May 5, 2017Change of Direction
In the U.S., it seems the trend lately is to have a child specialize in a sport at a young age, with the idea that it will allow them to become superstars, win a college scholarship, and then go to the pros and make millions. Many parents who have never played a sport are now pushing their kids into a sport so they will be popular and get in to a better college, but the parents don’t really understand what specializing in a sport means.
The truth is, the athletes whose parents push them into specialization at a young age risk injury and many other consequences. High school athletes who specialize in a single sport are 70 percent more likely to suffer an injury during their playing season than those who play multiple sports, according to a recent study commissioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Further, the increase in Tommy John surgery, ACL surgeries, and many others have reached epidemic proportions in youth sports. In the past, athletes didn’t need elbow surgery until late in their college careers, and they never tore their ACLs. Now, the patients who have these surgeries are getting younger and younger.
Think of the lasting damage these injuries cause. We know as adults that injuries you sustain in your youth or adolescent years come back to cause pain as you age. Think of a female gymnast who has back pain at age 10. What will her life be like at 30?
In the past, athletes didn’t need elbow surgery until late in their college careers, and they never tore their ACLs. Now, the patients who have these surgeries are getting younger and younger.
I saw repercussions like this firsthand when I worked at Boston University as an athletic trainer. Many of our female soccer and field hockey athletes had compartment syndromes and a whole bunch of other medical problems because of specialization at young ages. Nowadays, soccer and baseball seem to be the two leading sports that are the most popular for specialization. Students play for their high school, a club team, and may also play a second sport — all at the same time. This leads to fatigue, burnout, and muscle and ligament injury.
Personally, I would much rather see student-athletes play two sports during two seasons of the year and do a third season of strength training. I see back injuries, elbow injuries, and a variety of other injuries that could be prevented with a good strength training program. This doesn’t mean lifting heavy weights, but rather building core and hip strength that will give athletes a solid foundation for movement.
Young student-athletes are still developing physically, and they need time off and the consideration that their epiphysis at the end of their bones has not closed yet. You have to be careful not to damage these important structures with heavy weight training or long seasons of using the same skills with no rest.
If you talk to the successful athletes who have won gold medals in the Olympics, they all played multiple sports growing up and didn’t specialize until later in high school or college. The ability to play many sports improves overall strength and fitness, not to mention coordination. The more sports a young person plays, the more neuropathways are developed. This is very important.
I firmly believe that the majority of club teams are in it for the money and recognition for the owners. I am very much against young athletes playing for club teams. It requires travel, and coaches often demand that players show up even if they have other commitments. It is all about the money. The students are forced to participate.
Parents need to not spend so much money on club sports and allow their children to play in school sports, town leagues, and not specialize if they so desire. Encourage your children to play a variety of sports or even a musical instrument. If you played a sport, you know that there are ups and downs. Sometimes you play well, but you might not be so successful at other times. Don’t berate your child. Tell them the effort is important. You can harm a young athlete both mentally and physically by expecting too much. To have fun and for the love of the game are why they should play. If they get a scholarship, they are probably very talented and were born with the skills. Let the kids have fun, play a variety of sports, and keep it positive, and keep your money in your wallet to pay for college if they don’t get scholarships.
The benefits of sports are many. Athletes learn discipline, leadership, and mental toughness, make lifelong friends, and develop a love for the game. Injuries, overbearing parents, club coaches, and money are ruining it. Let your child be a kid. Don’t make them a little pro who ends up hating the game.
