Today's Blog comes to us from Social Foundations
of Coaching student, Kathryn Lux. Kathryn is senior Softball player for Notre
Dame.
As times are changing and
sports are becoming more and more competitive, there has been a big push for
children to start specializing in one sport. Many feel that this is a good idea
because if a child spends all of their time focusing on one sport, then it
would only make sense that they have a better chance at earning a college
scholarship, right? Well not necessarily. Take myself for example, I received a
scholarship to play softball at the University of Notre Dame, and I played
three sports until I came to college. I found that because I was a multi-sport
athlete, I got better grades and was one of the most active and productive
athletes in school. Also, I would argue that those who are active in more
than one sport are better all-around athletes. By participating in
multiple sports, athletes gain the opportunity to learn transferable athletic
skills, such as the football player who learns balance and agility from
wrestling. This is important because even though a child is not active in the
same sport year round, they are still improving their game. Lastly, I would say
that a child benefits from playing more than one sport because they are members
of multiple teams that give them exposure to different coaches with different
philosophies, different teammates and personalities, which can provide
important benefits for the development of a well-rounded person.
Parents tend to like specialization because it can make life
easier for them, and some can live vicariously through their child. The
pressure that parents put on their children to specialize can cause the athlete
to settle for a sport that might not be their favorite, or might not be where
their natural talent lies. Thus, leading to kids becoming burned out because
they play the same sport all year round, and ultimately wanting to quit. Sports
are about fun, and I would strongly encourage people to allow their children to
play multiple sports because it plays such an integral part in their
development as human beings, as well as aiding in their chance to earn a
college scholarship.
