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Youth Sports Specialization: A Guide for Parents. Michael J. Grzesiak Ohio University. Specializing in one sport. Trend Effects on high school programs What has happened to the 3 sport athlete?. maxperformance.us /making-the-case-for-the-multi-sport-athlete.
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Youth Sports Specialization: A Guide for Parents Michael J. Grzesiak Ohio University
Specializing in one sport • Trend • Effects on high school programs • What has happened to the 3 sport athlete? maxperformance.us/making-the-case-for-the-multi-sport-athlete
How it starts and who is responsible • Comment by a coach to a parent • Club sports • Consequences for both the athlete and their family metroaaufootbal.org
Areas to take into consideration • Physical • Psychological • Family bluemtassociates.com empoweringldswomen.blogspot.com afrotc.com
physical NASPE (2010) Research Summary: Growing bodies are predisposed physiologically to non-specialized physical activities; therefore, physical development and success in sports are enhanced by participating in multiple sports on a schedule that allows for periods of active rest and recuperation throughout the year. Specialization in a single sport is more likely to inhibit or distort balanced physical development, restrict skill-development opportunities and undermine the forms of sport participation that maximize lifelong fitness and well being. (p. 4)
psychological • Burnout • Fun? • Variety • Sport options spoonful.com bodybuilding.com
FAMILY • Irony • Club sports Financial burden Socioeconomic fairness? drsharma.ca newjerseyparentscaucus.com
Club team coaches • Intentions • Similar to agents - Looking out for themselves • Illusion of being athlete centered. Actually adult centered albany.edu kyaaubasketball.com
Gender bias Female gymnastics • Factors – looks & body weight • Eating disorders – physical & psychological • Conversely male gymnastics sports.yahoo.com
Chasing the college scholarship • Does success = athletic scholarship • Alarming numbers – less than 2.2% of males & females receive full or partial scholarships • Individual family’s financial situation theathleticscholarship.blogspot.com
WAYS parents can avoid the Physical & psychological pitfalls • Multiple sports • Cross training – basketball & soccer or tennis & basketball • Sports change with the season (spring, summer, winter, fall) cycling360media.com marketingessentialsblogspot.wordpress.com
Ways parents can avoid the family pitfalls • Glory days? • Save money jaymepretzloff.com riverbankchurch.com
Next step for parents • Be the solution NOT the problem • Discuss things with your child • Get back to athlete centered • Find the 3 sport HS athlete seattlepi.com
REFERENCES Eitzen, D. S. (2012). Fair and foul: beyond the myths and paradoxes of sport. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. Malina, R.M. (2010). Early sports specialization: roots, effectiveness, risks. Curr. Sports Med. Rep., 9 (6), 364-371. National Association for Sport and Physical Education. (2010). Guidelines for participation in youth sports programs: Specialization versus multi-sport participation [Position statement]. Reston, VA: Author.