There has been a long-held perception that for a child to excel in a sport they must start as young as possible and only play that one sport right through into adulthood, a perception undoubtedly contributed to by stories such as those notorious tennis dads putting a racquet in their kid’s hand before they can even walk. In fact, the opposite has been shown to be true. There is evidence that suggests children playing multiple sports in their youth has many benefits that contribute to their athletic development and overall wellbeing, even helping them excel in their chosen sport later on.
Reducing chances of injury
Children participating in multiple sports growing up leads to a lower likelihood of injuries. In fact, a study has shown that children who specialised in one sport were 70 to 93% more likely to be injured than children who played multiple sports1. These are most likely overuse injuries, that is, injuries caused by repeated stress being placed on a part of the body. A notable example is the stress placed on ankles in sports like basketball, netball and tennis from the constant lateral movement during play. To make matters worse, these days there is a trend placing more emphasis on the performance ethic in organised youth sports2. Rather than playing for fun and joy, there is more focus on children achieving results-based outcomes in sport and are pushing (or worse, being pushed) to their physical limits to do so, further contributing to the likelihood of injuries.
Avoiding burnout and quitting
It is quite common for a child to lose interest in a sport as quickly as they discovered it, it is a part of them discovering new interests and passions. However, a study has shown that children who specialised early in a single sport are often the first to quit with reasons associated with burnout, loss of motivation and lack of enjoyment1. If the reason for quitting is because the child discovered a new sporting pursuit then it should not really be a concern since it can be seen as part of the child’s discovery process. However, if the child has quit sport altogether it can lead to physical inactivity as an adult and go on to suffer consequences in their adulthood.
Playing multiple sports help children excel as athletes
For the children who actually have the attributes to excel as athletes when they grow up, playing multiple sports can help this journey. A study has shown that 88% of NCAA Division 1 college athletes played multiple sports as children and 70% of them did not specialise in one sport until after the age of 123. There are many examples of well recognised elite athletes who played multiple sports growing up which helped them excel in their chosen sport (Patrick Mahomes is a great example), or even athletes who exceled in one sport and then successfully transferred into another sport (Joel Embiid for example).
Building their motor skills
A major reason for these multi-sport children excelling is that many sports require the same motor skills (running, jumping, catching, throwing, hand eye coordination etc.). Children at a young age should aim to develop these motor skills as they form the foundation of a child’s sporting ability and progression as athletes. A quick look at the popular sports played by children such as basketball, soccer and the different codes of football and it is obvious that the abovementioned motor skills are fundamental and overlap in each of the sports and can be transferrable between them. Of course, there are sports that are the exception. Sports like gymnastics and figure skating require specialisation from an early age in order to be elite1 and sports like tennis with its competitive pathways for junior players mean it would be advantageous for children to start playing the sport earlier. Having said that, there would still be the same benefits for these children to try other sports when they are young before they decide to specialise in one sport.
How parents can help
Getting a child into a sport can be difficult when they don’t want to. As a parent, trying to encourage/persuade/convince or whatever other verb that exists in the English dictionary can have quite the opposite effect. Parents pushing their child in sports has always been a controversial topic and is a discussion in itself. I would avoid doing it myself, especially if the child is at a young age where they can easily become uninterested and disengaged. So with that said, the points below outline ways that can help both parents and children.
Split up between summer and winter sports
Many sports are split between the summer and winter seasons. These sports may be available only in the summer or winter season or both. This is where a child can play soccer in the winter and basketball in the summer for example. Splitting it up between a summer sport and winter sport can avoid schedule conflicts or simply everything just becoming too time consuming.
Expose the child to sports
Let them watch sports on TV together with you. Take them to a game on the weekend so they can experience the spectacle of sport. These experiences can spark an interest in them. They can also provide a really good opportunity for you to bond with your child which leads onto the next and final point but the most important one.
Become involved
Express interest in all of your child’s activities. This point cannot be underestimated, and your sacrifices will not go unnoticed. This is probably the number one most practical way of supporting and encouraging your child. Ask them how they felt they played today on the drive home. It can begin with only six words. The next time your child walks off the court, regardless of whether they won or lost, or how many points they scored or goals they kicked, the best thing you can say to them on the drive home is “I love to watch you play.”
Reference:
1 https://activeforlife.com/what-elite-athletes-have-in-common/
2 Coakley, J, Hallinan, C J & McDonald, B 2011, Sports in Society: Sociological Issues and Controversies. (2nd ed.) McGraw Hill, North Ryde, N.S.W.
3 https://the-cauldron.com/to-push-or-not-to-push-finding-the-balance-in-kids-sports-38a67ffcda84