In this second blog on specialization, we will touch on some of the outside opinions shaping the argument against it. Watch in the coming days for the final blog from the USA
The question is a simple one. Should your son or daughter focus on just one sport during their elementary, middle and high school years?
More and more, the research is pointing to no.
Specialization in youth sports has become the norm instead of the rare instance. Volleyball players are asked to play club from November till May or even into June and July if playing in summer tournaments and qualifiers. July is spent at summer camps and clinics and lo and behold, August rolls around and the high school/ middle school seasons are upon us and the whole thing fires up for another year.
Is this such a bad thing?
- Youth are participating in fewer sports, being trained more intensely and starting at earlier ages. Often times, these athletes are not given a chance to look into other sports, sports they may be better suited to or enjoy more than the one they are involved in
- Playing the same sport year round taxes the same muscles, ligaments and tendons causing overuse injuries. NEARLY 50% OF ALL INJURIES SUSTAINED BY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AGED ATHLETES DURING SPORTS ARE OVERUSE INJURIES.
- According to the website, the Educated Sports Parent, “If your child participates in sports at a high level, and especially if he or she specializes in one sport, he or she might be at risk of burning out.”
What’s even more amazing is in recent years, even those in positions of importance with their sports are urging athletes to play other sports and get out of the specialization spiral. Brent Sutter, former NHL great and coach of Canadian youth hockey lends his voice to the argument in this article that playing hockey year round doesn't create better hockey players, it causes burnout.
In this article 82% of the top players from all the major sports leagues are seen as NON specialized in their youth sports years. This is hardly a coincidence according to Elisabeth Vaino, the author.
Even USA Volleyball is on board with not having their athletes specialize. CEO Doug Beal has commented in the past that we should encourage out athletes to play other sports because, “We want athletes!” John Kessel, Director of Sports Development wrote a terrific blog on the subject titled, Specialization if for Insects.
In the end, the phrase “what’s best for the kids,” is often a hollow gesture or a recruiting poster slogan. Do we, as Parents and Club Directors and Coaches really do what’s best for our kids? If specialization is part of that, the answer seems obvious.
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