Mulit-Sport Athletes vs Specialized Athletes that focus on 1 sport ???

[CoachB25]

There are ways to do it but the student athlete has to be organized and committed. My dd played volleyball her freshman and sophomore years and then, golf her junior and senior years. She practice nightly as a pitcher and hit every day. She was honors and in the top of her class. It was not easy and there were sometimes tears. Still, she wanted to do what she did. In college, then all of that paid off. She was very successful on the diamond. Due to the habits she learned early on, she was equally successful in the classroom and her senior year was her school's "Female Scholar Athlete." She was both an NCAA and Academic All American. To be sure not all can do that. I'd advise your dd's to follow their hearts and if they want to play multiple sports, they will find a way. JMHO!

 

[AkronCarPro]

What every says is true, that kids should be multi-sport athletes. However, and this is something I haven't seen brought up as a result of the multi-sort athlete.

We all say and preach it's all about the team. We win as a team and we lose as a team. There is no I in team (insert well there is a ME). So if we all agree to this, then what about the girl that misses softball practice for a sokker game? What about the coach putting in a play that practice, but the girl is missing valuable information? This could go for the girl who misses sokker for softball? Parents complain that their dd is not playing, but as a coach, their missing practice for their other sport and missing out on valuable information is a no-brainer. Now at the travel levels, this can be easier; but what about the rec programs we all agree that are beneficial.

I saw it was also brought up about pitchers. I agree that most need to spend more time on their craft. A few years ago, when I coached; I had a parent pull me aside after a rec game and asked why I didn't pitch her dd. My response was a simple "how many times did she go out and throw?". The parent said "she didn't have time because of sokker practice." My reply was a simple, "that's why I didn't pitch your daughter. I need to see improvement and if she's playing in another sport, she loses in another area"

When my oldest played, she wanted to be the multi-sport athlete. I told her no based on the above. I wasn't about to allow her to hurt one team missing out on valuable information so she can play in something else, and then the next week do that to the other team. I did allow her to choice music and she became a very good violinist while working on her ball skills.

Now, the above doesn't apply to all. Just something more to think about. I do agree in multi-sport athletes, but not at the cost of either team. Secondly, the bodies need breaks. So I wouldn't recommend more than two sports. But TMHO.

All of the above is true. At the level of softball my DD plays, if she played another sport she wouldn't have enough time to train for softball and wouldn't be the player she is now. Moreover, she would be more prone to injury because her body would be overtaxed. That is our experience. If it's not yours, and your kid can play two or more sports without it affecting her softball ability, as well as her health, go for it.

 

[FastBat]

We all say and preach it's all about the team. We win as a team and we lose as a team. There is no I in team... So if we all agree to this, then what about the girl that misses softball practice for a sokker game?

My dd played another sport besides softball, very competitively and very well. Our problem was the other parents on the team. My dd took key positions and was able to hang just fine missing practices in this sport, it was really just so much fun for her, she actually still enjoys that sport. But, the parents on this team would complain like crazy to the coaches and basically made it hard for my dd to continue. Even the teammates would say she wasn't committed, but she was one of the best on the team, in that sport. She ended up quitting the other sport, it wasn't the physical ability, the parents/teammates basically made our lives a living he!!.

 

[mike_dyer]

Interesting topic.

My kid is going to play d1. Her coaches said to her "Make sure you let us know how you do in your next weight lifting competition."

So Saturday she sends them a video of her PRing in the squat, she told them that she killed it and beat the kid who won state last year by 40 pounds, etc.

Her coaches said:
https://youtu.be/eKmRkS1os7k

 

[coachtomv]

My dd played another sport besides softball, very competitively and very well. Our problem was the other parents on the team. My dd took key positions and was able to hang just fine missing practices in this sport, it was really just so much fun for her, she actually still enjoys that sport. But, the parents on this team would complain like crazy to the coaches and basically made it hard for my dd to continue. Even the teammates would say she wasn't committed, but she was one of the best on the team, in that sport. She ended up quitting the other sport, it wasn't the physical ability, the parents/teammates basically made our lives a living he!!.

That's an interesting take and one I have thought about. Some players can fall out of bed and just be very good/great at a sport. So....if they do not "grind" or put in the same time as other teammates, does that make them less dedicated or less of a team player? Maybe they are themselves wary of burnout and know when to work and when to rest. I know teammates and families can get very upset when a "part timer" comes in and is better than they are barely trying, so they tear them down by saying they are not dedicated, so they should not be there vs their kid that works harder, but is simply not as talented.

Obviously some players need to work harder to overcome obstacles, limitations, and such and some players want to be truly "great" and not just very good. It all plays into it. When you play in an atmosphere of all very good elite players, the ones that put in that extra work will most likely pass the rest and become "great". Pro sports point that put where every player is talented and the best and then a few strive to be truly great and some do it and some fall short.

My DD is very good at softball, as a coach and not just as dad, she can hang with the best at her age and up. She has some great physical tools, has a head for the game as good as many coaches, loves to compete and dissect the game. The game just makes sense to her and her fundamentals are superb. She is able to really absorb knowledge and adjustments from coaches and situations and it comes very natural for her. Helps that she really found the right knowledge from people like Howard Kobata(fielding-aggressive play) and Michaela Minner(hitting-mental game) at an early age and it clicked. However, I think if her peers knew how much actual time she puts in, they would be shocked and softball is her main sport focus. Its not a lack of dedication, its a self awareness of sensing burnout, mental reps vs physical, not making it harder than it is and not treating it like a job or a "grind". Work on good reps and not just how many reps, but quality reps.

On her school Basketball and Volleyball teams she beats out girls that play JO and AAU and she only plays those sports in season for fun and for school. Some of those players/parents are not thrilled by that either, lol. We are in a small school district, she would not be able to do that elsewhere most likely.

 

[Pacerdad57]

some kids are simply one sport athletes. they found the game that takes control of their passions, and have no desire to play multiple sports.
to them their one sport isn't drudgery, they don't burn out, they just love their chosen sport. if they're great at it all the better. whether or not the sport you love and have passion for leads to any college career or not, it is your passion. most know when to slow down and rest and relax a bit, if the fun goes away step back, if the passion fires up again because you've been away from what you love, well then you're doing what you love and hopefully having fun at it.
its simply the case that some kids don't like the other sports available at their schools, they excel at one and don't have a hope in hell of breaking into the others even sometimes when they do like the other sports. whats wrong with trying to better your favorite, if you love it, you love it.