Multisport Athletes

In today’s society, many parents who are involved with their kids’ sporting activities, have an unhealthy addiction to their children being on top of their game; because of this addiction the kids are ultimately suffering. Parents are only letting their kids play one sport, believing, incorrectly, that specializing in one sport is best.
“Why do young athletes choose to specialize? The biggest reason is parents. Many parents encourage specialization because they believe it is an investment in a future scholarship”(Shomper). Beginning at age four and continuing until my senior year in high school, I was a multi-sport athlete. Yes, it is very challenging at times! However, playing multiple sports proved beneficial for me and made it all worth it now that I am in college and playing sports currently on a scholarship. My case is additional proof that specializing is not the best way to invest in your future. Mentally and physically, I was at the top of my game, playing multiple sports helped me to achieve this. I am a believer that all my athletic experiences played a big role in my college recruiting process. The life lessons learned both on and off the field are irreplaceable. As a parent, you have succeeded when your athletic child is able to fulfill their dream and play college ball and beyond. Knowing you played a big role in this is rewarding in itself. The benefits of being a multisport athlete far outweigh one sport specialization. “ Improved health and wellness, improved athletic performance, character development and improved coaching are the main benefits of being a multi-sport athlete”(Shomper). Studies show that many of the children who specialize in one sport start to see burnout in that sport and that often results in quitting, whereas the multi-sport athletes are not getting burned out and are having a higher percentage of those continuing to play sports throughout college and beyond. Studies have shown that children who are in