When is it time to specialize in one sport?

[hot corner]

I hate when coaches try to force kids to special it should be the kids choice. I am on both sides, one of my kid's in 7th grade decided to specialize and my other 2 kids both play 2 sports.

 

[Longtoss1]

My 7th grade DD was told by the 8th grade VB Coach, that if she missed just one day of trouts (our team is planning on ASA/USA in California and may not be back in time) That she won't make the team for 8th grade, even though she is one of the top 3 right now. The HS Varsity VB Coach has also said that if she does not play J.O. VB, that she will not play Varsity VB in High School. It looks to me like the decision is being made for her.

What a couple of putzes....sorry you have to deal with that.

 

[brownsfan]

This always has been a tough issue both as a parent and a coach (when I did).

As a single parent of two girls, it was already tough to send them to one sport with both playing on different age brackets can't imagine what multi-sport would be like. Financially, I couldn't swing it. If I did swing it, I may not have allowed it anyway. The reason, one team always loses. Missing a practice for another practice, miss a practice for a game or vice-versa. It affects both (or three) sports.

As a coach, I hated it. I had to carry 18 girls to play fall softball (granted it was only rec), and only half the time I was able to field a team. When coaching travel, it was equally as tough when girls were missing very important practices for rec games. But the girls were 9/10U. If I do field another team, I may put in a contract for multi-sport athletes the amount of time they can miss. I still have a few years before I do anything like that as I won't do it until my youngest is off on her own.

Most people say it good for the muscles as you can work other groups, sure from a resistance standpoint. But if you're a right handed in softball, you're using the exact same muscles to serve a volley ball, or pass a basketball. During the course of a year, those muscles will eventually break down. With the specialization of one sport, rest is a need now. But what do I know?

 

[CARDS]

My 7th grade DD was told by the 8th grade VB Coach, that if she missed just one day of trouts (our team is planning on ASA/USA in California and may not be back in time) That she won't make the team for 8th grade, even though she is one of the top 3 right now. The HS Varsity VB Coach has also said that if she does not play J.O. VB, that she will not play Varsity VB in High School. It looks to me like the decision is being made for her.

At our school it is opposite, many of the student athletes and the better players play more than one sport. Colerain has a lot of athletes that play college sports at all levels and most on one varsity roster is found on other varsity rosters.
Actually; the GMC as a whole does a good job with players going on to the next level and a lot of the athletes at the other GMC schools are also two or more sport athletes.

If the coach does not put the best players on the team there is nothing you can do about it other than complain. Look at it as an opportunity to try a different HS sport. As a sophomore my DD did not agree with a lot the softball coach was teaching so, she and a few others decided to try LX that spring.

 

[KillingMeSmalls]

If you mean quitting other sports when you say specializing I would say the appropriate answer would be never. They should play as many sports as they want, for as long as they can and enjoy the ride. They can always place emphasis on one sport more than the others if they want to "specialize". Over the years I have heard of many HS and travel ball coaches who try to force the kids into selecting and demanding their time which essentially forces the kid to make a decision that they quite frankly shouldn't have to make until they know what sport they want to pursue. The player should always sit down with the Coach to discuss their dilemma and try to work something out for both parties. It can be difficult, and sacrifices must be made at both ends. Both player and coach need to be clear up front and communicate throughout. If the Coach still holds their other sports participation against them, then shame on them. I know in our case, the rule is simple...HS sports come first, travel related sports come second. I know in this forum that may not be the most popular view, but in our minds, its the only decision.

Finally, I have a few good friends who are Men's College Coaches and they are always looking for the most rounded athlete for the position required. They have told me that if the potential recruits were ranked the same on their list, they would almost always lean the way of the multi-sport athlete. Personally, I can confirm this very thing with my son and his recruiting visits and the questions we were asked. I can only assume that women's sports and recruiting work very similar in most cases.