Early Sport Specialization
Do Kids Who Specialize in One Sport Perform Better?
Although physical therapists, pediatricians, orthopedists, coaches, sports scientists, elite athletes, and many other groups have been encouraging multi-sport involvement for years, the conversation is becoming more widespread and more fervent. The overwhelming evidence across professional fields cannot be ignored.
Multi-sport involvementincreases skill level and skill transfer, improves physical versatility and mastery, and makes overall better athletes. College and professional coaches want this!
Early sport specializationincreases your child’s risk of sustaining an injury, reduces the chances of succeeding in that sport through high school and into college or beyond, and actually can reduce your child’s participation in physical activity over his or her lifetime.
We cannot emphasize this enough: with a few very specific exceptions, such as gymnastics, figure skating, and dance, children should notspecialize in one sport before they enter college, and even at that level they should be encouraged to play two sports. Make a commitment to your child’s health and long-term well-being by encouraging multi-sport participation and resisting any temptation or pressure to specialize early.
You can find more information in the links below and see what others are saying about early sports specialization.
