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Early Specialization in Single Sport: A Dangerous Trend?

Submitted by Lindsay Barton on Wed, 07/09/2008 - 19:43.
More and more parents are buying into the idea - one that many youth sports organizations and coaches actively promote - that their child will be unable to attain success or even make a high school or college team without specializing, playing on a select team, playing year round, and attending special sports camps in the summer. Many parents have come to believe that more (more teams, more practices, more intense and competitive games) and earlier (travel teams at age seven!) is somehow better.  How do you feel?  What do you think of this trend?  What do you think can be done to keep our kids from suffering the burnout, overuse injuries, and stress that early specialization and travel team seem to be causing?
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Unfortunately, we are in an

Submitted by JDee on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 14:02.

Unfortunately, we are in an age now where some people can afford to go this route with their kids. It's a scary form of parenting because most reasonable folks would not subject their kids to this. However, when you involved emotions and the avenue is available, it's a slippery slope. Parents get so flattered that someone is interested in their child athletically they can't turn down any offers.
Experts need to continue hammering home the facts. That the vast majority of kids that play one sport exclusively from a young age do not continue in that sport. That kids who play multiple sports are much better rounded athletes and there is not an advantage of playing one sport.
Another thing that needs to be brought out is the college scholarship myth. Most Division I college sports offer partial scholarships at best. Many non-revenue generating sports include walk ons and little scholarship opportunities. Division II offers much less and Division III and NAIA schools cannot offer athletic scholarships, so it's really pay to play folks!