The greatest difference between our children’s sporting experience and our own is the rise of year round, sport specific organizations that ask – even require – season after season of participation in order to stay in the player development pipeline. The pressure to have your child specialize in a single sport at a young age has never been stronger.
As a result, parents ask me all the time “When should my child specialize in one sport?”
(In fact, I get asked this so often I wrote an entire eBook on it. Click here if you are grappling with this issue and need to know the truth)
When I tell them what the science says to wait, many tell me “That’s not possible. If my child does not specialize early she will be left out, not make the travel or high school team, and have no chance of playing in college. You live in a fantasy world.” They tell me about coaches who have told them they need 10,000 hours of organized, structured practice, and their fear that other kids will be getting a leg up on theirs if they do not specialize. They are stuck in a downward spiral that is detrimental to their children, but feel helpless to change course.
In the words of Kirk Anderson, Director of Coaching Education for the US Tennis Association:
“Even if parents and coaches know and understand age-appropriate principles for children, I think they would be reluctant to accept them because they would fear their child would fall behind the kid in a more structured program that focuses on training, competition and deliberate practice.”
This fear has forced kids into sports that often are not of their own choosing, and in many cases compels them to remain in activities that are not enjoyable, not intrinsically motivating, nor are congruent with their actual athletic abilities. This path fails to consider many of the physical, emotional and social costs to children who only play a single sport.
There is a different path. It is the one based in science, psychology and best practices of athletic development. It is one that serves the needs of children for a lifetime, reduces injuries and burnout, increases enjoyment and motivation, and produces better athletes. Sound appealing?
It is the path of multiple sport participation and less structured play.
But don’t take my word for it. Below are some eye popping facts and statistics that should make every parent think twice about early sport specialization in sports like football, soccer, baseball, hockey and basketball, where athletes peak in their 20’s. (sources at the end of the article).
First, here are five research excerpts that demonstrate how early specialization may negatively affect your child:
- Children who specialize in a single sport account for 50% of overuse injuries in young athletes according to pediatric orthopedic specialists
- A study by OhioStateUniversity found that children who specialized early in a single sport led to higher rates of adult physical inactivity. Those who commit to one sport at a young age are often the first to quit, and suffer a lifetime of consequences.
- In a study of 1200 youth athletes, Dr Neeru Jayanthi of LoyolaUniversity found that early specialization in a single sport is one of the strongest predictors of injury. Athletes in the study who specialized were 70% to 93% more likely to be injured than children who played multiple sports!
- Children who specialize early are at a far greater risk for burnout due to stress, decreased motivation and lack of enjoyment
- Early sport specialization in female adolescents is associated with increased risk of anterior knee pain disorders including PFP, Osgood Schlatter and Sinding Larsen-Johansson compared to multi-sport athletes, and may lead to higher rates of future ACL tears (added May 2014)
If that is not enough for you, here are six research based reasons for multi-sport participation:
- Better Overall Skills and Ability: Research shows that early participation in multiple sports leads to better overall motor and athletic development, longer playing careers, increased ability to transfer sports skills other sports and increased motivation, ownership of the sports experience, and confidence.
- Smarter, More Creative Players: Multi-sport participation at the youngest ages yields better decision making and pattern recognition, as well as increased creativity. These are all qualities that coaches of high level teams look for.
- Most College Athletes Come From a Multi-Sport Background: A 2013 American Medical Society for Sports Medicine survey found that 88% of college athletes surveyed participated in more than one sport as a child
- 10,000 Hours is not a Rule: In his survey of the scientific literature regarding sport specific practice in The Sports Gene, author David Epstein finds that most elite competitors require far less than 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. Specifically, studies have shown that basketball (4000), field hockey (4000) and wrestling (6000) all require far less than 10,000 hours. Even Anders Ericsson, the researcher credited with discovering the 10,000 hour rule, says the misrepresentation of his work, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers, ignores many of the elements that go into high-performance (genetics, coaching, opportunity, luck) and focuses on only one, deliberate practice. That, he says, is wrong.
- Free Play Equals More Play: Early specialization ignores the importance of deliberate play/free play. Researches found that activities which are intrinsically motivating, maximize fun and provide enjoyment are incredibly important. These are termed deliberate play (as opposed to deliberate practice, which are activities motivated by the goal of performance enhancement and not enjoyment). Deliberate play increases motor skills, emotional ability, and creativity. Children allowed deliberate play also tend spend more time engaged in a sport than athletes in structured training with a coach.
- There are Many Paths to Mastery: A 2003 study on professional ice hockey players found that while most pros had spent 10,000 hours or more involved in sports prior to age 20, only 3000 of those hours were involved in hockey specific deliberate practice (and only 450 of those hours were prior to age 12).
An additional thought is provided by top youth sports researchers Jean Cote and Jessica Fraser-Thomas. They suggest that at no time should a young athlete participate year round in a single sport. While they recommend that athletes in sports whose competitors peak after age 20 need to accumulate around 10,000 hours of general sports participation, no more than half of that needs to be deliberate practice of their chosen sport. As a general rule they recommend the following age breakdown for athletes trying to achieve elite status in a specific sport:
- Prior to age 12: 80% of time should be spent in deliberate play and in sports OTHER THAN the chosen sport!
- Age 13-15: 50/50 split between a chosen sport and other athletic pursuits
- Age 16+: Even when specialization becomes very important, 20% of training time should still be in the non-specialized sport and deliberate play.
How Do You Approach People with this Information?
Every adult involved in youth sports will come up against people who advocate for single sport specialization. Some think their child is the next Tiger Woods, the next Venus Williams, the next Lionel Messi, so they are getting in their 10,000 hours. Others are afraid to go against the grain, and fear that they are disadvantaging their own child by not specializing. Hogwash!
I meet these folks too, and I blind them with the science. I then ask for the data and research that supports their theory. Cue the cricket noises, because it does not exist.
(Click Here to See part II: What Do I Do if My Child Only Wants to Play One Sport?)
If you know these folks, send this to them. Post it on Facebook. Send it to your club director and your coach who thinks you should skip grandma’s 90th birthday because your U11 team has your fourth tournament of the summer that weekend (this is an actual call I took by the way).
Of course, this will not work all the time, or even most of the time. Visit your local airport smoking lounge to see the effect an abundance of science on the hazards of smoking has on many folks. But who cares, present it anyway!
At some point, parents need to ask themselves “Are we ready for a better alternative?” Does my 10 year old really need to keep playing 11.5 months of soccer a year in order to have a chance of success? Am I really doing him a disservice by making him play multiple sports, and trying to help him find one he is passionate about?
I think we are ready for an alternative. I think people are sick of 11 straight months of 6am trips to the hockey rink, and weekend after weekend of expensive out of town soccer tournaments for “elite” 11 year olds. I know I am not alone in thinking this.
The best sport psychology is on our side. The best research into athletic development and physiology is on our side. The top minds in sports medicine are on our side.
Aligned against us are a few people who stand to profit from promoting the mythology surrounding single sport specialization. Not scientists. Not researchers. Not top coaching minds. Profiteers, often backed by parents and coaches living out their own unfulfilled sports dreams through the children.
I like the company I am keeping these days. For the sake of our kids, I hope you will join me.
Please share your thoughts, comments and questions below. if you have enjoyed this and want to learn more, grab my new book “Is It Wise to Specialize?” and learn much more about how to answer this question for your own kids! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Sources for this article included:
Michael Sagas, “What Does the Science Say About Athletic Development in Children?” University of Florida Sport Policy and Research Collaborative
Tom Farrey, “Early Positive Experiences: What is Age Appropriate?“ Roundtable Summary from the Aspen Institute’s Sports and Society “Project Play” Initiative
Brooke De Lench, “Early Sports Specialization: Does it Lead to Long Term Problems?“ www.momsteam.com
Butler, Chris: Is Early Sport Specialization a Risk Factor for Anterior Knee Pain in Female Athletes?
[…] star or college athlete that we are putting the health and well being of our children at risk by specializing far to early in sports, selecting “elite” teams at far to young an age, and ignoring the reasons why kids play sports […]
[…] Also this article Is it wise to specialise […]
[…] you have children in sports, you should watch this Hangout. Very insightful. Curious about kids specializing in one sport? How do you handle parents on the sideline who are behaving badly? Should you force […]
[…] Farrey, “Early Positive Experiences: What is Age Appropriate?” Roundtable Summary from the Aspen Institute’s Sports and Society “Project Play” […]
[…] article on sport specialization, “Is it Wise to Specialize,” prompted quite a bit of discussion, commentary, and controversy, with people chiming in from […]
[…] The Detrimental Effect of Early Sport Specialization | Changing the Game Project. […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/?goback=%2Egde_673027_member_582892023237… […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] Is it wise for kids to specialise? […]
[…] early specialization works for a lucky few, an increasingly large wave of research has provided proof that early specialization doesn’t work so well for the rest of us. Let us count the […]
[…] Resources: The Detrimental Effect of Early Sport Specialization | Changing the Game Project ESPN – The best all-around athletes List of Multi-Sport Athletes Athletes Who Played in […]
[…] hours if they are going to become top players. They demand more commitment at younger ages. They demand specialization, which can be quite harmful to kids. They funnel every child into their “10,000 Hour System.” […]
[…] society is rushing toward specialization in all areas, especially youth sports. We see it in the college and professional ranks, that it is rare to have a two-sport […]
[…] So why was I surprised? […]
[…] Here is an excellent article, chock full of really good information and reasons why kids should play more than one sport: https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] Is it Wise to Specialize? […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] Avoiding Early Specialization improves your chances […]
[…] Changing the Game Project, has a great post on this subject. A child is more likely to be worn out if they play one sport and more susceptible to an overuse injury. Their body is not ready for the demand of a year round sport, but rather to be introduced to multiple sports throughout the year. According to Changing the Game Project, the best time to focus on one sport, if the teen wants to, would be between the ages of 16 to 20 years of age. But some activity should be spent away from the main sport as well. […]
[…] Article Source: https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] about the detrimental effects of specializing in a sport too early. You can read the full article HERE. It is a really great article that talks about how pressured kids and parents feel these days to […]
[…] problem is that such wisdom, especially when combined with the push to specialize early, the emphasis on winning over development, the mythology surrounding 10,000 Hours of deliberate […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] J. (2013)Is it wise to specialize? Available at:https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ ( Accessed: […]
[…] av forskningsläget om riskerna med tidiga vuxenidrottsliknande satsningar och tidig specialisering här eller på svenska här). Sedan: Styr bort från löjlig övertro på deliberate practice och släpp […]
[…] should wait till at least high school before deciding to specialize at one sport. There are many studies that show negative effects associate with early sports specialization, including increased likelihood of injury and burnout. But as the trend continues, the need for […]
[…] Is it Wise to Specialize: “I’d also argue that multi-sport kids have a better chance to stay emotionally healthy, because they’re free of the all-the-eggs-in-one-basket pressure that goes with specialization — a pressure that can lead unhealthy patterns when it comes to relationships and emotional stability.” […]
[…] This specialization has trickled down to youth sports as well. Growing up, I played about six different sports competitively and always played something different every season. My theory on youth sports fits into Menand’s second theory on college. I enjoyed playing for the experience. I loved the competition, I got to develop life skills such as leadership and teamwork, and I made some of my best friends who I still keep in touch with to this day. More people, however, are beginning to lean towards the specialization theory, the equivalent to Menand’s third theory. The rise of travel sports leagues and people taking sports lessons has given children access to playing one sport all year. Children focus on one sport with the belief that it gives them a better opportunity to develop their skills and play at higher levels. While advocates of theory three would argue for this idea, I believe that the experience of playing multiple sports is more valuable than putting all your work into one sport with the hope that you can play in college or in the pros. When it comes to sports, I am a believer in Menand’s second theory. […]
[…] Full article here: https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize […]
[…] Require year round participation to be a part of elementary school age youth teams, which goes again… […]
[…] Require year round participation to be a part of elementary school age youth teams, which goes again… […]
[…] The Detrimental Effect of Early Sport Specialization | Changing the Game Project Among other fact based info in there, "Most College Athletes Come From a Multi-Sport Background: A 2013 American Medical Society for Sports Medicine survey found that 88% of college athletes surveyed participated in more than one sport as a child" Reply With Quote […]
[…] Here are some other advantages I have previously written about: […]
[…] Here are some other advantages I have previously written about: […]
[…] “Is It Wise to Specialize” https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] Require year round participation to be a part of elementary school age youth teams, which goes again… […]
[…] John O’sullivan: is it wise to specialize? […]
[…] Require year round participation to be a part of elementary school age youth teams, which goes again… […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] Require year round participation to be a part of elementary school age youth teams, which goes again… […]
[…] From this article, ‘Is it Wise to Specialize?‘, ‘here are five research excerpts’. […]
[…] Range of Sports – there is a growing amount of evidence that early specialisation in a sport for children is detrimental. it is even being suggested that a multi-sports approach might even help in producing more elite […]
[…] We adults tend to think we have all the answers when it comes to youth sports. More free play. Forget the free play; enroll your kids in organized sports, quick. Specialize from an early age. Don’t specialize; play a variety of sports year-round. […]
[…] We adults tend to think we have all the answers when it comes to youth sports. More free play. Forget the free play; enroll your kids in organized sports, quick. Specialize from an early age. Don’t specialize; play a variety of sports year-round. […]
[…] The Detrimental Effect of Early Sport Specialization | Changing the Game Project https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] Require year round participation to be a part of elementary school age youth teams, which goes again… […]
[…] other things, your kids aren’t going pro, they probably aren’t getting scholarships, repeated impact from the same sport will deteriorate their joints sooner, and excessive specialization in a particular sport won’t give them the chance to explore […]
[…] helped them with one specific sport that they would eventually excel in. Before the age of 12, 80% of activity should be spent playing multiple sports other than the chosen sport of the parents. By age 13-15 the athlete should have their time split […]
[…] one sport their chances of injury increased dramatically. If you want to read more on this Click here for a blog post, and here for a article published regarding the […]
[…] Require year round participation to be a part of elementary school age youth teams, which goes again… […]
[…] thing is, statistics show that kids who are exposed to more activities and multiple sports are better equipped for creative […]
[…] Kids are specializing way too early. […]
[…] thing is, statistics show that kids who are exposed to more activities and multiple sports are better equipped for creative […]
[…] younger than high school age don’t need to specialize in one sport. In fact, there’s science out there that says that it’s not good for them to. Playing more than one sport reduces the risk of […]
[…] O’Sullivan of Changing the Game Project in Is it Wise to Specialize? presents the pressure to specialize as one of things that’s wrong with youth sports. Be sure […]
[…] this is closely related to why there is so much buzz about the risk of early specialization , the role of youth multisport participation, and why so many elite level athlete’s are multisport athletes before […]
[…] this is closely related to why there is so much buzz about the risk of early specialization , the role of youth multisport participation, and why so many elite level athlete’s are multisport athletes before […]
[…] to an article written in the Changing the Game Project, “Is It Wise to Specialize? by John O’Sullivan,” there are many reasons why […]
[…] hours if they are going to become top players. They demand more commitment at younger ages. They demand specialization, which can be quite harmful to kids. They funnel every child into their “10,000 Hour System.” […]
[…] For more information about this vital subject, i invite you to read the following articles: The detrimental effect of early sports specialization Nine Reasons Why Early Specialization is a Bad Idea In the mean time, i sent Samantha a Facebook […]
[…] shows that early participation in multiple sports leads to better overall motor and athletic development and an increased ability to transfer sports skills to …. It also leads to longer playing […]
[…] of the major arguments is that it can be easier to develop better motor skills and become a better decision-maker by […]
[…] of the major arguments is that it can be easier to develop better motor skills and become a better decision-maker by […]
[…] O’Sullivan, J. (2014) Is it Wise to Specialize? Retrieved from:https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] from Brady is at that link, Yet studies have actually additionally shown that it’s a good pointer to permit youngsters multiple activities, very compared to forcing […]
[…] from Brady is during that link, though studies have also shown that it’s a good thought to concede kids mixed activities, rather than forcing […]
[…] I think, but I also grew up not specializing in anything and had a blast doing so. On top of that, several studies have shown that playing a lot of sports growing up is essential in developing a wide range of […]
[…] is overvloedig bewijs (zie bv deze inleiding op het boek “Changing the Game” van John O’Sullivan) dat vroegtijdige specialisatie een tegengesteld effect heeft op dat wat […]
[…] must specialize as early as possible if they want to play in college or professionally. False: Early specialization does not equate to a more skilled athlete. In fact, the more sports a child plays, the better developed all of their motor skills will be. […]
[…] Require year round participation to be a part of elementary school age youth teams, which goes again… […]
[…] to lower risks of GI issues; the discovery that allowing children to participate in many sports, may benefit them more than specializing too […]
[…] The first is kids are spending too much time focused on one sport at too young an age. An infinitesimal number of athletes will become professionals. Yet, parents invest time and money and push their kids to spend all their time on one sport. At least until high school, if not past that, kids should play different sports. It’s better for their physical and mental development. Here’s something important to read on this subject. […]
[…] Is it Wise to Specialize? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] Based on the research, it would not be a good thing if all of the rugby players in America, or anywhere else, played rugby and only rugby from their earliest encounters with sport. A variety of athletic endeavors as a child improves the chances of succeeding at an elite level. […]
[…] single sport specialization was one of the strongest predictors of injury. As reported in an article on the dangers of single sport specialization from Changing the Game Project, “Athletes in the study who specialized were 70 to 93 percent […]
[…] hours if they are going to become top players. They demand more commitment at younger ages. They demand specialization, which can be quite harmful to kids. They funnel every child into their “10,000 Hour System.” […]
[…] thing. Performance is secondary. Mind you, those two things are not mutually exclusive; the statistics back me up that multi-sport youth athletes are often more successful than single sport yo… So as parents, coaches, and diehards, let’s protect our kids as well as the sports we love. […]
[…] my recommendation for parents who ask this question is to get their child to play more sports. According Sport Canada, early child development in sport is much more focussed on play. If play […]
[…] selection–doesn’t leave a lot of room for coaches and parents to accommodate individuality. Specialization directly correlates with increased risk and rates of injury in both sexes, but it also correlates with getting […]
[…] selection–doesn’t leave a lot of room for coaches and parents to accommodate individuality. Specialization directly correlates with increased risk and rates of injury in both sexes, but it also correlates with getting […]
[…] Unfortunately, once kids quit a sport they are extremely unlikely to return. […]
[…] Their young bodies suffer from stress fractures and other perils of overtraining, and their sport-specific skill development restricts overall growth as an athlete. With schedules crammed full of practices, clinics, games and travel, where is the available time […]
[…] Their young bodies suffer from stress fractures and other perils of overtraining, and their sport-specific skill development restricts overall growth as an athlete. With schedules crammed full of practices, clinics, games and travel, where is the available time […]
[…] Their young bodies suffer from stress fractures and other perils of overtraining, and their sport-specific skill development restricts overall growth as an athlete. With schedules crammed full of practices, clinics, games and travel, where is the available time […]
[…] Their young bodies suffer from stress fractures and other perils of overtraining, and their sport-specific skill development restricts overall growth as an athlete. With schedules crammed full of practices, clinics, games and travel, where is the available time […]
[…] Their young bodies suffer from stress fractures and other perils of overtraining, and their sport-specific skill development restricts overall growth as an athlete. With schedules crammed full of practices, clinics, games and travel, where is the available time […]
[…] Their young bodies suffer from stress fractures and other perils of overtraining, and their sport-specific skill development restricts overall growth as an athlete. With schedules crammed full of practices, clinics, games and travel, where is the available time […]
[…] a subject I have written about before here and here. Our articles on sport specialization, such as “Is it Wise to Specialize?” are some of our most read. But I do believe that players who commit to one sport per season get the […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ THIS IS AN AMAZING […]
[…] a spot for your 8-year-old soccer player? Welcome aboard, as long as you make soccer your primary commitment 11 months a year. Want to play basketball this winter for three months? Sorry, we will give your […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] decreases the chances of a child being active in sports as an adult. Indeed, there’s been a growing movement to build awareness about the dangers of attempting to groom the next Sven Nys or Lebron James (who also played […]
[…] Episode Resources: The Detrimental Effect of Early Sport Specialization | Changing the Game Project ESPN – The best all-around athletes List of Multi-Sport Athletes Athletes Who Played in […]
Asking questions are really pleasant thing if you are not understanding anything fully, except this article presents good understanding even.
The Outback Bowl retailer at Lids is your
a single-cease shop for College gear this season!
[…] this is closely related to why there is so much buzz about the risk of early specialization , the role of youth multisport participation, and why so many elite level athlete’s are multisport athletes before […]
[…] a subject I have written about before here and here. Our articles on sport specialization, such as “Is it Wise to Specialize?” are some of our most read. But I do believe that players who commit to one sport per season get the […]
[…] Private coaching. Excessive travel. Year round commitments for very young kids despite what the science says. Does this make sports more enjoyable? Or does it turn kids’ games into adultified versions that […]
[…] Private coaching. Excessive travel. Year round commitments for very young kids despite what the science says. Does this make sports more enjoyable? Or does it turn kids’ games into adultified versions that […]
[…] they take on family time, the debates about whether a single sport should be year round and the arguments to support multi-sport kids. Then there are the articles about the parents. You know, those crazy sports parents. The […]
[…] Private coaching. Excessive travel. Year round commitments for very young kids despite what the science says. Does this make sports more enjoyable? Or does it turn kids’ games into adultified versions that […]
[…] sensible folks to take kids away from playing with their friends, search out the winning team, and make them specialize in spite of all the evidence to the contrary. FOMO makes us feel that we are letting our kids down by not providing them with every single […]
[…] At the same time, though, there can sometimes be an over-focus and excessive training in a single sport. The pressure to specialize at a young age has never been stronger. But according to Dr. Ted Forcum – a former US Olympic medical team member who teaches in the Yoga Calm RYT program – having kids participate in a variety of sports and exercise activities up to the 13 to 16 age range leads to overall better motor and athletic development. And other experts concur. […]
[…] A gist of what I read at https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/: […]
[…] O’Sullivan, “Is it Wise to Specialize?” Changing the Game […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] Here are some other advantages I have previously written about: […]
[…] they take on family time, the debates about whether a single sport should be year round and the arguments to support multi-sport kids. Then there are the articles about the parents. You know, those crazy sports parents. The […]
[…] I have written about before here and here. Our articles on sport specialization, such as “Is it Wise to Specialize?” are some of our most read. But I do believe that players who commit to one sport per season get […]
[…] tell these young kids to specialize or else we will take away their spot on the team, in spite of the detrimental affects of early sports specialization. And guess what happens? Many of these early stars shine brightly, and then […]
[…] Episode Resources: The Detrimental Effect of Early Sport Specialization | Changing the Game Project ESPN – The best all-around athletes List of Multi-Sport Athletes Athletes Who Played in […]
[…] the long view and win the marathon, not the sprint: Outside of female gymnastics and figure skating, where athletes peak in their early to mid-teens, i…most sports athletes peak in their 20s. There are many unique pathways to the top, but pouring a […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] this is closely related to why there is so much buzz about the risk of early specialization , the role of youth multisport participation, and why so many elite level athlete’s are multisport athletes before […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] to quit their sport and be physically inactive as adults. In fact, according to an article in “Changing the Game Project”, a survey of college athletes by the American Society of Sports Medicine found that 88 percent of […]
[…] Is It Wise To Specialize […]
[…] For more on the research and the need to spread the word on the detrimental effects of specialization check out this article. […]
[…] The following website and article were used in answering the question: https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]
[…] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ THIS IS AN AMAZING […]
[…] my recommendation for parents who ask this question is to get their child to play more sports. According Sport Canada, early child development in sport is much more focussed on play. If play […]
[…] es muy habitual en padres que quieren vivir de sus hijos y que quieren vivir de sus hijos. Pero Jonh O´Sullivan ha publicado varios libros y ha contado su experiencia como entrenador en múltiples charlas TED y, […]
[…] Outside of female gymnastics and figure skating, where athletes peak in their early to mid-teens, in most sports athletes peak in their 20s.There are many unique pathways to the top, but pouring a twenty-year-old’s amount of training […]
[…] bastante espacio a fin de que los entrenadores y los progenitores se amolden a la individualidad. La especialización se relaciona de manera directa con mayor peligro y tasas de lesiones en los dos sexos, pero asimismo se relaciona con competir por […]
[…] to make sure there’s variety in the stimulus that training provides. There’s a reason why early-sport specialization is ruining athleticism and increasing rate of injuries in young athletes. Lack of variety creates […]
[…] can’t bring myself to make them choose – and science backs me up on this one. Kids who specialize in sports at a young age are more prone to injuries, burnout, and adult inactivity. Participating […]
[…] in order to play in college may work against the athlete. In Changing the Game Project’s article, “Is it Wise to Specialize,” they list multiple research-backed traits that multi-sport athletes have compared to one-sport […]
[…] helped them with one specific sport that they would eventually excel in. Before the age of 12, 80% of activity should be spent playing multiple sports other than the chosen sport of the parents. By age 13-15 the athlete should have their time split […]
[…] The following website and article were used in answering the question: http://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]