Youth Sports Specialization: What Parents Should Know

In Park City, it’s not uncommon for children to specialize in one sport. Youth hoping to compete at the elite level in sports like skiing and snowboarding feel pressure to train year-round.

Unfortunately, specialization increases their risk of injury without improving their chances of success.

Studies have found that:

Highly specialized athletes under 18 years old are 81% more likely to suffer an overuse injury than athletes who do not specialize.
High school athletes who specialize are two to three times more likely to suffer a hip or knee overuse injury.
Youth who specialize in one sport are also more likely to experience burnout, loss of interest, and daytime sleepiness.
On average, athletes who compete in the NCAA Division I don’t specialize until age 15. Athletes in individual sports tend to specialize earlier (14) than team athletes (15.5).
88 percent of Division I athletes participated in an average of two to three sports as children.

Specialization is risky and doesn’t necessarily help your children reach their goals. So, how can you reduce their risk of injury?

Age Rule: Do not let your child train more hours per week than his or her age. Ex: a 10-year-old should not spend more than 10 hours training.
Diversification: Encourage your child to play two to three sports rather than one. Try to avoid having them compete in two sports at the same time.
Off season: Take three nonconsecutive months off from competition per year. The ideal pattern is three months on, one off, and repeat.

Bottom Line: Discuss the risks of specialization with your child. If he or she is experiencing an overuse injury, do not let it linger. Contact a professional for an evaluation.

Want to read more? Here are some sources:

Dr. Jake Shores
Chiropractic Neurologist
Park City, Utah

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