While some degree of sport specialization is required to achieve elite status, for most sports, intense training in a single sport to the exclusion of others should be delayed until late adolescence to maximize chances of success while minimizing risk for overuse injury [1] and burnout [2], recommends a new study.
Based on a review of previous studies discussing sports specialization (e.g. intense, year-round training in a single sport to the exclusion of others sports), researchers in at Loyola Chicago, Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital and Northwestern found that:
While "there is general agreement that the number of hours spent in deliberate training and practice positively correlates with level of achievement in both individual and team sports, whether this intense practice must begin during early childhood and to the exclusion of other sports is a matter of debate," writes lead author, Dr. Neeru Jayanthi, a professor at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago.
The relative paucity of data has forced professional medical organizations (such as the National Athletic Trainers' Association [7] and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine to base their position statements on sports specialization and intense training in youth athletes to rely instead on expert opinion.
But what is not debatable is that the general trend in the United States has been towards early sports specialization, as evidenced by:
As a result, "youth sports participation has evolved from child-driven, recreational free play for enjoyment to adult-driven, highly structured, deliberate practice devoted to sports-specific skill development," says the study, an evolution likely the result of "society's increasing regard for successful athletes, who enjoy significant recognition and financial rewards for their achievements."
The problem is that few achieve that success. "The reality is that few athletes achieve the elite or professional level," notes Dr. Jayanthi, with less than 1% of young U.S. athletes 6 to 17 years of age achieving elite status in basketball, soccer, baseball, softball or football, rates similar to those in Germany and Australia.
DiFiori JP, Benjamin HJ, Brenner J, Gregory A, Jayanthi N, Landry GL, Luke A. Overuse Injuries and Burnout in Youth Sports: A Position Statement from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Clin J Sports Med. 2014;24(1):3-20.
Gullich A, Emrich E. Evaluation of the support of young athletes in the elite sports system. Eur J Sport Soc.
Jayanthi N, Pinkham C, Dugas L, Patrick B, LaBella C. Sports Specialization in Young Athletes: Evidence-Based Recommendations. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach 2012;20(10). DOI: 10.1177/1941738112464626 (published October 25, 2012 ahead of print).
Jayanthi NA, Dechert A, Durazo R, Luke A. Training and specialization risks in junior elite tennis players. J Med Sci Tennis 2011;16(1):14-20.
Malina RM. Early specialization: roots, effectiveness, risks. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2010;9(6):364-371.
Metzl JD, Expectations of pediatric sport participation among pediatricians, patients, and parents. Pedatr Clin North Am 2002;49(3):497-504.
Oldenziel KE, Gagne F, Gulbin J. Factors affecting the rate of athlete development from novice to senior elite: how applicable is the 10-year rule? Paper presented at 2004 Pre-Olympic Congress: Sports Science Through the Ages; August 2004; Thessaloniki, Greece.
Valovich McLeod TC, Decoster LC, Loud KJ, Micheli LJ, Parker JT, Sandrey MA, White C. National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Prevention of Pediatric Overuse Injuries. J Ath. Tr. 2011;46(2):206-220.
Brooke de Lench is Founding Executive Director of MomsTEAM Institute, Inc., Director of Smart Teams Play Safe, Publisher of MomsTEAM.com, author of Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports (HarperCollins), and Producer/Director/Creator of the PBS documentary, "The Smartest Team: Making High School Football Safer." Brooke is also a founding member of the UN International Safeguards of Children in Sports coalition.
She can be reached by email delench@MomsTeam.com [8], and you can follow her on Twitter @brookedelench.
Links:
[1] https://momsteam.com/node/1234
[2] https://momsteam.com/burnout-in-youth-athletes-risk-factors-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment
[3] https://momsteam.com/node/1233
[4] https://momsteam.com/node/1167
[5] https://momsteam.com/node/3035
[6] https://momsteam.com/node/1235
[7] https://momsteam.com/node/3343
[8] mailto:delench@MomsTeam.com
[9] https://momsteam.com/successful-parenting/early-specialization-in-youth-sports-supported-by-myths-and-competitive-culture-not-facts
[10] https://momsteam.com/successful-parenting/specializing-in-single-sport-early-travel-team-play-lead-to-burnout
[11] https://momsteam.com/successful-parenting/early-sport-specialization-may-interfere-with-healthy-child-development-increase-social-isolation
[12] https://momsteam.com/successful-parenting/early-sport-specializiation-no-guarantee-of-future-success
[13] https://momsteam.com/successful-parenting/parenting-elite-athletes/specialization/early-travel-team-play-fosters-elitism
[14] https://momsteam.com/successful-parenting/parenting-elite-athletes/specialization/specializing-in-single-sport-early-hurts-athletic-development
[15] https://momsteam.com/successful-parenting/parents-need-to-resist-pressure-from-coaches-for-early-specialization
[16] https://momsteam.com/successful-parenting/specializing-in-single-sport-early-travel-team-play-not-in-the-best-interest-of
[17] https://momsteam.com/successful-parenting/unstructured-free-play-important-for-child-development-experts-say
[18] https://momsteam.com/5-7/kids-who-play-multiple-sports-early-more-coordinated-physically-fit-study-finds
[19] https://momsteam.com/early-sport-specialization-frequently-asked-questions-some-benefits-many-drawbacks-10000-hour-rule