Over the past 40 years, youth sports culture has changed dramatically. Neighborhood kids meeting up in the evenings for a relaxed pick-up game of basketball or baseball has slowly been replaced with serious participation in organized sports run by schools or private sports organizations. Many parents patiently await the day when their son or daughter reaches the sports playing age, where they’ll find an answer to the long brewed-over question: What sport will they play? It goes without question that joining a sports team offers children many valuable life lessons that any parent should wish for their children. Playing sports teaches our youth responsibility, time management, respect for others, sportsmanship and how to function as a member of a team, as well as training their body for physical fitness and wellness. Seems like a win-win, right?
[See: 8 Signs You Are Made to Be an Athlete.]
But what happens when parents and/or coaches see a talent emerging from their child at a young age? For most, the knee-jerk answer is to encourage and push their child further in that direction; after all, what parent doesn’t want to see their child succeed and win? This is one of the reasons sports specialization is becoming the norm in youth sports. Many young athletes are being pushed by their families and coaches to exclusively pursue one sport in the hopes of mastering it. The thinking is: If everything aligns perfectly, this could mean great success for the young athlete. But doing so also runs the risk of some long-lasting negative impacts on the mind and body.
When you think of specializing in a sport, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Practice, practice, and more practice. The amount of time spent practicing and competing can become overwhelming for an athlete of such a young age and can lead to exhaustion and burnout, which is characterized by physical, mental or emotional exhaustion. An esteemed colleague of mine, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, spoke to ABC News recently about the very real physical risks of youth sports specialization. He said that physically, overuse injuries become much more common and the risk increases when the young athlete continually uses the same motions and set of muscles, and may neglect to properly train their body as a whole.
[See: The Best Olympic Sport for Your Body Type.]
In cases of burnout, it’s typically the parent that pushes the athlete to stay in a sport. The intense weight of expectations and the fear of letting his or her parents and/or coaches down becomes the child’s only reason for continuing. This feeling of a loss of autonomy can leave a child feeling “stuck” and have negative impacts on mental health. In addition, spending so much time with the sport, which is typically a year-round commitment at elite levels, leaves minimal time for anything else. Imperative social skills and relationships are established at this age, but these may be sacrificed in making time for practice and competition. Spending time with peers is essential at a young age, and yes, the child will be spending plenty of time with teammates, but that type of support network (with identical goals and views) can unintentionally influence the child in favor of his or her sport.
As a side note, the financial cost of this type of commitment is also something to be considered. This goes beyond the effects on the youth athlete and moves onto affecting the family — in the pocketbook. Dues, equipment and traveling costs year-round can add up quickly and place a financial burden on a family. Some families may find themselves putting other necessities or commitments on the back-burner just to support their child’s sport.
Now for the good news. To help with reduction of the physical and mental risks associated with sports specialization, there are some beneficial recommendations. Instead of playing through an entire year, a two or three month break is strongly suggested to help with injury prevention or recovery and reduce feelings of burnout. During that break, the athlete may even wish to participate in a different sport, and this “sampling” or participation in various sports can expand the athlete’s physical skillset and relieve some of the emotional pressure he or she may be feeling.
[See: 10 Themed Races to Make Getting in Shape Fun.]
So, is it ever appropriate to specialize? The answer to this is a multi-faceted one, but sports specialization is not always negative; it’s just all about the timing. Simply delaying sport specialization until after puberty (around 16 years old) will minimize the risks and lead to a higher likelihood of the child’s athletic success. The primary focus of sports for younger athletes should be to have fun and learn lifelong physical activity skills. Paying attention to the physical and emotional well-being of the child must take precedent over all else, and in doing so, the young athlete and parent can make the decision that is most appropriately suited for them.
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Is Sports Specialization in Children a Good Thing? originally appeared on usnews.com
