The trend towards early specialization and an increasingly professionalized approach to youth sports is not supported by hard scientific evidence about youth talent development. Instead it appears to be driven by folklore, myths and half-truths, a herd mentality, the ever-burgeoning youth sports industry, and by adults more intent on winning than acting in the best long-term interests of children.
There are seven reasons why specializing early and playing on travel or select teams at an early age (before grade six) is a bad idea:
- It interferes with healthy child develoment;
- It doesn't guarantee future athletic success;
- It hurts, rather than helps, skill development;
- It is elitist;
- It leads to overuse injuries;
- It promotes adult values and interests, not those of children; and
- It increases the chances that the child will suffer burnout and quit sports.
Brooke, I wholeheartedly
Brooke, I wholeheartedly agree, specialization in one sport is a terrible idea for young athletes. Unfortunately, the recently ended Olympic goes against that thought. Nightly, we saw Olympic athletes from around the world, especially in gymnastics and swimming who've done that sport since they were 3 or 4 years old. For most it's the only sport they've ever done. I especially take offense to gymnastics. Most of the gymnists belong to academies where they train hours upon hours, some even moving (without) their families.
You tell me how it could be positive for a 10 year old kid to move away from their family and practice gymnastics for 10 hours a day? Even an Olympic gold medal isn't worth the negative impact is has on a young person.
The posts were really
The posts were really owsome.I enjoyed reading it.
I was really struck by this
I was really struck by this post because recently I was having a conversation with a friend who was telling me about child artists and how they grow up in an adult world and they have lost their childhood because of the expectations that surround them. And then I come across your post which says the exact same thing but in the context of sports. I wonder if we should push our children too much into anything. Expose them to many and let them move on from there.
Matsson
Skill Development
Have you read Daniel Coyle's "Talent Code", or his blog on the subject? He writes of one of the hotbeds of tennis talent in Moscow where the coach does not allow her students to play competitively for several months. Instead, they focus on developing sound fundamentals. While there are skills learned through games (strategy, adjustments, etc.) many fundamentals go by the wayside in order to win a match.
Cross-training
I was really struck by this
I was really struck by this post because recently I was having a conversation with a friend who was telling me about child artists and how they grow up in an adult world and they have lost their childhood because of the expectations that surround them. And then I come across your post which says the exact same thing but in the context of sports. I wonder if we should push our children too much into anything. Expose them to many and let them move on from there.
Having to choose at 10 years old?
My daughter played in a youth soccer program ("house" league) the last few years, where she did well, but it was a volunteer organization, volunteer coaches, etc. Last fall, she tried out and made a travel soccer team with paid coaches who have credentials. This past fall, she also signed up for ballet and jazz dance classes, working around her soccer practice schedule. We just were notified her spring soccer practices are now on the same days/same times as her dance class. Now, what is she supposed to do? Is just part of sports/part of life and she just has to choose? My daughter is in tears. I think it is ridiculous that she has to make these choices at this age...She's 10!
Unfortunately Steph, yes,
Unfortunately Steph, yes, choices have to start being made at younger and younger ages. But you have options. If she enjoys dance and ballet classes, see if they are offered on another night, or go back to playing house soccer where the schedule may be more flexible. At some point, wheather she's 10, 12 or 15, she's going to have to decide which one she likes better, or she may like something else?
Competition between student
Competition between student clubs from different colleges, not organized by and therefore not representing the institutions or their faculties which is the major drawback in major of the sports. In france we do it different.
You have a good point on
You have a good point on that, I would surely follow your advice.
As mentioned earlier Mr.
As mentioned earlier Mr. Morton, this does not mean you can’t be involved, in fact, it may be a blessing. Don’t know the level of competition,
Our little encouragement can
Our little encouragement can bring radical change in our kid. So I often attend in their performance whether in parents' day or in inter-school sport competition. I am sure that none of the guardians or parents want to miss their kid's performance because this really makes the children upset. Besides, our children want to go outside with us.
Competition between student
Competition between student clubs from different colleges, not organized by and therefore not representing the institutions or their faculties which is the major drawback in major of the sports. In france we do it different.