For many parents of young athletes, the pressure to get ahead can start early. But when it comes to developing young athletes, earlier does not always mean better.

Sophia Ulman, Ph.D., division director of the Movement Science Laboratory at Scottish Rite for Children, recently joined Dr. Debbie Rhea, EdD., M.Ed., on the “Right Moves” podcast to discuss sports readiness, specialization and the increasingly competitive environment surrounding youth sports.

“I think it’s just human nature to want to get a head start,” Ulman said.

Starting select baseball two years earlier, for example, may feel like an advantage. But Ulman encourages families to think beyond how quickly a child develops a particular skill and consider a bigger question: When do we want that athlete to peak?

 

The Case for Playing More Than One Sport

Specializing early can mean repeating the same movements while missing opportunities to develop a broader range of physical skills. Playing multiple sports allows young athletes to move their bodies in different ways while also providing a break from the repetitive demands of their primary sport.

Sophia Ulman, Ph.D., is the division director of the Movement Science Laboratory at Scottish Rite for Children.

“If you look at some of the professional athletes that have gotten really far and had great careers, they oftentimes played more than one sport all the way through high school,” Ulman said.

Those experiences can help athletes develop a more robust set of motor skills while giving their bones, joints and muscles time to recover.

 

Navigating the Pressure to Specialize

Parents aren’t the only ones driving specialization. The structure of youth sports itself can make playing multiple sports challenging. An athlete may move from a club season to a school season and back to club competition, leaving little opportunity to try something else without doing too much.

Ulman says many parents understand the risks of overuse but may be less familiar with the potential drawbacks of specialization, including developing a less comprehensive set of motor skills.

At the same time, youth sports have become increasingly competitive, with parents, coaches and trainers all potentially invested in a young athlete’s development and performance.

“The environment some of these athletes are in is complicated,” Ulman said.

 

One Simple Question: Are You Having Fun?

For parents wondering how to strike the right balance, Ulman recommends starting with the athlete.

“Do you love this sport? Do you have fun at practice?” she said. “Ask them what they want to be involved in.”

Parents can also be mindful of the messages they may send without realizing it. Children notice when a tournament win generates excitement or when a particular sport becomes a frequent topic of family conversation.

“A child is very perceptive,” Ulman said. “They understand, OK, Mom or Dad was very happy when we went to this tournament, and we won.”

That excitement can unintentionally signal to a child that succeeding in a particular sport is what makes their parents happy.

For families navigating an increasingly competitive youth sports landscape, the goal doesn’t have to be getting ahead as quickly as possible. Giving children opportunities to develop different skills, listening to what they enjoy and keeping fun part of the conversation can help build a healthier relationship with sports for the long term.

To listen to the full podcast, click here.