A Balancing Act: Challenges and Demands of Multisport Athletes

Today’s Youth Sports

Times have changed a lot since I played youth sports.

When I was really young, I swam in the summer, and I played soccer in the fall/spring and basketball in the winter. I didn’t even start lacrosse (my favorite sport) until I was in 7th grade. I don’t have memories of playing multiple sports in one season.

I was active, but not over scheduled!

Once I reached high school, I was a 3-sport varsity athlete, but that also meant one sport in a season and maybe a camp or two in the summer. Now-a-days we see multiple sports in one season, starting with youth athletes as young as 7/8 years old. While this may build great time management, team-skills and more it also has negative impacts on these young athletes.

Some are playing multiple games or practices in the same day. This leads to burn out, overuse injuries and more. It also can stress them out when they need to make decisions about which sport to attend during times of conflicts.

How much is too much? How do they balance playing multiple sports without burn out? How do they keep their skills competitive amongst the top athletes? How do they remain committed to their fall sports team while still working to build skills in their other sports?

On the other-hand youth athletes are specializing in one sport younger and younger each year to ensure they develop mastery in their sport. This can have many negative impacts as well.

What do you think is the right answer?

How can parents and coaches help improve this somewhat toxic culture that is developing in youth sports?

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