Specialization

Specialization is a hot topic in youth sports and I get asked about it a lot by parents. There is a lot of science and data out there now that shows the dangers of kids specializing too early. The saddest point is that 70% of kids drop out of sports by the age of 13. There are lots of reasons for this… unnecessary pressure on kids as they play, the “game” becoming too serious too quickly, not enough options to play the game outside of the select competitive levels, cost to families (financial and emotional), and the list goes on. In short, playing a sport becomes more about trying to set kids up for the future to play in college or at the professional level, which is highly unlikely, than just letting kids enjoy playing because they enjoy it.

There is also the concern about injuries. By specializing too early, kids are more likely to have overuse injuries due to using the same muscles and performing the same movements repeatedly with a lot of intensity and little variation. On top of this, kids just do not play enough on their own anymore. Kids from 20 years ago probably actually PLAYED exponentially more than kids PLAY today, so it is not really about the AMOUNT of activity but the TYPE of activity.

When my generation were kids, we spent all weekend and week nights running around the neighborhoods playing all the games under the sun and anything else we could make up. Now, kids spend most of their time sedentary at school (which keeps cutting physical education) and at home. Then, they go to organized practice or games for an hour or more, and “play” at a high intensity under a lot of demand. This alone is not good for a kid’s body.

Although I only played one “organized” sport my entire life, I played all sports around my neighborhood on a consistent basis. In a way, I did “specialize” in my sport, but only at an organized level as I was exposed to many sports and activities in an unorganized way as I was growing up.

So…do kids need to specialize? My answer is no. I do not think kids should or need to specialize early in a particular sport by the strict definition of the word “specialize.” Either formally or informally, kids should be involved in many activities and sports to be able to understand what is out there and see what they really like to do. It is needed for their overall development, and to really enjoy being a kid. A child should never be FORCED or ENCOURAGED to only play or participate in a single activity because a “third party” believes it is in the kid’s best interest, or for trying to earn college scholarships or professional contracts. This is key and the main sticking point with me when it comes to specialization and youth sports. Why are the kids playing... because they love it or because someone else wants them to play?

With that said, I think kids who have a passion and love for something should be allowed to pursue it, and that means something different for every kid. There is not a “one size fits all” approach to anything, especially learning and the pursuit of our dreams and goals. For all those who have achieved great things, they did it chasing a goal based on their passion and love for it. It always comes at a cost on other areas of life, but it is a choice they made for themselves as they decided it was important enough and worth the sacrifice.

For example, if my daughter grows up to LOVE art, I will give her every opportunity she needs by getting the supplies and classes she wants to learn and grow her love for it….not because I want her to be a professional artist down the road, but simply because SHE LOVES IT and SHE WANTS TO DO IT. The minute she does not want to do it anymore, when she wants to put the brush down, that will be her choice and I will support her 100%. If she wants to do other things as well, I would support her and encourage her to do those things too.

I would want her to pursue a goal because I think it is important that kids learn how to do that. It is a skill, and one that many people do not have. Too many of us sit around and just hope or wish something great will happen for us. Maybe because we never learned what we really loved to do or how to do it?

This is what I think is missed in the topic of “specialization” when discussed and debated. There is not a “one size fits all approach” to this topic. A child specializing in something they are passionate about is not a bad thing, nor should a parent or child feel they are doing something wrong. BUT, and this is a HUGE BUT and where the line is thickly drawn, to FORCE or MANIPULATE a child to specialize in the hopes to move up teams in a club, play in high school, get a scholarship, or a pro-contract can be detrimental to a child’s development and is fundamentally wrong. Also, even if a kid is only playing one ORGANIZED sport, there should be plenty of opportunities for the child to play other sports (or activities) in an unorganized way.

With everything in life, we are best at the things we love to do and choose to pursue on our own. Specialization is not the issue. The issue is the pressure from overzealous coaches and parents who force kids into specializing in a single activity when it is not appropriate or the desire of the child. Kids should be encouraged to pursue many interests and passions, but should also be allowed to spend the time they want on the things that mean the most to them.

Passion is a fire that should always be fueled by love and the opportunity to pursue dreams and goals. Manipulation and pressure are the quickest ways to put that fire out, forever.