Controversy in Youth Sports:
Is Youth Single-Sport
Specialization Worth It?
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| www.theathletestop.com |
The Athlete Stop
Jennifer
Cadwell, CSCS
Remember
looking forward to summer break: hanging out at the pool, playing with friends,
catching up on movies and sleep, maybe playing some pick-up games? Then you see
the email containing your child’s summer practice and game schedule and those
memories seem more like a fantasy. Over the last 20 years, youth single-sport
specialization and year-round training trends increased dramatically. Today it
is considered normal (and even expected) for youth athletes to compete
year-round and participate in extra skills and strength training, but is it
worth it?
Approximately
3.5 million youth (14 and younger) are treated annually for sports-related
injuries. Dr. James Andrews, a leading sports medicine orthopedic surgeon,
notes he has seen a sharp increase in youth-related injuries since the year
2000, with the number increasing each year. Studies at the collegiate level
indicate approximately 70% of collegiate athletes play or practice injured,
with 30-40% associated with chronic, overuse injuries. Here at The Athlete
Stop, approximately 50% of our clients are young athletes presenting with
overuse injuries. So, what’s the cause? Dr. Andrews believes single-sport specialization,
year-round competition, and training youth athletes the same as a professional
25 year-old athletes are leading the way in injuries. His recommendation: avoid
playing in multiple leagues at once of the same sport, compete in a variety of
sports, and take at least 2 months off for recovery (3-4 months preferably).
As
summer kicks off and the sports schedule once again is packed, maybe it is time
to reconsider those not so long ago fantasies of pool days, friends, and
movies!
For
more information:
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