The boys and girls participating in the 2026 Spanish Junior, Under-12, and Under-10 Championships, to be held from June 26 to 28 at the Real La Manga Club and La Serena Golf courses in Murcia, will play the tournament with physical scorecards and will not be allowed to use their mobile phones during the round. This implements the measure announced last year by the President of the RFEG (Royal Spanish Golf Federation), Juan Guerrero-Burgos.

This measure - which was already very well received by parents at the Cadiz Junior Tournament - has an educational purpose for young golfers and aims to encourage their interaction during this tournament, one of the most beloved and anticipated on the calendar, as well as guide the children towards what is really important: the next shot and good relationships with their playing partners.

Let's remember that, according to the latest UNICEF Spain report (November 2025)*, almost 91% of boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 20 spend more than five hours a day on social media during the week, a figure that rises to almost 20% on weekends. This intensive use is associated with increased anxiety, a poorer quality of life, and greater exposure to situations of harassment, cyberbullying, or controlling behavior in relationships through digital means.

Data such as this reinforces the RFEG's idea of regulating the use of mobile devices at early ages.

Regulated use also in youth gatherings

Following this same line, the RFEG Youth Technical Committee has implemented regulations for the use of telephones on its official trips and weekend training camps with the aim of educating players on the responsible use of these devices, optimizing training time, promoting interaction between players, and ensuring adequate rest for boys and girls during overnight stays under the supervision of the RFEG.

This measure includes a ban on the use of mobile phones during training sessions, talks, and meals, as well as the requirement to hand over devices to the camp staff at bedtime. However, parents have the coaches' phone numbers to contact them in case of emergency.

* These are data from the report 'Childhood, adolescence and digital well-being. An approach from health, coexistence and social responsibility', the result of joint work between Red.es, Unicef Spain, University of Santiago de Compostela and the General Council of Colleges of Computer Engineering.