Abstract
Background: The overall physical and psychological development of a young athlete is crucial for the enjoyment of physical activity for a lifetime. Children, as well as parents, tend to focus on individual accomplishment in sport despite any other aspect of physical development or appropriate training. Objective: the pressure to excel in sport has all too often brought about negative consequences through specialization at an early age. Method: A review and commentary report on the impact of early sport specialization on the physical and psychological development of a young athlete. Conclusion: A long-term, activity and age-appropriate developmental model is essential to those involved in training young athletes. Sport specialization may be appropriate in unique situations but only after the development of specific skills, abilities, and psychological maturity. As sport professionals, parents and coaches should be educated the pros/cons of early sport specialization. Ultimately, the focus on sport participation should be to increase physical activity, psychological development, and appreciation for a lifetime.
Highlights
Society recognizes exceptional individual performances, especially in sport (Ericsson, Krampe, & Tesch-Römer, 1993)
Pressure coming from parents, coaches, and the young athletes themselves create a strong desire to focus on one sport from a very young age (Gould, 2010)
Positives exist for early sport specialization and multi-sport involvement; the risk associated with early specialization do not out-weigh the rewards
Summary
Society recognizes exceptional individual performances, especially in sport (Ericsson, Krampe, & Tesch-Römer, 1993). Youth sports have a unique influence on healthy behavior and development, yet the psychological, social, and physical risks of specializing in a particular sport may inhibit healthy physiological and psychological growth (Russell & Limle, 2013) Both parents and coaches should be concerned about the importance of periodization in long-term age-appropriate training with an emphasis on physical and psychological developmental factors (Bailey et al, 2010). Ericsson et al (1993) stated ‘that it takes 10,000 hours (20 hours for 50 weeks a year for ten years)’ of concentrated, deliberate practice to become an expert performer in an activity This is not an indicator of transformation into an elite athlete, which requires a diverse set of skills and physical development (Martindale, Collins, & Daubney, 2005). The purpose of this article is IJKSS 5 (2):37-42, 2017 to provide a better understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of year-round training in youth sports so that parents and coaches can make intentional, educated decisions about sport specialization at an early age
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