Multi-Sport vs Single Sport Athletes

I've seen a post shared around Facebook a number of times in recent months; maybe you've seen it too? Urban Meyer's dry-erase board sketch of the number of multi-sport recruits vs. football only recruits for his Ohio State Football Team. 42 multi-sport athletes to 5 football only. An impressive ratio. Every time I see it, it makes be laugh. My entire coaching philosophy is centered around being well rounded and avoiding sport specialization until the time is right.

With the school year starting, Fall sports underway, and our first 4 week YTT session starting this coming Friday (shameless plug) I feel it is important to express just how important it is to be a well-rounded athlete. Learning how to move and change direction. Development of core stability and mobility. Understanding that sports can be competitive and FUN at the same time. 

As a former collegiate coach I had 2 types of recruits, field hockey players & athletes. The field hockey players played year round but often times were not the better the player. The ATHLETES that competed in different sports with different skill sets and game IQ were almost always better tactically and technically. Their wheel house was Speed, Strength, Field Awareness, Endurance, Power. It can be argued that multi-sport athletes are not as good technically. Their skills may not be as on point in a stationary or control & predictable drilled compared to the "field hockey player". However, when the whistle blows and the game goes live it's the athlete that excels. It is in their nature to react to the environment they are in and draw from the various situations their multiple sports have taken them.

So as the pull of college, high school, club, and dare I say middle school coaches start pushing sport specialization think long and hard about how this decision may impact your young athlete's future. As promising as it may sound to pursue one sport in the hopes of earning a collegiate scholarship the odds are not in your child's favor. There are to few scholarships for every athlete looking to compete in college and as Urban Meyer's so clearly drew those scholarships are going to multi-sport athletes. Let your kids enjoy learning and playing sports. Let them learn how to move and treat their bodies well. Remind yourself and your kids sports are supposed to be FUN. Leave the pressure at the gate. 

SK