Questions to Reflect On - How can youth sports be structured to be fair? - What are the risks of forcing children into adult roles? A Different Perspective Children need age‑appropriate challenges, not adult standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Premier league](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premier-league/) ## Related quotes > [Swansea invested in me. They took a chance on me because I was a second-choice goalkeeper with not much experience when it comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukasz-fabianski/swansea-invested-in-me-they-took-a-chance-on-me-because-i-was-a/) [Lukasz Fabianski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukasz-fabianski/) > [If you are fighting at the top in the Premier League then you cannot do that with a dodgy goalkeeper. It is not possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mignolet/if-you-are-fighting-at-the-top-in-the-premier-league-then-you-cannot/) [Simon Mignolet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mignolet/) > [It's a good thing to interact with a top goalkeeper who has so much experience in the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kepa-arrizabalaga/it-s-a-good-thing-to-interact-with-a-top-goalkeeper-who-has-so-much/) [Kepa Arrizabalaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kepa-arrizabalaga/) > [Having grown up in Poland, it is a dream come true for me to be playing every week in the Premier League as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukasz-fabianski/having-grown-up-in-poland-it-is-a-dream-come-true-for-me-to-be/) [Lukasz Fabianski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukasz-fabianski/) > [“Goalkeeper John Burridge is the oldest player ever to play in the Premier League turning out for Queens Park Rangers at Manchester City on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carpenter/goalkeeper-john-burridge-is-the-oldest-player-ever-to-play-in-the/) [Chris Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carpenter/) > [It does not make a goalkeeper look good and, after it, I did not want to celebrate out of respect for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asmir-begovic/it-does-not-make-a-goalkeeper-look-good-and-after-it-i-did-not-want/) Asmir Begovic > [I've crossed every bridge to become a Premier League goalkeeper, I think I'm going in the right direction and I think I'm mature as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-pickford/i-ve-crossed-every-bridge-to-become-a-premier-league-goalkeeper-i/) [Jordan Pickford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-pickford/) > [Messi doesn't have to do it in the Premier League to prove himself. The Champions League is the ultimate club competition. If he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/messi-doesn-t-have-to-do-it-in-the-premier-league-to-prove-himself/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [The Leicester story is great for the game in England. It's great for the appreciation of the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/the-leicester-story-is-great-for-the-game-in-england-it-s-great-for/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [Obviously there are a lot of 12-year-olds over in America who are incredible singers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayne-ward/obviously-there-are-a-lot-of-12-year-olds-over-in-america-who-are/) [Shayne Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayne-ward/) > [It doesn't really matter to me whether the 7-year-olds are big fans of my work. I'm happy just to be working at all. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-day/it-doesn-t-really-matter-to-me-whether-the-7-year-olds-are-big-fans/) [Charlie Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-day/) > [At 18, they're old enough to drive. The girls enter university, and the boys enter into National Service. Since they have a duty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/at-18-they-re-old-enough-to-drive-the-girls-enter-university-and-the/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [“love Dora too!” Great, I’m a legend with 5 year olds!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-campbell/love-dora-too-great-i-m-a-legend-with-5-year-olds/) [Bill Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-campbell/) > [ \[Hillary Clinton\] is giving money to N.I.M.H. \[National Institute for Mental Health\] ultimately to conduct more experiments on two- to four-year-olds. What they're going… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/hillary-clinton-is-giving-money-to-n-i-m-h-national-institute-for/) [Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/) > [I generally don't think one's age is all that meaningful - there are 50-year-olds who still act and think like children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/i-generally-don-t-think-one-s-age-is-all-that-meaningful-there-are-50/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) ## More by Gary Lineker > [Fella’s a genius. Best ever by a distance in my life time. Never really saw Pele… Souness, Gullit, Venables and now Rooney agree Messi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/fella-s-a-genius-best-ever-by-a-distance-in-my-life-time-never-really/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [People have no idea how hard football is, absolutely no idea. It's all about pace. You can say, 'Yeah, you've got speed of thought'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/people-have-no-idea-how-hard-football-is-absolutely-no-idea-it-s-all/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [Congratulations to Thierry Henry on a truly wonderful career. One of the great footballers of our time and a top bloke. Bonne chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/congratulations-to-thierry-henry-on-a-truly-wonderful-career-one-of/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [People are possibly not spelling 'Leicester' correctly everywhere round the globe, but they are at least saying it correctly now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/people-are-possibly-not-spelling-leicester-correctly-everywhere-round/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [What you learn is that you can't please everyone all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/what-you-learn-is-that-you-can-t-please-everyone-all-the-time/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [Messi doesn't have to do it in the Premier League to prove himself. The Champions League is the ultimate club competition. 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They say stupid things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/people-make-mistakes-they-say-stupid-things/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [To be honest, it would have been better to watch it on Ceefax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/to-be-honest-it-would-have-been-better-to-watch-it-on-ceefax/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [You can never really justify wages in the entertainment business, but it is what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/you-can-never-really-justify-wages-in-the-entertainment-business-but/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [I know people think that a lot of sports stars are a little bit up themselves, but they all have their heroes, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/i-know-people-think-that-a-lot-of-sports-stars-are-a-little-bit-up/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [The Leicester story is great for the game in England. It's great for the appreciation of the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/the-leicester-story-is-great-for-the-game-in-england-it-s-great-for/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [The whole kiss-and-tell thing is a negative approach that often happens in a World Cup. We will see negative stories about the players and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/the-whole-kiss-and-tell-thing-is-a-negative-approach-that-often/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [Playing football and presenting TV are totally different things, but there are similarities: it's exciting, it can go well, it can go badly... the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/playing-football-and-presenting-tv-are-totally-different-things-but/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [It's nice to have the power of Twitter to correct things that were incorrect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/it-s-nice-to-have-the-power-of-twitter-to-correct-things-that-were/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [ ...an excellent player, but he \[Ian Wright\] does have a black side. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/an-excellent-player-but-he-ian-wright-does-have-a-black-side/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) [Explore all 146 Gary Lineker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. 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For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To deprecate human reason by saying that none of us is or can be omniscient is absurd, for it takes an impossible standard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/to-deprecate-human-reason-by-saying-that-none-of-us-is-or-can-be/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. 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But solitude also produces perverseness, the disproportianate, the absurd and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/solitude-produces-originality-bold-and-astonishing-beauty-poetry-but/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) [Browse all 1,644 Absurd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is ludicrous. Seven- and eight-year-olds valiantly trying to cover the same acreage as those grown-up chaps in the Premier League is absurd. 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