Did playing multiple sports for as long as possible work for your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your goal?

To reach their potential in sport.

That's too wishy-washy. If you don't care at all about college recruitment, then play three sports.

Some incredible athletes like Patrick Mahomes could have gone pro in either football or baseball...most professional or even college athletes had to specialize.

I don't think you will ever hear of a top professional soccer player ever seriously playing another sport.

The Dominican Republic has the most per capita players in the MLB, and those kids don't do anything else.

That's wrong. I have two kids who played three sports, one each season. Both ended up playing D1 in one sport, one of them after only having started to play it as a sophomore. If you're trying to develop your athlete's general skill, they can excel at most any sport. Of course you can't take up ice hockey as a 16 yr old, but you can switch from hockey to lacrosse or football or whatever.

Must be a joke sport

No, dude. The intense craziness is to get mediocre athletes to be good at a particular sport. I say this who has one mediocre athlete who is very driven and has become great at his preferred sport. But he’ll never be as good as the gifted athletes who don’t need all the intense training to be great.


Those are the Pat Mahomes, Caitlyn Clark, LeBron athletes, and it’s not most of our children. Athletic ability can be learned but we all have a ceiling and a floor.

For most average athletes, it’s probably better to play multiple sports at a lower level, and save your money and time. They’re never going pro.

Yup.

Parents don't want to accept it but it's true. Who you parents are will make a much bigger difference in how good you are then the amount you practice.

You stupid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your goal?

To reach their potential in sport.

That's too wishy-washy. If you don't care at all about college recruitment, then play three sports.

Some incredible athletes like Patrick Mahomes could have gone pro in either football or baseball...most professional or even college athletes had to specialize.

I don't think you will ever hear of a top professional soccer player ever seriously playing another sport.

The Dominican Republic has the most per capita players in the MLB, and those kids don't do anything else.

That's wrong. I have two kids who played three sports, one each season. Both ended up playing D1 in one sport, one of them after only having started to play it as a sophomore. If you're trying to develop your athlete's general skill, they can excel at most any sport. Of course you can't take up ice hockey as a 16 yr old, but you can switch from hockey to lacrosse or football or whatever.

Must be a joke sport

No, dude. The intense craziness is to get mediocre athletes to be good at a particular sport. I say this who has one mediocre athlete who is very driven and has become great at his preferred sport. But he’ll never be as good as the gifted athletes who don’t need all the intense training to be great.


Those are the Pat Mahomes, Caitlyn Clark, LeBron athletes, and it’s not most of our children. Athletic ability can be learned but we all have a ceiling and a floor.

For most average athletes, it’s probably better to play multiple sports at a lower level, and save your money and time. They’re never going pro.

Yup.

Parents don't want to accept it but it's true. Who you parents are will make a much bigger difference in how good you are then the amount you practice.

Well, I have probably the most applicable example of why this is false.

My kid plays on a top-ranked baseball team with identical twins. In 9th grade, these two kids were indistinguishable to anyone other than their parents. They were generally of the same playing ability, literally same height and weight.

Starting in 9th grade, one of the twins began training and practicing much more often and with more intensity than the other. By 12th grade, everyone could tell them apart because one was a good 25 pounds heavier of mostly muscle. That twin is committed to a top 20 D1 baseball team and is also being scouted by MLB teams...he will go pro if he drafts high enough, though he isn't one of these kids mentioned as a 1st round draft pick.

The other twin will be playing for a decent, but not outstanding, D3 team (talking their D3 baseball standings, not academic standings which are strong).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your goal?

To reach their potential in sport.

That's too wishy-washy. If you don't care at all about college recruitment, then play three sports.

Some incredible athletes like Patrick Mahomes could have gone pro in either football or baseball...most professional or even college athletes had to specialize.

I don't think you will ever hear of a top professional soccer player ever seriously playing another sport.

The Dominican Republic has the most per capita players in the MLB, and those kids don't do anything else.

That's wrong. I have two kids who played three sports, one each season. Both ended up playing D1 in one sport, one of them after only having started to play it as a sophomore. If you're trying to develop your athlete's general skill, they can excel at most any sport. Of course you can't take up ice hockey as a 16 yr old, but you can switch from hockey to lacrosse or football or whatever.

Must be a joke sport

No, dude. The intense craziness is to get mediocre athletes to be good at a particular sport. I say this who has one mediocre athlete who is very driven and has become great at his preferred sport. But he’ll never be as good as the gifted athletes who don’t need all the intense training to be great.


Those are the Pat Mahomes, Caitlyn Clark, LeBron athletes, and it’s not most of our children. Athletic ability can be learned but we all have a ceiling and a floor.

For most average athletes, it’s probably better to play multiple sports at a lower level, and save your money and time. They’re never going pro.

Yup.

Parents don't want to accept it but it's true. Who you parents are will make a much bigger difference in how good you are then the amount you practice.

Well, I have probably the most applicable example of why this is false.

My kid plays on a top-ranked baseball team with identical twins. In 9th grade, these two kids were indistinguishable to anyone other than their parents. They were generally of the same playing ability, literally same height and weight.

Starting in 9th grade, one of the twins began training and practicing much more often and with more intensity than the other. By 12th grade, everyone could tell them apart because one was a good 25 pounds heavier of mostly muscle. That twin is committed to a top 20 D1 baseball team and is also being scouted by MLB teams...he will go pro if he drafts high enough, though he isn't one of these kids mentioned as a 1st round draft pick.

The other twin will be playing for a decent, but not outstanding, D3 team (talking their D3 baseball standings, not academic standings which are strong).

This doesn’t contradict what the PP said in the slightest. All this anecdote does is imply that the D3 twin had the genetic potential to have gone D1 if he had wanted it and worked harder.

Are all of the other kids on the team that worked hard, trained with intensity, and put on muscle ALSO at D1 schools? Are they ALSO being scouted by the MLB?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your goal?

To reach their potential in sport.

That's too wishy-washy. If you don't care at all about college recruitment, then play three sports.

Some incredible athletes like Patrick Mahomes could have gone pro in either football or baseball...most professional or even college athletes had to specialize.

I don't think you will ever hear of a top professional soccer player ever seriously playing another sport.

The Dominican Republic has the most per capita players in the MLB, and those kids don't do anything else.

That's wrong. I have two kids who played three sports, one each season. Both ended up playing D1 in one sport, one of them after only having started to play it as a sophomore. If you're trying to develop your athlete's general skill, they can excel at most any sport. Of course you can't take up ice hockey as a 16 yr old, but you can switch from hockey to lacrosse or football or whatever.

Must be a joke sport

No, dude. The intense craziness is to get mediocre athletes to be good at a particular sport. I say this who has one mediocre athlete who is very driven and has become great at his preferred sport. But he’ll never be as good as the gifted athletes who don’t need all the intense training to be great.


Those are the Pat Mahomes, Caitlyn Clark, LeBron athletes, and it’s not most of our children. Athletic ability can be learned but we all have a ceiling and a floor.

For most average athletes, it’s probably better to play multiple sports at a lower level, and save your money and time. They’re never going pro.

Yup.

Parents don't want to accept it but it's true. Who you parents are will make a much bigger difference in how good you are then the amount you practice.

Well, I have probably the most applicable example of why this is false.

My kid plays on a top-ranked baseball team with identical twins. In 9th grade, these two kids were indistinguishable to anyone other than their parents. They were generally of the same playing ability, literally same height and weight.

Starting in 9th grade, one of the twins began training and practicing much more often and with more intensity than the other. By 12th grade, everyone could tell them apart because one was a good 25 pounds heavier of mostly muscle. That twin is committed to a top 20 D1 baseball team and is also being scouted by MLB teams...he will go pro if he drafts high enough, though he isn't one of these kids mentioned as a 1st round draft pick.

The other twin will be playing for a decent, but not outstanding, D3 team (talking their D3 baseball standings, not academic standings which are strong).

This doesn’t contradict what the PP said in the slightest. All this anecdote does is imply that the D3 twin had the genetic potential to have gone D1 if he had wanted it and worked harder.

Are all of the other kids on the team that worked hard, trained with intensity, and put on muscle ALSO at D1 schools? Are they ALSO being scouted by the MLB?

There are two others getting scouted by the MLB as well, and five others going to play at D1 schools. They also worked their assess off compared to most others on the team.

At some point, you need to admit that genetics are a kernal to start, but only 10% of the story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your goal?

To reach their potential in sport.

That's too wishy-washy. If you don't care at all about college recruitment, then play three sports.

Some incredible athletes like Patrick Mahomes could have gone pro in either football or baseball...most professional or even college athletes had to specialize.

I don't think you will ever hear of a top professional soccer player ever seriously playing another sport.

The Dominican Republic has the most per capita players in the MLB, and those kids don't do anything else.

That's wrong. I have two kids who played three sports, one each season. Both ended up playing D1 in one sport, one of them after only having started to play it as a sophomore. If you're trying to develop your athlete's general skill, they can excel at most any sport. Of course you can't take up ice hockey as a 16 yr old, but you can switch from hockey to lacrosse or football or whatever.

There was a specific reference to people like Patrick Mahomes that were pro caliber in multiple sports. Sounds like your kids won the genetic lottery. It happens.

The real question, is how many players on your kids' D1 teams were serious multiple sports athletes in high school vs specializing? Also, whether a revenue sport or not.

I'm the PP. Can't tell you how many on my sons' teams because I never asked and a Football roster is enormous. But I can tell you that their teammates from high school that were also recruited played multiple sports. Every one of them. Anecdotal, yes.

Also re genetic lottery--yes, kind of. (thanks?) They also worked hard but that's frankly a big component. Alexander Ovechkin's mother is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and world champion in basketball and his father was a pro soccer player. Ovi is talented but it he clearly got it from his parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your goal?

To reach their potential in sport.

That's too wishy-washy. If you don't care at all about college recruitment, then play three sports.

Some incredible athletes like Patrick Mahomes could have gone pro in either football or baseball...most professional or even college athletes had to specialize.

I don't think you will ever hear of a top professional soccer player ever seriously playing another sport.

The Dominican Republic has the most per capita players in the MLB, and those kids don't do anything else.

That's wrong. I have two kids who played three sports, one each season. Both ended up playing D1 in one sport, one of them after only having started to play it as a sophomore. If you're trying to develop your athlete's general skill, they can excel at most any sport. Of course you can't take up ice hockey as a 16 yr old, but you can switch from hockey to lacrosse or football or whatever.

Must be a joke sport

No, dude. The intense craziness is to get mediocre athletes to be good at a particular sport. I say this who has one mediocre athlete who is very driven and has become great at his preferred sport. But he’ll never be as good as the gifted athletes who don’t need all the intense training to be great.


Those are the Pat Mahomes, Caitlyn Clark, LeBron athletes, and it’s not most of our children. Athletic ability can be learned but we all have a ceiling and a floor.

For most average athletes, it’s probably better to play multiple sports at a lower level, and save your money and time. They’re never going pro.

Yup.

Parents don't want to accept it but it's true. Who you parents are will make a much bigger difference in how good you are then the amount you practice.

Well, I have probably the most applicable example of why this is false.

My kid plays on a top-ranked baseball team with identical twins. In 9th grade, these two kids were indistinguishable to anyone other than their parents. They were generally of the same playing ability, literally same height and weight.

Starting in 9th grade, one of the twins began training and practicing much more often and with more intensity than the other. By 12th grade, everyone could tell them apart because one was a good 25 pounds heavier of mostly muscle. That twin is committed to a top 20 D1 baseball team and is also being scouted by MLB teams...he will go pro if he drafts high enough, though he isn't one of these kids mentioned as a 1st round draft pick.

The other twin will be playing for a decent, but not outstanding, D3 team (talking their D3 baseball standings, not academic standings which are strong).

This doesn’t contradict what the PP said in the slightest. All this anecdote does is imply that the D3 twin had the genetic potential to have gone D1 if he had wanted it and worked harder.

Are all of the other kids on the team that worked hard, trained with intensity, and put on muscle ALSO at D1 schools? Are they ALSO being scouted by the MLB?

There are two others getting scouted by the MLB as well, and five others going to play at D1 schools. They also worked their assess off compared to most others on the team.

At some point, you need to admit that genetics are a kernal to start, but only 10% of the story.

Genetics are more important than hard work. Period.

These kids got on this TOP LEVEL team in the first place BECAUSE they’re more genetically gifted (i.e. they have a higher ceiling) than the other hundreds or thousands of kids who work as hard or harder than they did. But of course genetics will only take you so far. A kid can have all the potential in the world and not fulfill it; but the point the PP was making is that *no one can exceed their potential*.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe those club and travel teams aren't as "elite" as you thought.
In most communities these days there are as many or more travel/club teams as there are rec teams.

Club has increasingly just replaced rec leagues. In sports like basketball and baseball (and I guess volleyball), there are many low level club teams and mid level club teams…and then there are elite teams, where if you make that team, then you are usually one of the best players on your HS team.

+1

My 8th grade DS (rising freshman in the fall) plays baseball. There are 2 elite level teams in our area at his age level- definitely all of the players will make their HS teams, many will make varsity as freshmen or Sophs (at large classification high schools). My DS is on one of the million mid-level teams (many of which are feeder teams for the various high schools). A lot of these kids will make JV, but definitely not all. My DS will probably make the JV team if he keeps working hard but it definitely is not a given, either….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your goal?

To reach their potential in sport.

That's too wishy-washy. If you don't care at all about college recruitment, then play three sports.

Some incredible athletes like Patrick Mahomes could have gone pro in either football or baseball...most professional or even college athletes had to specialize.

I don't think you will ever hear of a top professional soccer player ever seriously playing another sport.

The Dominican Republic has the most per capita players in the MLB, and those kids don't do anything else.

That's wrong. I have two kids who played three sports, one each season. Both ended up playing D1 in one sport, one of them after only having started to play it as a sophomore. If you're trying to develop your athlete's general skill, they can excel at most any sport. Of course you can't take up ice hockey as a 16 yr old, but you can switch from hockey to lacrosse or football or whatever.

Must be a joke sport

No, dude. The intense craziness is to get mediocre athletes to be good at a particular sport. I say this who has one mediocre athlete who is very driven and has become great at his preferred sport. But he’ll never be as good as the gifted athletes who don’t need all the intense training to be great.


Those are the Pat Mahomes, Caitlyn Clark, LeBron athletes, and it’s not most of our children. Athletic ability can be learned but we all have a ceiling and a floor.

For most average athletes, it’s probably better to play multiple sports at a lower level, and save your money and time. They’re never going pro.

Yup.

Parents don't want to accept it but it's true. Who you parents are will make a much bigger difference in how good you are then the amount you practice.

Well, I have probably the most applicable example of why this is false.

My kid plays on a top-ranked baseball team with identical twins. In 9th grade, these two kids were indistinguishable to anyone other than their parents. They were generally of the same playing ability, literally same height and weight.

Starting in 9th grade, one of the twins began training and practicing much more often and with more intensity than the other. By 12th grade, everyone could tell them apart because one was a good 25 pounds heavier of mostly muscle. That twin is committed to a top 20 D1 baseball team and is also being scouted by MLB teams...he will go pro if he drafts high enough, though he isn't one of these kids mentioned as a 1st round draft pick.

The other twin will be playing for a decent, but not outstanding, D3 team (talking their D3 baseball standings, not academic standings which are strong).

This is so interesting. I know a set of identical twins who also play baseball in high school. The odd thing is one has an extremely strong arm, the other just average. They are identical in body type, height and weight so it isn’t that. 🤷‍♀️ The one with the rocket arm (obviously) has a lot more success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your goal?

To reach their potential in sport.

That's too wishy-washy. If you don't care at all about college recruitment, then play three sports.

Some incredible athletes like Patrick Mahomes could have gone pro in either football or baseball...most professional or even college athletes had to specialize.

I don't think you will ever hear of a top professional soccer player ever seriously playing another sport.

The Dominican Republic has the most per capita players in the MLB, and those kids don't do anything else.

That's wrong. I have two kids who played three sports, one each season. Both ended up playing D1 in one sport, one of them after only having started to play it as a sophomore. If you're trying to develop your athlete's general skill, they can excel at most any sport. Of course you can't take up ice hockey as a 16 yr old, but you can switch from hockey to lacrosse or football or whatever.

Must be a joke sport

No, dude. The intense craziness is to get mediocre athletes to be good at a particular sport. I say this who has one mediocre athlete who is very driven and has become great at his preferred sport. But he’ll never be as good as the gifted athletes who don’t need all the intense training to be great.


Those are the Pat Mahomes, Caitlyn Clark, LeBron athletes, and it’s not most of our children. Athletic ability can be learned but we all have a ceiling and a floor.

For most average athletes, it’s probably better to play multiple sports at a lower level, and save your money and time. They’re never going pro.

Yup.

Parents don't want to accept it but it's true. Who you parents are will make a much bigger difference in how good you are then the amount you practice.

Well, I have probably the most applicable example of why this is false.

My kid plays on a top-ranked baseball team with identical twins. In 9th grade, these two kids were indistinguishable to anyone other than their parents. They were generally of the same playing ability, literally same height and weight.

Starting in 9th grade, one of the twins began training and practicing much more often and with more intensity than the other. By 12th grade, everyone could tell them apart because one was a good 25 pounds heavier of mostly muscle. That twin is committed to a top 20 D1 baseball team and is also being scouted by MLB teams...he will go pro if he drafts high enough, though he isn't one of these kids mentioned as a 1st round draft pick.

The other twin will be playing for a decent, but not outstanding, D3 team (talking their D3 baseball standings, not academic standings which are strong).

Interesting idea, my daughter plays basketball with some twins. Identical, the thing is they have the Cain and Abel problem. Competition for limited resources. EG Only one gets to play point guard.

[Anonymous]

Yes. On to one of the best schools in the country. Played multiple sports in high school and one landed a leg up in admissions.

[Anonymous]

You can play three high school sports but you have to choose one sport for club level outside of school by 9th grade. That is how we were able to manage it. If you club sport has conflicts with a Varsity sport (a sport that is not your main sport as club and main would not ever clash) you choose the club sport and the high school coach will likely understand. At that point you are an athlete that they likely want enough to take you when they can get you if not at all.

[Anonymous]

What a sad sports obsessed thread this is. Dominated by over involved obnoxious parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can play three high school sports but you have to choose one sport for club level outside of school by 9th grade. That is how we were able to manage it. If you club sport has conflicts with a Varsity sport (a sport that is not your main sport as club and main would not ever clash) you choose the club sport and the high school coach will likely understand. At that point you are an athlete that they likely want enough to take you when they can get you if not at all.

I'm OP. So, this has always been our plan. Currently, DC is still playing two club sports and football. It's pretty obvious something has to give by 9th grade, as the high school coaches aren't going to tolerate the conflicts as well as our current coaches. The club coaches take away playing time when DC misses for a conflict, so that also negatively affects development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a sad sports obsessed thread this is. Dominated by over involved obnoxious parents.

This is the sports forum, dummy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can play three high school sports but you have to choose one sport for club level outside of school by 9th grade. That is how we were able to manage it. If you club sport has conflicts with a Varsity sport (a sport that is not your main sport as club and main would not ever clash) you choose the club sport and the high school coach will likely understand. At that point you are an athlete that they likely want enough to take you when they can get you if not at all.

I'm OP. So, this has always been our plan. Currently, DC is still playing two club sports and football. It's pretty obvious something has to give by 9th grade, as the high school coaches aren't going to tolerate the conflicts as well as our current coaches. The club coaches take away playing time when DC misses for a conflict, so that also negatively affects development.

PP here - yes two club sports in high school will not work. My kids are girls so I am not sure how demanding football can be outside of season. It also just depends on what his club sport that he will keep is. Also important to understand what the end goal is. Our goal was to use the sport to get you into a college that may have been difficult to get into on its own. If that is your situation as well you may want to keep the club option that will help more in that case.