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Should high school athletes play multiple sports in a single season?
The practice is controversial, to say the least
We’ve all seen and experienced it — kids playing more than one sport in a single season. I’ve experienced it in my own family.
The practice is controversial, to say the least.
Which side are you on? I think it depends upon whether you are the athlete, the coach or the parents.
All three groups, I think, agree kids should play multiple sports during their preadolescent and early teenage years. These players tend to be more resilient, athletic, coachable and competitive than those who specialize at these ages.
But playing more than one sport at the same time can have potential ramifications.
The National Federation of State High School Associations asks the following questions when making the decision to double up on playing more than one sport at a time.
- Is the athlete mature and responsible enough to handle this increased level of commitment?
Only being able to play part-time in both sports might lead to bigger problems, especially in regards to playing time fairness and team dynamics. I’ve seen where coaches have told players they will see fewer minutes if they miss practices in order to be with the second sport.
- Does the player understand the complications and consequences that might be involved, especially in regards to other missed opportunities and potential struggles to keep up with studies?
- Is the child aware of the increased chances for physical injuries and sports burnout because of playing more than one sport? Rest and recovery play a role in athletic performance. The player may not see growth in their performance in either sport.
Young athletes struggle to consume calories when playing one sport at a time, so putting two sports on their plate makes it tougher. According to the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, male high school athletes need between 3,000 and 6,000 calories a day, and females need between 2,200 and 4,000 calories a day.
Playing more than one sport raises those numbers significantly. If the calorie intake is lacking, weight is lost.
Playing two sports simultaneously also can double travel time, resulting in early mornings and late nights, less study and homework time, and less sleep time.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommends delaying specializing in a single sport for as long as possible. It notes children should participate in only one organized sport at a time. They should not play a single sport more than eight months per year.
Breaks give overstressed tissues time to recover. Kids should not take part in sports activities for more hours per week than their age, i.e. a 12-year-old should not participate in more than 12 hours per week of organized sport.
They should take a minimum of two days off per week for rest and recovery and they should spend time away from sport at the end of each competitive season.
What is a parent to do if the child really wants to play more than one sport? Is the coach out of line by punishing the athlete by cutting playing time if he or she doesn’t attend all practices and meetings, even missing events occasionally?
Youth sports is in a turmoil at many levels. The culture is not going to trend backward, so eventually the athlete and parent will have to make a choice.
The child will have to select their favorite sport.
Nancy Justis is a former competitive swimmer and college sports information director. She is a partner with Justis Creative Communications and the founder of Iowa Youth Sports Initiative. Contact her at najustis120150@gmail.com
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