Youth Sport Specialization Research Articles

Item Bank Development and Content Validation of a Youth Sport Specialization Assessment

OBJECTIVE: To refine and evaluate the content validity of a bank of items representing the physical, social, and motivation behaviors associated with youth sport specialization. DESIGN: Qualitative analysis METHODS: The conceptual framework for item generation involved an existing consensus-based definition of youth sport specialization. Purposive sampling recruited English literate youth athletes who participated in at least one organized sport in the past 12 months to participate in individual cognitive interviews. Three rounds of interviews used a ‘read aloud; think aloud’ strategy to evaluate the comprehension, relevance, and comprehensiveness of the items and their response structure. One reviewer conducted thematic analysis of verbatim transcripts following rounds 1-2; after round 3, two independent reviewers evaluated the content validity of all items. The full research team reviewed results and established consensus regarding item acceptance, revision or removal. RESULTS: Twenty-two participants (64% male, 13.8±3.0 years) were interviewed. Participants were classified as low (59%), moderate (23%), and high (18%) specialization. Thirty-one items organized into participation volume, physical, motivation, and social domains were tested. Comprehension of 24 items in the physical (n=6), motivation (n=12), and social (n=6) domains was acceptable. No participation volume items achieved content validity. Acceptable items were considered relevant to youth sport specialization, and the item bank was deemed comprehensive. Participants affirmed the response structure was easy to understand and use. CONCLUSION: Content validity was established for a bank of patient-reported items assessing youth sport specialization. An appropriate next step is to conduct psychometric evaluation and develop a youth sport specialization assessment.

Youth Sport Specialization: Current Concepts and Clinical Guides.

The concept of youth sport specialization has evolved over the past decade, from a focus on the risk of overuse injury to a broader awareness of its effects on mental health, social well-being, quality of life, growth and maturation, sport performance, and long-term athletic success. This review article considers a recently revised definition of youth sport specialization, as well as guidelines and consensus statements from various sports medicine organizations, with practical applications for young athletes.

Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Perceptions of How Youth Sport Specialization Impacts Workload.

Youth sport specialization is a growing trend in youth sports and is associated with an increased risk of injuries and burnout. However, it is unknown how sport specialization is perceived to be affecting the working environment of secondary school athletic trainers (ATs). The purpose of this paper is to describe how ATs perceive youth sport specialization impacting their workload and whether they perceive it to impact patient safety. ATs will perceive that youth sport specialization impacts their workload and could impact patient safety. A sequential, explanatory mixed methods design with 2 phases: (1) cross-sectional surveys and (2) individual interviews. Level 3. A total of 487 secondary school ATs completed the online survey (access rate, 8.4%; completion rate, 85.4%). The survey consisted of Likert questions and included sections about aspects of workload impacted by specialization, impacts on patient safety, demographics. Ten participants were selected to complete a semi-structured interview via video conference. Approximately two-thirds of ATs perceive that sport specialization impacts their workload. (Somewhat, 38.6%; Quite a bit, 25.5%; A great deal, 5.5%) Attempts to reduce or modify patient activity and a patient's time for rehabilitation were the highest rated aspects of workload impacted by sport specialization. Approximately 30% ATs (29.9%) perceive that sport specialization impacts their workload to where it may influence patient safety (Somewhat, 21.6%; Quite a bit, 6.4%; A great deal, 1.9%). Three themes and subsequent subthemes were identified from the qualitative interviews: (1) current youth sport expectations, (2) conflict between school and club sports, and (3) AT job impacts. Secondary school ATs perceive their workload to be negatively impacted by youth sport specialization and some believe it may impact patient safety. Youth sport specialization is impacting youth sport stakeholders, including ATs, in a variety of ways.

A National Survey on the Relationship of Youth Sport Specialization Behaviors to Self-Reported Anxiety and Depression in Youth Softball Players.

There are little to no data on whether any associations exist between sport specialization and mental health in youth softball athletes. Highly specialized youth softball athletes will have worse self-reported depression and anxiety symptom scores compared with low and moderate specialized athletes. Cross-sectional survey. Level 4. An online cross-sectional survey was distributed in the fall of 2021 to a national sample of female youth softball athletes between the ages of 12 and 18 years. Sport specialization status was determined using a 3-point specialization scale that classifies either low, moderate, or high. The patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the 7-item general anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) were used to assess self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. Comparison also included sports participation and specialization behaviors between specialization groups. A total of 1283 subjects (mean age, 15.1 ± 1.7 years) fully completed the survey. After adjusting for covariates, lower scores were reported on both the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 by highly specialized athletes compared with moderate or low specialization athletes (PHQ-9, high = 8.6 ± 0.4; moderate = 11.2 ± 0.3; low = 10.9 ± 0.5; P < 0.01; GAD-7, high = 6.5 ± 0.4; moderate = 8.6 ± 0.3; low = 8.4 ± 0.4, P < 0.01). Conversely, higher scores were reported on both scales for athletes who received private softball coaching compared with those who did not (PHQ-9, 11.5 ± 0.3 vs 9.0 ± 0.3; P < 0.01; GAD-7, 8.8 ± 0.3 vs 6.9 ± 0.3, P < 0.01). Finally, athletes who reported an arm overuse injury in the previous year reported higher PHQ-9 scores (10.8 ± 0.3 vs 9.8 ± 0.3; P < 0.01). While sport specialization, as measured by the validated 3-point scale, was not associated with increased anxiety and depression symptom scores, other aspects of specialization behavior such as private coaching or overuse injury history were associated with worse scores on these scales, indicating potential concern for anxiety and depression. However, although the differences we observed were statistically significant, they did not exceed the minimal clinically important difference values that have been established for the PHQ-9 (5 points) or GAD-7 (4 points). This project is a first step toward understanding the sport specialization behaviors and their influence on the mental health of youth softball athletes. Focusing on investigating specialization behaviors further may reveal to be a better indicator of risk of developing anxiety and depression symptoms compared with utilizing the 3-point specialization scale.

Characteristics of youth sports specialization among Japanese baseball players

Characteristics of youth sports specialization among Japanese baseball players

Higher Family Affluence is Associated With Multi-Sport Participation Among Irish Youth.

The impact of early single sport participation among young people has received much attention, with both sport leaders and pediatricians advocating multi-sport participation at least until early adolescence. In this study we explored the association between family socioeconomic status and level of Irish youth specialization in sport. We relied on data from the Children's Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA) study, involving a representative sample of 3499 Irish children and adolescents aged 10-15years. We analyzed data from questions related to the number of sports played, the number of days per week the youth were engaged in sport, and family affluence (as a proxy measure for socioeconomic status). Youth sport specialization before 12years of age (males 5.7%; females 4.2%) and even between 13-15years of age (males, 7.8%; females, 5.8%) was uncommon. However, lower levels of specialization were associated with higher socioeconomic status in that more children with high family affluence participated in multiple sports. Careful consideration should be given to whether low socioeconomic status may act as a barrier to participation in multiple sports.

Youth Sport Specialization and Risk of Injury: A General Review.

The purpose of this literature review was to analyze, understand, and disclose prior empirical findings about the injury risks associated with youth sport specialization. Articles were included in this review if they examined the association between youth sport specialization status and injury. Nine articles from 5 journals met these criteria. All articles summarized the findings of cross-sectional (N = 5) or cohort studies (N = 4). Each article included in this review indicated that specialized youth athletes are more susceptible to injury. Only 5 studies assessed the injury risks linked to specialization independent of sport training volume. These studies produced contradictory results. Although specialized youth athletes are more prone to injury, future research is needed to determine the independent and inherent injury risk associated with specialization. Nevertheless, youth athletes should refrain from specialization until at least adolescence.

Sports Specialization, Physical Literacy, and Physical Activity Levels in Young Adults.

Youth sport specialization may be associated with physical literacy and physical activity in young adulthood. The purposes of this study were to compare young adult (18-25y) physical literacy and physical activity by high school sport specialization status and to examine the relationship between current physical activity and physical literacy. Retrospective, cross-sectional study design. Participants were recruited from ResearchMatch, university classes, and social media posts. Participants (N = 172; aged 22.1 [2.1] y; 80.1% female) completed the following anonymous surveys on REDCap to assess: demographics and injury history, sport specialization, physical literacy (PLAYself), and physical activity (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire). When controlling for age, there were no statistically significant differences in physical literacy (F2,166 = 2.02, P = .14) or moderate to vigorous physical activity (F2,161 = 0.24, P = .79) between sport specialization groups. There was a moderate, positive relationship between physical literacy and physical activity (r = .33, P < .001). Young adult physical literacy and physical activity were similar regardless of youth sport specialization level. Young adult physical literacy was positively associated with physical activity. Future studies should consider physical literacy as a possible correlate of physical activity among young adults.

Youth Sports Specialization and Its Effect on Professional, Elite, and Olympic Athlete Performance, Career Longevity, and Injury Rates: A Systematic Review.

Limited data are available on the long-term consequences of early sports specialization in high-level athletes. To evaluate the existing literature on the effects of sports specialization among professional, Olympic, and other elite athletes. Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. We performed a systematic review of studies from 1990 to 2021 on youth sports specialization in professional, elite, and/or Olympic athletes following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. An elite athlete was defined as one who performed at the highest level of his or her sport, beyond college level. Data were summarized according to 6 objectives: (1) definitions of specialization, age at specialization, and participation in other sports; (2) motivation for specialization; (3) athlete perspectives on specialization; (4) performance data; (5) specialization and injury risk; and (6) career longevity. From 8756 articles, 29 studies were included, of which 17 (58.6%) were survey-based studies. Of the 8 articles that commented on injury risk, all demonstrated reduction in injury risk in athletes who delayed specialization. Performance benefits were apparent with later specialization in 7 of 9 articles; the remaining 2 showed benefit with earlier specialization in marathon runners and soccer players. There were less definitive results on career longevity, with 5 of 9 articles finding no association between career longevity and sports specialization. Although current data on sports specialization in elite, professional, and Olympic athletes are mostly retrospective and survey-based evidence, most sports demonstrate better performance after youth multisport engagement, and youth sports specialization was linked with increased injury risk in athletes at the highest levels of competition.

An Examination of Youth Sport Specialization Patterns and Perceptions Between Developmental Stages and Competitive Contexts

Background:Youth sport specialization remains a concerning trend for developing young people, as early and intensive specialization has linked to harmful physical and psychosocial outcomes. Further research is merited to determine how participants’ perceptions of sport specialization may be driving their decision of whether to specialize, as well as how these perceptions and specialization patterns may differ based on their developmental level (ie., elementary, middle, or high school), and their competitive context (ie., recreational/community-based, club/travel, or interscholastic).Purpose:To compare youth athletes’ degree of sport specialization and their perceptions of sport specialization based on their developmental level and competitive context.Methods:Athletes completed a self-administered survey comprised of 1) Demographic characteristics and sport participation history; 2) The 3-item Jayanthi “degree” of sport specialization scale; 3) The Youth Sport Specialization Perceptions Survey, which quantifies athletes’ sport specialization attitudes on a continuum from extremely unfavorable (low scores) to extremely favorable (high scores). Descriptive analyses were conducted for demographic and sport participation characteristics. One-way ANOVAs were conducted to examine group differences based on developmental stage and competitive context. To examine group differences in the athletes’ degree of specialization classification, chi-squared tests were performed for both developmental stage and competitive context.Results:559 participants (n = 209 (37.39%) were female) completed this survey. The results of the one-way ANOVA for developmental stage indicated that the groups did not significantly differ in their perceptions of sport specialization (F = .191; p = .826). Similarly, no significant group differences emerged in perceptions of sport specialization based on competitive context (F = 1.43; p = .239). However, the athletes’ degree of specialization significantly differed both by their developmental stage (χ 2 (6, N = 559) = 103.41, p<.001) and by competitive context (χ 2 (6, N = 559) = 124.51, p<.001).Conclusion:Though athletes’ perceptions of sport specialization were similar across developmental stage and competitive context, adopted patterns of specialization differed by group. Our results suggest that athletes are more likely to adopt a specialized pathway as they develop, and athletes in the club and interscholastic contexts tend to be more specialized than those in recreational/community-based programs. In sum, our findings indicate that participant’s attitudes toward specialization are less salient in their decision of whether to specialize when compared to their developmental stage and competitive context. This underscores the importance of not only promoting healthy specialization attitudes, but also in creating environments that are conducive to non-specialized participation.Table 1:Demographic and Sport Participation Descriptive Results of Total SampleTable 2:Participant Frequencies by Developmental Stage and Competitive ContextTable 3:Degree of Specialization*Developmental Stage CrosstabulationTable 4:Degree of Specialization*Competitive Context Crosstabulation

Youth sport specialization associated with poorer lower extremity function & pain as young adults

ABSTRACT Objective Examine the link between youth sports specialization and long-term lower extremity joint health after sports by comparing lower extremity function, pain, and history of sport-related injuries between young adults that were highly, moderately, and low specialized in youth sports. Methods We used a cross-sectional design, and all data was collected using an electronic survey. Our sample included N = 356 young adults who participated in a primary sport during youth and high school sports but were no longer participating in that sport as a young adult. Participants were stratified into high (n = 111), moderate (n = 119), and low (n = 126) specialization groups using a 3-criteria sport specialization questionnaire based on youth sports participation prior to high school. We compared participants current Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) score (0–80), the proportion of participants with clinically important deficits in LEFS score (≤71/80), current lower extremity (foot/ankle, knee, hip) pain scores (0–10), and history of lower extremity (foot/ankle, knee, hip) injuries between the high, moderate, and low specialization groups. Results The high specialization group reported significantly lower overall LEFS scores, and a greater proportion (40%) reported clinically important deficits in LEFS scores compared to the low specialization group (20%). The high specialization group also reported greater foot/ankle and knee pain and a greater proportion of sport-related knee injuries than the low specialization group (49% vs 25%). Conclusions Our findings suggest that even after discontinuing sports, young adults who were highly specialized in youth sports before high school reported clinically important deficits in lower extremity function, greater foot/ankle and knee pain, and a greater history of knee injuries than young adults who were not specialized in youth sports, suggesting a possible link between youth sports specialization and long-term lower extremity health after sports.

Risk and Uncertainty in Youth Sport

An increasing number of children playing sports face pressure (both parental and societal) to specialize at an early age, to focus exclusively on one sport with the hope of securing a college scholarship. So-called “travel teams,” once the domain of tweens and teens, now extends to the very youngest children, with athletes (and parents) traveling exceedingly long distances, and spending large sums of money, virtually year-round.Through the course of this paper, I glean from both American philosophical themes, and current literature related to social change, to help at least partially answer this question regarding youth sport specialization. I contend that these conceptual ideas help provide language for us to think more clearly about some of the issues surrounding youth sport specialization.To begin, the potential downsides of youth sport specialization are patently clear. Focusing on one particular sport at a young age presents latent hazards. At an appropriate point, however, this specialization holds the potential for exploring the notion of commitment in extremis. After engaging in multiple sport options during elementary school years, the adolescent soccer player, for example, may decide to pursue the “beautiful game” to see what potential it may bring.My aim is to examine sport participation, specifically during the process where youth become committed to a particular sport. In this way, I move from issues of early exploration with youth sport to issues related to commitment and immersion. My contention is that youth sport participants who choose to focus on a particular sport, to make it their own, and make this decision (largely) on their own – act in a way which is consistent with the language of American philosopher, William James. James is fitting here, as Ilundain-Agurruza (2015) explains, because his works are “suited for a holistic conception of enactive performance . . . [and include a focus on] asceticism and risk, and those regarding cognition and action” (p. 259).

Youth Athlete Development Models: A Narrative Review.

Physical activity has shown to be beneficial for the overall physical and mental health of youth. There has been an increasing focus on youth sports moving from a recreational activity to becoming a launching pad for participation at elite levels. Several models of athlete development have emerged to guide specialized and nonspecialized athletes at an age-appropriate level, taking into consideration their physical and mental development. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current evidence and theoretical models regarding youth athlete development and discuss broader initiatives for sports participation and future directions for the field. An electronic databases search, including PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, National Institutes of Health, UpToDate, and Springer was conducted. Articles from 1993 to 2021 were included. The search terms long term athlete development, LTAD model, youth physical development, youth athlete development, sports specialization, and pediatric athlete, among others, were used. Narrative review. Levels 4 and 5. Several models of youth athlete development are discussed in this article. More recent models have built on previous models to incorporate more age- and development-specific recommendations; however, no singular model could be identified as the gold standard for youth athlete development, especially given the lack of empirical data to support these models. Youth athlete development currently consists of several theoretical models, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, that can guide the training of young athletes to maximize their performance. Those involved in this process-physicians, athletic trainers, coaches, physical educators, and parents-should understand these various models and trial their various features to see what works best for their individual athlete with consideration given to factors such as their stage of development. Ultimately, more empirical data are required to definitively state which is the optimal approach.

Systematic Review of Health Organization Guidelines Following the AMSSM 2019 Youth Early Sport Specialization Summit.

Youth sport specialization may place young athletes at increased risk for negative impacts to their physical and/or psychological health. In response to these health concerns, several health organizations have created guidelines and position statements to guide parents and practitioners toward best practices for management of the young athlete. To systematically review and synthesize current organizations' recommendations and guidelines regarding youth sport specialization. English-language articles from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018, in the NCBI Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases. Articles that reported on recommendations or interventions by health organizations or health representatives of sports organizations. A total of 56 articles were assessed, with 11 meeting inclusion eligibility criteria. Systematic review. Level 4. Two investigators independently identified all recommendations within the results that fit within a 15-item framework encompassing 4 domains: Psychological Development/Approach, Physical Development/Load, Facilities and Resources, and Timing and Monitoring of Specialization. Recommendations across organizations were primarily clustered in the Physical Development/Load (43%), Facilities and Resources (48%), and Sport Specialization (55%) domains. In contrast, the Psychological Development/Approach domain had fewer recommendations (20%). The most common recommendations endorsed concepts: "Monitor athlete well-being," "Youth athletes need access to well-trained, quality coaches," "Multi-sport participation," "Limit early organized participation and/or training," and "Parents require awareness of training, coaching, and best practices." The level of evidence provided to support a given recommendation varied significantly. The level of detail and the consistency of terms used throughout the results were typically low. Recommendations were frequently made without reference to potential outcome measures or specific strategies that could be used for practical implementation in the community. There was broad representation of different aspects of specialization but limited consistency between health organization guidelines. Adopting a framework for recommendations as used in this review could assist organizations in structuring future recommendations that are specific, measurable, and framed in a manner that will promote action in the youth sport community.

Current Sport Organization Guidelines From the AMSSM 2019 Youth Early Sport Specialization Research Summit.

Youth athletes may be at elevated risk for adverse health due to sport specialization. Sport organizations have developed guidelines for participation during growth and development. To assess youth sport development guidelines using a 15-item framework across sport organizations and governing bodies in soccer, basketball, ice hockey, and swimming. English-language results from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018, from published sport organization guidelines and athlete development plans. Two investigators independently reviewed publications identified from sport organizations. A total of 23 guidelines were incorporated, including 5 general sport organizations and 18 sport-specific guidelines. Systematic review. Level 4. Two investigators independently identified all recommendations that fit within a predetermined rubric of recommendations encompassing 4 domains: Psychological Development/Approach, Physical Development/Load, Facilities and Resources, and Timing and Monitoring of Specialization. Sport-specific guidelines on volume were summarized. Sport organizations and sport-specific guidelines had consensus on 2 items out of the 15-item: emphasis on early skill development and access to well-trained coaches. While recommended by all sports organization, multisport participation was emphasized by 3 of 4 sports, excluding soccer. Volume recommendations were inconsistent between and within sports. No group proposed methods to monitor athlete well-being. This review highlights areas of agreement within sport organizations and governing bodies. Creating a framework to guide youth sport specialization may lead to specific and consistent guidelines.

Proceed With Caution: A Teaching Case Study of Youth Sport Specialization

As sport specialization continues to shape the youth sport landscape, it is critical for sport management professionals, coaches, parents, and athletes to understand how this trend affects programming and policy development. While youth sport specialization often leads to increased athletic skill in an accelerated time frame, specialization can result in overuse injury, burnout, and delayed social development for children. It is essential that sport management students are aware of the trend in youth sport specialization and the various opportunities available to help educate/collaborate with stakeholders. Furthermore, students need to be exposed to youth sport specialization to better understand how to efficiently manage policy and programs involved in youth, and to understand contemporary research and theory leading to best practices.

DOES GEOGRAPHICAL REGION IMPACT PARENTS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS YOUTH SPORT SPECIALIZATION?

Background:Two billion U.S. healthcare dollars are spent on youth sports injuries each year. This staggering figure is projected to increase as athletes are sustaining more sport-related injuries and are specializing in a single sport at younger ages than ever before. Sport specialization is a modifiable injury risk factor unique to youth athlete populations. Parents are a group of key stakeholders whose knowledge and beliefs likely impact youth sport participation, however a paucity of research exists in this area.Purpose:To assess the differences in perceptions of parents on youth sport participation and specialization based on geographical region.Methods:Parents of children, ages 8-18 years, who participate in organized sports were surveyed for this study. Electronic surveys with a total of 40 questions were circulated via team/organization mailing lists and social media. Geographic regions were described as either South or North based on divisions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Sport specialization was defined as an athlete meeting >2 of the following 3 criteria: participates in one sport to the exclusion of other sports, participates in sport-specific lessons, participates on >2 teams in a single sport. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were used to compare perceptions of parents with specialized and non-specialized athletes across different geographical regions.Results:Three-hundred and seventy-one responses were collected (South=204, North=167). Parents from the South reported a higher number of specialized athletes as compared to parents from the North (54% vs 38%; P=0.003). Regardless of geographical region, most parents did not think specialization had a positive impact on a youth athlete’s development (P=0.307) or their future in that sport (P=0.086) (Figures 1 & 2). Parents from the South did select ‘Potential to earn a college scholarship’ as a motivator for youth sport specialization more often when compared to parents from the North (30% vs 17%; P=0.002).Conclusion:Regional differences exist in the percentage of specialized youth athletes participating in organized sport. Parental knowledge of the risks and benefits of youth sport specialization does not appear to drive these observed differences. Earning a college scholarship was selected more frequently as a reason for specialization in the South, indicating that societal or socioeconomic factors may be present. Further research is needed to determine the underlying factors driving youth sport specialization in the U.S.Figures:Figure 1.Figure 2.

EXPLORING PARENT-ATHLETE DYADS’ PERCEPTIONS OF SPORTS SPECIALIZATION AND SPORT EXPERIENCES IN AN EARLY YOUTH COMMUNITY-BASED SPORT PROGRAM

Background:Early, intensive sports specialization has been positioned as a potentially harmful pattern of participation for developing youth athletes; however, it remains largely unknown how youth sport families decide if and when an athlete will specialize. Areas lacking in the literature include exploration of the prevalence of specialization for elementary-school-aged athletes and in the community-based recreational context, current and prospective experiences of sport families, and comparisons between stakeholder groups regarding their perceptions of sport specialization.Purpose:To explore and compare early youth sport parent-athlete dyads’ perceived sport participation characteristics, attitudes, and experiences related to youth sport specialization.Methods:Youth sport parents and athletes completed a sport participation survey designed to examine 1) Demographic characteristics of the youth sport family and their context; 2) Characteristics of the youth athlete’s current (ie, degree of specialization) and planned sport participation pathway (ie, if and when they plan to specialize); 3) Perceptions of the athletes’ sport experience, with an emphasis on sport specialization. Descriptive analyses were conducted for demographic and sport participation characteristics, and paired-samples t-tests were conducted to compare sport-related attitudes and perceptions of sport specialization in matched parent-athlete dyads (p≤.05).Results:Ninety-six total participants (48 parent-athlete dyads; 66.7% of athletes (n=32) were male) from a single community-based early youth sport program completed the sport participation survey. 85.4% (n=72) of total participants rated the athlete’s current degree of specialization as low or not at all, though participants more commonly anticipated specializing in middle school (48.9%; n=44) and high school (52.2%; n=47). In comparing the parent-athlete dyads, these groups did not significantly differ in their perceptions of sport specialization, perceived pathway enjoyment, or their plans to specialize in the future. However, athletes were significantly more likely to identify as currently specialized (p<.01), perceive a higher degree of current specialization (p=.047), and rate themselves as more burned out (p<.01) than their parents.Conclusion:These findings indicate that parents and athletes generally possess similar attitudes toward sport specialization and perceptions of athletes’ sport experiences during their early youth participation. While youth sport families are not commonly engaging in specialization during these elementary school years, many plan an eventual sport pathway for their athlete that involves specializing in a main sport. Lastly, it appears that even at an early age, athletes may perceive their sport experience as more specialized and more taxing than their parents, highlighting the need for open communication and understanding within these dyads.Tables:

Financial and medical burdens of youth sports specialization: survey of pediatric sports patients

The trend towards youth sports specialization has led to increased costs from higher injury rate and from private club fees. The aim of this study was to represent the financial and medical burdens of sports specialization with single sport participation or club sports involvement. An 18-item survey on sports participation and musculoskeletal injury was administered to parents of patients visiting the clinic of a pediatric sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon over a three-month period. Comparisons were made between groups to identify differences in medical and financial burdens. Logistic regressions were performed to evaluate Odds Ratios for binary outcomes. Club athletes were significantly younger than non-club athletes (12.9±3.1 years versus 14.9±2.8 years, P=0.0002) with club athletes starting sports at average of 7.2±3.1 years. Club sports participation (adjusted OR 5.88, 95% CI: 1.10, 31.4) and female sex (adjusted OR 3.47, 95% CI: 1.12, 10.74) were significant predictors of spending >$1000 USD on sports annually. Multisport participation (OR 5.72, 95% CI: 1.21, 26.96) and spending >$1000 on sports annually (OR 17.21, 95% CI: 1.49, 199.25) were significant predictors of presenting to clinic for a sports-related injury. Single sport athletes had a higher number of medical appointments for sports injuries (18.6±23.0 versus 9.3±10.0 for multisport, P=0.0042). Youth sports specialization is of substantial financial and medical burden to families. This data can help identify areas of intervention to mitigate injury risk and reduce financial barriers to youth sports participation.

Review Examines Youth Sport Specialization

Lippincott's Bone and Joint Newsletter 26(4):p 45, April 2020. | DOI: 10.1097/01.BONEJ.0000659248.99776.cf