Sport Specialization and Training
Main Points:
- “Physical and mental health is different for There is increased pressure to participate at a high level, to specialize in 1 sport early, and to play year-round, often on multiple teams. This increased emphasis on sports specialization has led to an increase in overuse injuries, over training, and burnout.”
- “Year-round training in 1 sport has become more common for young athletes. Often, the motivation is for the athlete and parent to capture a piece of the very small “pie” leading to college scholarships and a professional career. Only 3.3% to 11.3% of high school athletes compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level, and only 1% receive an athletic scholarship. In addition, only 0.03% to 0.5% of high school athletes make it to the professional level. 18 Athletes who participate in a variety of sports have fewer injuries and play sports longer than those who specialize before puberty.”
- “Most authorities agree that sports specialization, in general, leads to higher athletic “success, ” but the optimal timing of specialization is only now becoming clearer. Studies have shown that Division 1 NCAA athletes are more likely to have played multiple sports in high school and that their first organized sport was different from their current one. Many examples exist of professional athletes who have learned skills that cross over to their sport by playing a variety of sports into high school and even college.”
- “When Is It Appropriate and Safe to Specialize? Current evidence suggests that delaying sport specialization for the majority of sports until after puberty (late adolescence, ∼15 or 16 years of age) will minimize the risks and lead to a higher likelihood of athletic success.”
- “High school athletes showed an increased risk of injury when the training volume exceeded 16 hours per week. 52 Another study determined that sports specialization was an independent risk factor for injury and that athletes who participated in organized sports compared with free play time in a ratio of >2:1 had an increased risk of an overuse injury. This same study found that young athletes who participated in more hours of organized sports per week than their age in years also had an increased risk of an overuse injury. 49 Burnout, anxiety, depression, and attrition are increased in early specializes. Social isolation from peers who do not participate in the athlete’s sport and lack of being exposed to a variety of sports also are concerns. Restriction in exposure to a variety of sports can lead to the young athlete not experiencing a sport that he or she may truly enjoy, excel at playing, or want to participate in throughout his or her adult life.”
- “Do Sports-Enhancement Programs Lead to Success? Young athletes need to learn motor development skills, social skills, and psychological skills to succeed. No studies on sports-enhancement programs in youth that only teach sport technique or “conditioning” have shown a greater chance of success despite their increased time and financial investment.”
Banner Orthopedics and Sports Medicine