Specializing early vs. playing multiple sports

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the double post!

[Anonymous]

There's a researcher, Istvan Balyi, who characterizes field hockey as an "early engagement-late specialization" team sport. That means (if you agree with Balyi) that your daughter should play some field hockey in elementary school (to introduce certain field hockey-oriented technical skills during a period of "engagement"), while also playing other sports/doing other things to hone general movement skills like running and jumping, and then specialize in field hockey by training year-round essentially in just that sport between the ages of 14 and 16 in order to become elite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was also a D-1 athlete (softball). I played softball three seasons of the year (spring was the main season, summer was travel ball, and winter I had indoor practices a few times a week). I was allowed (and encouraged) to do a different sport of my choosing in the fall, which was cross country. I too never really had any overuse injuries or issues. I had enough time to be plenty involved in other school activities like student council and planning committees and stuff so focusing mostly on one sport wasn't a bad thing. I'd note that I didn't go from one practice, to the next at an off-site, anything like that. I played on my high school team and one travel ball team and did extra work with my dad. That's it.

This is what I really don't like. This winter DS frequently went from a school basketball game or practice directly to a two hour travel practice. In the spring, it was the same thing with track. I really don't like that, and I don't think it's good for kids like DS who are unlikely to play D1 ball. But-- he loves it and would be really sad to miss practice or games, so we let him do it.

[Anonymous]

Having played hockey, I think doing track/xcounty in the off season would be an excellent compliment. Really any sport would help your daughter stay physically fit, improve hand/eye coordination, build strength and endurance, etc. But running was especially key to my game.

At this age, emphasize to you daughter that doing other sports will help her improve her game and avoid burn out. Maybe let her do two seasons of hockey and one- two seasons of something else. Hockey camp once or twice during the summer, but something else the other weeks.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks, these are all really helpful posts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only played soccer.

I was a top D-1 recruit.

My club team was year-round from 4th grade on and a Nationsl championship team. It was the sport I loved and all I wanted to play.

I did run a few seasons of indoor track in the winter during HS--mainly as a trading adjunct for the spring HS season.

Never had an overuse injury. In my mid-40s and no knee, ankle, joint problems.

My siblings also were all-soccer. We played every chance we got because we loved it.

Some sports are heavily skill-based and somebody that only plays 3 months out of the year won't succeed at it.

I know multi-sport is like the catch phrase " I just love to watch play" and the Gladwell 10,000 step thing---somethings yuppies glom onto for awhile.

Let her do what she loves.

though multi-sport is actually anti-Gladwell 10,000 hrs rule, no?