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Is it Wise to Specialize?

by John O'Sullivan / Monday, 13 January 2014 / Published in Problems in Youth Sports, Specialization, Sports Parenting

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?”

Wise to Specialize eBook cover web(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.

(Click Here to Check Out Part II of this Story: What Do I Do if My Child Only Wants to Play One Sport)

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:

  1. Children who specialize in a single sport account for 50% of overuse injuries in young athletes according to pediatric orthopedic specialists
  2. 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.
  3. 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!
  4. Children who specialize early are at a far greater risk for burnout due to stress, decreased motivation and lack of enjoyment
  5. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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).

Multiple sports picAn 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?

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Tagged under: coaching, family values, parenting, performance, positive sports experiences, pressure, problems in youth sports, sports parenting, youth sports

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122 Comments to “Is it Wise to Specialize?”

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  73. Parenting Advice, part 2 | Six Simple Rules for a Better Life says : Reply
    February 10, 2016 at 4:05 am

    […] 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. […]

  74. The State of Youth Sports W2016 | PROspective says : Reply
    February 10, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    […] Is it Wise to Specialize? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]

  75. Episode 2: Sports, Family, and Church – The Parent Pastor Podcast says : Reply
    March 4, 2016 at 6:31 pm

    […] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]

  76. Rugby Players, Not Crossovers - Rugby Wrap Up : Rugby Wrap Up says : Reply
    March 7, 2016 at 5:22 am

    […] 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. […]

  77. Single Sport Specialization Can Be Dangerous for Young Athletes | Reno Moms Blog says : Reply
    March 16, 2016 at 9:30 am

    […] 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 […]

  78. The 10,000 Hour Myth - SoccerFindr says : Reply
    April 12, 2016 at 8:39 am

    […] 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.” […]

  79. Early Specialization in Sports & the Origin of the Pitch Count – Liberty Performance Training says : Reply
    April 14, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    […] 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.  […]

  80. Should junior golfers workout? By Doug Lawrie, World Junior Golf Advisory Board | World Junior Golf says : Reply
    April 27, 2016 at 2:52 pm

    […] 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 […]

  81. Top 10 Reasons Women Can’t Play Sports – Trendy10 says : Reply
    May 10, 2016 at 5:33 am

    […] 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 […]

  82. Top 10 Reasons Women Can’t Play Sports – Top Tip 10 says : Reply
    May 28, 2016 at 3:21 am

    […] 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 […]

  83. Should Lacrosse Goalies Play Other Sports Too? says : Reply
    May 29, 2016 at 8:20 pm

    […] Unfortunately, once kids quit a sport they are extremely unlikely to return. […]

  84. College admissions counselor: Competitive youth sports is crazy — but, yes, I still let my daughter play – Washington Post | Information says : Reply
    June 11, 2016 at 10:59 am

    […] 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 […]

  85. College admissions counselor: Competitive youth sports is crazy — but, yes, I still let my daughter play - Washington Post - Epicks Media says : Reply
    June 11, 2016 at 11:26 am

    […] 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 […]

  86. College admissions counselor: Competitive youth sports is crazy — but, yes, I still let my daughter play – Washington Post | Sports Fitness Clothing says : Reply
    June 11, 2016 at 4:49 pm

    […] 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 […]

  87. College admissions counselor: Competitive youth sports is crazy — but, yes, I still let my daughter play – Washington Post | Sport Fine Mall says : Reply
    June 11, 2016 at 5:04 pm

    […] 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 […]

  88. College admissions counselor: Competitive youth sports is crazy — but, yes, I still let my daughter play – Washington Post | Sporting tools mart says : Reply
    June 11, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    […] 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 […]

  89. College admissions counselor: Competitive youth sports is crazy — but, yes, I still let my daughter play – Washington Post | Soccer line sport says : Reply
    June 11, 2016 at 7:40 pm

    […] 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 […]

  90. Yes, I Do Play My Favorites - Changing the Game Project says : Reply
    September 12, 2016 at 8:37 pm

    […] 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 […]

  91. Don’t Fall Into the Early Sport Specialization Trap | Bloomington Personal Training says : Reply
    September 13, 2016 at 7:16 am

    […] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ THIS IS AN AMAZING […]

  92. Let's Stop the Early Sport Specialization Madness! - Changing the Game Project says : Reply
    September 27, 2016 at 10:44 pm

    […] 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 […]

  93. Should You Specialize in Sports? - Bulldog Nation says : Reply
    October 6, 2016 at 8:02 pm

    […] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]

  94. USA Cycling Eliminates Junior 9-10 Age Group for 2017 Cyclocross National Championships says : Reply
    October 21, 2016 at 12:50 pm

    […] 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 […]

  95. Early Sport Specialization & 1-Page Programming | RITTER Sports Performance says : Reply
    November 5, 2016 at 10:47 pm

    […] 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 […]

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  98. Brain Spill #2: Thoughts on Movement Variability, Pain Science, and Overuse Injury « says : Reply
    December 11, 2016 at 10:20 am

    […] 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 […]

  99. Yes, I Do Play My Favorites – Deerfoot United says : Reply
    December 20, 2016 at 11:53 am

    […] 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 […]

  100. Why Kids Play Sports – Deerfoot United says : Reply
    January 16, 2017 at 11:25 am

    […] 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 […]

  101. Why Kids Play Sports – Limpopo Aquatics says : Reply
    January 18, 2017 at 1:31 am

    […] 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 […]

  102. What Youth Sports Should Look Like - Project Faces and Places says : Reply
    February 12, 2017 at 7:35 am

    […] 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 […]

  103. Why Kids Play Sports - Changing the Game Project says : Reply
    March 3, 2017 at 11:21 am

    […] 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 […]

  104. Is FOMO Ruining Youth Sports? - Changing the Game Project says : Reply
    March 12, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    […] 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 […]

  105. Low Back Pain? Kids Can Have It, Too. And Yoga Can Help (Tips Included!) - My CMS says : Reply
    April 25, 2017 at 6:57 pm

    […] 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. […]

  106. Single Sport Specialization for kids? – Site Title says : Reply
    May 22, 2017 at 5:25 am

    […] A gist of what I read at https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/: […]

  107. The Truth About Specialization in Sports says : Reply
    June 5, 2017 at 6:12 am

    […] O’Sullivan, “Is it Wise to Specialize?” Changing the Game […]

  108. Specialization in Sport – ON EDGE says : Reply
    August 7, 2017 at 6:57 pm

    […] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]

  109. Weekend Wisdom: Article on the Perils of Single Sport Participation – Westlake High School says : Reply
    September 8, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    […] Here are some other advantages I have previously written about: […]

  110. What Youth Sports Should Look Like - On Davis Time says : Reply
    November 18, 2017 at 12:50 pm

    […] 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 […]

  111. Yes, Play Favorites – Soccer Toolbox says : Reply
    November 24, 2017 at 11:40 am

    […] 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 […]

  112. Surviving Tryout Season - Changing the Game Project says : Reply
    December 1, 2017 at 12:50 pm

    […] 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 […]

  113. Early Sport Specialization & 1-Page Programming - RITTER Sports Performance says : Reply
    December 18, 2017 at 10:30 am

    […] 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 […]

  114. Winning the Race to the Right Finish Line in Youth Sports - Changing the Game Project says : Reply
    January 23, 2018 at 7:47 pm

    […] 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 […]

  115. Guerin Catholic - Team Home Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles Sports says : Reply
    April 14, 2018 at 2:28 am

    […] https://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]

  116. Brain Spill #2: Thoughts on Movement Variability, Pain Science, and Overuse Injury says : Reply
    November 9, 2018 at 7:05 am

    […] 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 […]

  117. Preventing Injury and Burnout - The Risks of Sport Specialization - Southern Rehab & Sports Medicine says : Reply
    November 16, 2018 at 6:18 am

    […] http://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]

  118. When Doing More May be Better- Sports Specialization in Young Athletes – International Dateline says : Reply
    January 24, 2019 at 7:32 am

    […] 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 […]

  119. Looking for Answers? Get Our FREE Booklet With Links to Our Most Popular Articles for Parents, Coaches, Athletes and Youth Sports Organizations - Changing the Game Project says : Reply
    April 25, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    […] Is It Wise To Specialize […]

  120. Sport specialization: Is it wise? - Quantum Performance says : Reply
    May 28, 2019 at 1:45 am

    […] For more on the research and the need to spread the word on the detrimental effects of specialization check out this article. […]

  121. Sport Specialization – Fitness First says : Reply
    October 3, 2019 at 8:21 am

    […] The following website and article were used in answering the question: http://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ […]

  122. Don’t Fall Into the Early Sport Specialization Trap - forcebloomington.com says : Reply
    October 29, 2019 at 8:58 am

    […] http://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/ THIS IS AN AMAZING […]

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