Chapter 4: Sports and Children

Sport Specialization VS. Multiple Sports During Childhood

Presented by: Scott Donald, Lauren Peters & Amanda Seto

Stand up if…

As a child, you played and focused on one sport only

As a child, you participated in multiple sports

Discuss…

What are some advantages of sport specialization starting in childhood?

What are some advantages of multi-sport participation during childhood?

Advantages: Sport Specialization

Can optimize talent and potential for advancement

Early development of passion, focus and drive

Develops close relationships with coaches and teammates

Advantages: Multi-sport Participation

Research on psychological and social development suggests… Builds self-esteem Develops mastery of variety of

skills/activities Increases experiences with

peers and authority figures Prevents burnout Promotes intrinsic motivation –

sustains long-term sport participation

Learn different roles in different sports

Discuss…

What are some disadvantages to sport specialization?

Disadvantages: Sport Specialization

Increased risk of overuse injuries and negative effects to body development

Pressure of competition can be overwhelming

Risk of burnout and early exit from sport

Video

http://activeforlife.com/when-play-becomes-practice/#!prettyPhoto

Discuss…

Are there any disadvantages of multi-sport participation?

Disadvantages: Multi-sport Participation

Costs – gets expensive

Time consuming

Running around from sport to sport can be difficult and exhausting

SO…can these issues be eliminated?

The Multisport Program Approach

Multi-sport programs developed across Canada Sportplay multisport

programs New this year:

multisport pilot project in Antigonish

Article A Balanced Diet:

Setting Kids on the Multisport Path

http://www.sportnovascotia.ca/Portals/0/docs/pubs/sportq/RevisedSportsQ_Sept_2015_Low.pdf

The Bottom Line…

Participation in multiple sports during childhood is more beneficial than specialization

Developing multisport programs allows for affordable, convenient, manageable and non-competitive participation in multiple sports/activities

References

http://www.sports-training-adviser.com/sportspecialization.html

http://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/

http://www.toronto4kids.com/May-2013/Sportplay-Multi-Sport-Programs/

http://www.sportnovascotia.ca/Portals/0/docs/pubs/sportq/RevisedSportsQ_Sept_2015_Low.pdf

http://activeforlife.com/when-play-becomes-practice/#!prettyPhoto