Downsides of Early Sport Specialization

Here’s a myth about youth sports…

Many believe focusing on one sport early leads to better opportunities and faster improvement.

But take a look at what NCAA discovered in 2015…

71% of D1 football players played multiple sports growing up.

88% of D1 men’s lacrosse didn't specialize early,

And 87% of D1 runners explored multiple sports at a young age.

Meaning, athletes who perform multiple sports are more likely to have future athletic success. But that’s not always the case.

There’s a reason why many college coaches often look for multi-sport athletes.

Why?

These athletes tend to pick up new skills quickly,

Adapt to different situations,

And stay healthier.

But I get it, the pressure to specialize early comes from everywhere…

Club/travel teams wanting year-round commitments,

Coaches pushing for more training and even other parents talking about getting “ahead”.

But what they don’t understand is that when young athletes stick to just one sport all year round,

They might be missing out on valuable movements and skills that come from different sports.

Not to mention, avoiding the burnout that kids often feel after years of playing the same sport non-stop.

Take a look at this infographic from YLM Sport Science:

Less than 1% of early sport specialization athletes reached elite levels in their career…

Meanwhile, athletes who play multiple sports face fewer injuries and often advance further in their main sport.

There will be a time, if your child is good enough, that they can start to think about specializing.

But, it is not while they are a young growing athlete.

Remember, your child won’t fall behind by playing other sports…

The complete opposite, they’ll be building a strong foundation for future athletic success. 

Have a great day,

Liam.

If you’re interested in learning more about youth athletic developement you can check out my podcast below!