Sports Specialization in Children

Every parent wants the best for their child especially in regards to building a future. The environment in which a child is raised and lives profoundly influences their morals and values. In addition to academic pursuits, parents also encourage participation in sports and extracurricular activities. Sports specialization and interest in elite teams has increased dramatically over the past two decades. These concepts are not new, but it is clear now more than ever that they are taking a toll on athletes.

Kids are beginning to participate and specialize in sport at a much young age than in the past. Parents and coaches are pushing for club and travel teams more than ever. These elite teams allow athletes to develop their skills, train with other athletes at or above their skill level, and prepare for future recruiting. These elite teams and training camps are not negative experiences independently, but are a concern through the lens of sports specialization.

Adolescents undergo both mental and physical development that tends to stay with them into adulthood. These stages are a time for kids to explore and figure out what their passions are. Children who only explore one sport will have a limited experience of what athletics has to offer and are more likely to lose interest as time goes on.

There are several benefits to being a multisport athlete that can be overlooked. Single sport athletes train a specific set of muscles, sometimes year round, and work on the same skills. Working the same muscles over time can lead to an increased risk of injury. Multisport athletes have the opportunity to improve on a variety of skills such as endurance, speed, flexibility, and hand-eye coordination. An athlete will be able to experience playing with a diverse set of peers and learn from different coaches. The life lessons and social skills that come with playing on a team are unquestionably valuable, but do children that specialize miss out in other ways?

Parents spend lots of money as well as time as they chauffeur kids from one activity to the next. With single sport athletes, the fees for club teams and equipment increase and the travel and time commitment escalate. Sport can transition from a hobby to an overwhelming lifestyle. While bragging is certainly a perk of having a noteworthy student athlete for a son or daughter, parents tend to have ulterior motives for endorsing sports as well. Parents often tend to incorrectly associate single sport athletes with athletic scholarships. A single sport athlete does not necessarily gain an advantage over a multisport athlete when they compete for a position at the intercollegiate or professional level. There are exponentially fewer athletic than academic scholarships awarded at the college level. In the past, athletics have emphasized quantity over quality. Several sports teams and clinics for one sport may appear to be more beneficial, but quality experiences in various sports gives an athlete a greater advantage in sport, but also in life.