What age did your kid specialize in one sport?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the goals for the child and the child's talent. I have a talented kid who, like a previous poster's kids, said, can probably play multiple sports, maybe two in high school, and still get a scholarship in college. But if he wants to go pro, he will have to specialize probably by middle school. I think this is applicable to a few team sports such as soccer and basketball, and probably individual sports.

It doesn't mean they can't be multisport. Just that all other sports are on a rec level or seasonal.

I'm trying to understand. You have a pre-middle school child and you're certain they will be not only a scholarship college athlete but also play professionally? What sport could you possibly be so sure about??

NP here- it’s not common by any means but I do know a kid who “casually” does the same travel sport my kid does, and is a nationally ranked athlete in their primary sport. Not sure about professional success but barring catastrophic injury, this kid will most definitely be a collegiate scholarship athlete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the goals for the child and the child's talent. I have a talented kid who, like a previous poster's kids, said, can probably play multiple sports, maybe two in high school, and still get a scholarship in college. But if he wants to go pro, he will have to specialize probably by middle school. I think this is applicable to a few team sports such as soccer and basketball, and probably individual sports.

It doesn't mean they can't be multisport. Just that all other sports are on a rec level or seasonal.

I'm trying to understand. You have a pre-middle school child and you're certain they will be not only a scholarship college athlete but also play professionally? What sport could you possibly be so sure about??

Probably soccer. Let's say the kid is a 5th grader or 6th grader. So he's like U12, which is the last year before MLSNext/ECNL U13. I guarantee you any kid getting on an MLSNext or ECNL team have been playing soccer since they were very little. In addition, they are either very good by sheer virtue of talent and good coaching. OR because of all the extra training their parents paid for. The best ones are the ones that have both - soccer talent/athleticism, and parents willing to pay for extras. Of course whether the kid actually gets a scholarship or goes pro is completely dependent on whether said kid wants to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the goals for the child and the child's talent. I have a talented kid who, like a previous poster's kids, said, can probably play multiple sports, maybe two in high school, and still get a scholarship in college. But if he wants to go pro, he will have to specialize probably by middle school. I think this is applicable to a few team sports such as soccer and basketball, and probably individual sports.

It doesn't mean they can't be multisport. Just that all other sports are on a rec level or seasonal.

I'm trying to understand. You have a pre-middle school child and you're certain they will be not only a scholarship college athlete but also play professionally? What sport could you possibly be so sure about??

Probably soccer. Let's say the kid is a 5th grader or 6th grader. So he's like U12, which is the last year before MLSNext/ECNL U13. I guarantee you any kid getting on an MLSNext or ECNL team have been playing soccer since they were very little. In addition, they are either very good by sheer virtue of talent and good coaching. OR because of all the extra training their parents paid for. The best ones are the ones that have both - soccer talent/athleticism, and parents willing to pay for extras. Of course whether the kid actually gets a scholarship or goes pro is completely dependent on whether said kid wants to do so.

No white kid is making it to the next level

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the goals for the child and the child's talent. I have a talented kid who, like a previous poster's kids, said, can probably play multiple sports, maybe two in high school, and still get a scholarship in college. But if he wants to go pro, he will have to specialize probably by middle school. I think this is applicable to a few team sports such as soccer and basketball, and probably individual sports.

It doesn't mean they can't be multisport. Just that all other sports are on a rec level or seasonal.

I'm trying to understand. You have a pre-middle school child and you're certain they will be not only a scholarship college athlete but also play professionally? What sport could you possibly be so sure about??

NP here- it’s not common by any means but I do know a kid who “casually” does the same travel sport my kid does, and is a nationally ranked athlete in their primary sport. Not sure about professional success but barring catastrophic injury, this kid will most definitely be a collegiate scholarship athlete.

Are you talking about pre middle school kid here? I can’t think of a sport that has national rankings for individuals at that age. I guess sports like fencing might. And swimming kind of does in that you can see where there times rank on a National level per event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the goals for the child and the child's talent. I have a talented kid who, like a previous poster's kids, said, can probably play multiple sports, maybe two in high school, and still get a scholarship in college. But if he wants to go pro, he will have to specialize probably by middle school. I think this is applicable to a few team sports such as soccer and basketball, and probably individual sports.

It doesn't mean they can't be multisport. Just that all other sports are on a rec level or seasonal.

I'm trying to understand. You have a pre-middle school child and you're certain they will be not only a scholarship college athlete but also play professionally? What sport could you possibly be so sure about??

NP here- it’s not common by any means but I do know a kid who “casually” does the same travel sport my kid does, and is a nationally ranked athlete in their primary sport. Not sure about professional success but barring catastrophic injury, this kid will most definitely be a collegiate scholarship athlete.

Are you talking about pre middle school kid here? I can’t think of a sport that has national rankings for individuals at that age. I guess sports like fencing might. And swimming kind of does in that you can see where there times rank on a National level per event.

tennis has 12 and under national rankings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the goals for the child and the child's talent. I have a talented kid who, like a previous poster's kids, said, can probably play multiple sports, maybe two in high school, and still get a scholarship in college. But if he wants to go pro, he will have to specialize probably by middle school. I think this is applicable to a few team sports such as soccer and basketball, and probably individual sports.

It doesn't mean they can't be multisport. Just that all other sports are on a rec level or seasonal.

I'm trying to understand. You have a pre-middle school child and you're certain they will be not only a scholarship college athlete but also play professionally? What sport could you possibly be so sure about??

NP here- it’s not common by any means but I do know a kid who “casually” does the same travel sport my kid does, and is a nationally ranked athlete in their primary sport. Not sure about professional success but barring catastrophic injury, this kid will most definitely be a collegiate scholarship athlete.

Are you talking about pre middle school kid here? I can’t think of a sport that has national rankings for individuals at that age. I guess sports like fencing might. And swimming kind of does in that you can see where there times rank on a National level per event.

tennis has 12 and under national rankings

Yeah, I think it must be tennis. I had a coworker as well as a professor whose kids played tennis and were very good and went on to play college, actually one tried to go pro, and I recall them talking about their kids rankings before 12. I mean great athletes are great athletes. Nadal had to choose between soccer and tennis as he was equally good at both of them. Wozniacki ran a Boston qualifying time in her first marathon and having only run as far as 13 miles in her training.