High School Sports Specialization
Patterns of Current Division I Athletes
Patterns of Current Division I Athletes
Post
EG, Thein-Nissenbaum JM, Stiffler MR, Brooks MA, Bell DR. Sports Health. 2016 [Epub ahead of print]
EG, Thein-Nissenbaum JM, Stiffler MR, Brooks MA, Bell DR. Sports Health. 2016 [Epub ahead of print]
Take Home Message: The
majority of athletes participating in
NCAA Division I sports reported that they were not highly specialized in that
sport during high school.
majority of athletes participating in
NCAA Division I sports reported that they were not highly specialized in that
sport during high school.
Sport specialization or participation in
a single sport is a growing trend in youth sports, and carries with it
increased injury risk, potentially negative psychological effects, and lack of
clear connection to athletic success. There is limited data on level of
specialization and factors leading to specialization among collegiate athletes.
Therefore, the authors surveyed current Division I athletes at a single
institution across 9 sports to determine the level of sports specialization
during high school, and to identify differences in specialization patterns
between sports, sex, and factors effecting the decision to specialize. The
athletes answered 3 questions regarding previous level of sports participation
(previously described by Jayanthi et al.), which classified athletes as “low”,
“moderate”, or “high” level of sport specialization from 9th through
12th grade. The researchers found increases in the prevalence of
sports specialization for each subsequent year of high school. There were no
differences between sport specialization rates in sex equivalent sports. Football
athletes were found to be less likely to be highly specialized compared to
non-football athletes. The most frequent reasons for deciding to specialize was
enjoying the sport, the opportunity for scholarship, potential participation in
college, and being the best at that sport. Influence of parents was reported as
the most important factor is deciding to specialize by less than 10% of
athletes.
a single sport is a growing trend in youth sports, and carries with it
increased injury risk, potentially negative psychological effects, and lack of
clear connection to athletic success. There is limited data on level of
specialization and factors leading to specialization among collegiate athletes.
Therefore, the authors surveyed current Division I athletes at a single
institution across 9 sports to determine the level of sports specialization
during high school, and to identify differences in specialization patterns
between sports, sex, and factors effecting the decision to specialize. The
athletes answered 3 questions regarding previous level of sports participation
(previously described by Jayanthi et al.), which classified athletes as “low”,
“moderate”, or “high” level of sport specialization from 9th through
12th grade. The researchers found increases in the prevalence of
sports specialization for each subsequent year of high school. There were no
differences between sport specialization rates in sex equivalent sports. Football
athletes were found to be less likely to be highly specialized compared to
non-football athletes. The most frequent reasons for deciding to specialize was
enjoying the sport, the opportunity for scholarship, potential participation in
college, and being the best at that sport. Influence of parents was reported as
the most important factor is deciding to specialize by less than 10% of
athletes.
Despite
recommendations and consensus statements from various associations cautioning
parents and athletes on the potentially negative consequences of sport
specialization there continues to be a culture within youth sports that
promotes the need for year-round training and specialization. This method is
often thought to be a precursor for future success. The results of this study
support the notion that sports specialization is not a requirement for athletic
success. Additionally, delaying or not making the decision to specialize may
remove stress and pressure that can be associated with choosing a sport to specialization.
Interestingly, a limited number of athletes mentioned parental influence as the
most important factor in deciding to specialize. This information contrasts the
thought that parents are largely responsible for pushing their children to specialize.
Though, the scale used to classify level of sport specialization has not been
formally validated it has been reported in several previous studies, and
appears to deliver an objective assessment of sport specialization. The results
of this study are limited to included sports at a single institution; however,
they provide a simple format that would be easily applied on a larger scale. At
this time medical professionals should be educating parents, athletes, and
youth sports organizations that there is not a need to specialize, and about
the associated risks of choosing to participate in one sport.
recommendations and consensus statements from various associations cautioning
parents and athletes on the potentially negative consequences of sport
specialization there continues to be a culture within youth sports that
promotes the need for year-round training and specialization. This method is
often thought to be a precursor for future success. The results of this study
support the notion that sports specialization is not a requirement for athletic
success. Additionally, delaying or not making the decision to specialize may
remove stress and pressure that can be associated with choosing a sport to specialization.
Interestingly, a limited number of athletes mentioned parental influence as the
most important factor in deciding to specialize. This information contrasts the
thought that parents are largely responsible for pushing their children to specialize.
Though, the scale used to classify level of sport specialization has not been
formally validated it has been reported in several previous studies, and
appears to deliver an objective assessment of sport specialization. The results
of this study are limited to included sports at a single institution; however,
they provide a simple format that would be easily applied on a larger scale. At
this time medical professionals should be educating parents, athletes, and
youth sports organizations that there is not a need to specialize, and about
the associated risks of choosing to participate in one sport.
Questions for Discussion: Is there a single
question within the specialization survey that can produce similar results?
Would you expect results to remain the same regardless of scholarship status,
or would you expect scholarship athletes to report more specialization compared
to non-scholarship athletes? Do you expect the results to be similar at various
NCAA levels and/or at the professional level?
question within the specialization survey that can produce similar results?
Would you expect results to remain the same regardless of scholarship status,
or would you expect scholarship athletes to report more specialization compared
to non-scholarship athletes? Do you expect the results to be similar at various
NCAA levels and/or at the professional level?
Written by: Adam Lake
Reviewed by: Jane McDevitt
Related Posts:
AOSSM Early Sports Specialization Consensus
Post, E., Thein-Nissenbaum, J., Stiffler, M., Brooks, M., Bell, D., Sanfilippo, J., Trigsted, S., Heiderscheit, B., & McGuine, T. (2016). High School Sport Specialization Patterns of Current Division I Athletes Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach DOI: 10.1177/1941738116675455
My kiddos are specializing, mostly from parental influence or from their club team's coach. I educate on the ramifications of specialization. BUT, parents are still convinced their kid(s) have to be THE best at that one position in order to qualify for a scholarship. Regardless of education, they are choosing to believe the club coach's opinions of matters.