Early sport specialization can be defined as “ intense year-round training in a specific sport with the exclusion of other sports at a young age” (5). ... As the money in college and professional sports has increased, the desire to train children to become star athletes has increased as well.
What is early sport specialization?
ESS has been defined as intensive training or competition in organized sport by prepubescent children (<12 years of age) for more than 8 months per year, with focus on a single sport to the exclusion of other sport and free play .
What does early specialization mean?
The American Academy of Pediatrics says early specialization occurs when an athlete focuses on a single sport at the exclusion of others, often year round, before reaching puberty .
Is early specialisation in sport good?
While early sport specialisation can help with skill development , it can also be harmful in developing overall athleticism. An increased amount of volume of one specific movement while the body is growing can lead to imbalanced development and a higher chance of overuse injury.
Why is early specialisation in sport Bad?
Children and teens are specialising in one sport and training harder with the belief this is the best way to become a sporting star. However, they are more likely to burnout, lose motivation and get injured .
What is a late Specialisation sport?
Late specialization refers to the idea that early specialization is not warranted , and that specializing early in late specialization sports has its own negative consequences (see the next section).
What age should you specialize in a sport?
When Is It Appropriate and Safe to Specialize? Current evidence suggests that delaying sport specialization for the majority of sports until after puberty (late adolescence, ∼15 or 16 years of age ) will minimize the risks and lead to a higher likelihood of athletic success.
What is the effect of early specialization?
Early specialization has shown to be not only physically difficult but also mentally difficult . Athletic burnout can be an unfortunate effect of early specialization in one sport. It can be defined as “physical and emotional exhaustion from the psychological and physiological demands of the athlete’s sport,” (8).
What are the dangers with early specialization?
Risks of early specialization include social isolation, overdependence, burnout, and perhaps risk of overuse injury . Commitment to a single sport at an early age immerses a youngster in a complex world regulated by adults, which is a setting that facilitates manipulation – social, dietary, chemical, and commercial.
What do you mean specialization?
Specialization is a method of production whereby an entity focuses on the production of a limited scope of goods to gain a greater degree of efficiency . ... This specialization is thus the basis of global trade, as few countries have enough production capacity to be completely self-sustaining.
Is it time to think again about early Specialisation in sport?
In CGS sports, at least, the evidence suggests that there is no delay in development resulting from early diversification that cannot be made up through later specialisation and intensive training. There is no single, simple pathway leading to success in sport. ... Early dedication is perhaps necessary in some sports .
What are the most chronic injuries?
- Tennis elbow.
- Swimmer’s shoulder.
- Runner’s knee & jumper’s knee.
- Achilles tendinitis.
- Shin splints.
Are multi sport athletes better?
It is proven that kids who participate in multiple sports become superior athletes . ... Participating in multiple sports can provide cross training that can improve certain physical skills as well as mental toughness.
Is specialization good or bad?
While early sport specialization can help with skill development, it can also be detrimental in developing overall athleticism. An increased amount of volume of one specific movement while the body is growing can lead to imbalanced development a higher chance of overuse injury.
What is single sport specialization?
Single-sport specialization is when a child focuses intense training on just one sport while excluding others . ... Playing one sport year-round is much more likely to lead to burnout, which leads to quitting.
Are sports good or bad?
In addition to the physical activity, playing sports provides kids with opportunities to socialize with peers, build teamwork and leadership skills, improve self-esteem and hopefully have a lot of fun.
