Sport specialization among young athletes is a hot topic amongst sports PTs, athletic trainers, parents, and coaches.
This specialization is when the preteen, adolescent, or young teen competes in one sport. Specifically, one sport year-round without other forms of training involved or even any length of rest time.
This blog post is going to have research to support my position on this and my own opinion. If you do not agree with me, I understand but I feel it is my responsibility to have this out there.
My opinion being that children and teens should NOT specialize in sport until that are at least done with puberty, around 15-16 years. But understand this might be later in the teen years. I would even go as far as to say not until college.
It may lead to physical, mental, and psychosocial issues. Increased risk of injury or burnout.
Recommendations from the National Sports Medicine Institute and the National Athletic Training Association are:
- Delay single sport specialization as long as possible. My further recommendation would be until adulthood or college. Allow your child to participate in multiple sports.
- One team at a time. Only one sport/team per season.
- Less than 8 months out of the year. Give them the rest throughout the year that their growing bodies need.
- No more hours a week than their age. A 15-year-old should not play more than 15 hours a week of an organized sport.
- At least 2 days a week of rest. Their bodies and an adult for that matter need rest. The recovery time is just as important as training.
- Rest and Recovery time from organized sport participation. After the season is over an extended period for recovery should be given for physical and mental well-being.
Being a PT that works mainly with athletes, I have seen this many times with different sports. I have seen it lead to injuries and other behavioral issues.
I also understand that college and professional sports is a goal for many of the athletes, but that should not deter from their overall well-being.
In conclusion, my opinion is that sport specialization among young athletes is not a good idea and the above recommendations should be taken by all.