Issues with Early Specialisation

Early specialisation issues refer to youth athletes specialising in a sport at a relatively young age (before 14 years of age) and minimising their exposure to other sports. In a study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers found that 45 percent of high school athletes specialise in just a single sportone sport and two years earlier than current collegiate and professional athletes say they did. While the professional athletes like Bastian Schweinsteiger specialised around the age of 14.7, current high school athletes are specialising at around 12.7 years old. In the account of Schweinsteiger, he recalls playing up to 5 sports before deciding to specialise in soccer at 14 years old (Marshall, 2016). In addition, individuals who competed in 3 sports aged 11, 13 and 15 were significantly more likely to compete at national level that those who participated in one sport (Bridge & Toms, 2012). By delaying early specialisation, exposure to multi sports not only prevents overuse injuries in youth (70% - 93%) more likely to get injured) but also greatly enhances the youth’s Fundamental Movement Skills to improve their physical literacy. While these statistics might not be locally based, we can see similarities as local students begin training to compete at 10 and are not allowed to join more than 1 CCA. In addition, exposure to multiple sports instead of early specialisation improves youth athletes' motivation and increases their level of enjoyment when participating in sport. Based on the numbers, issues of early specialisation is one problem we need to tackle to produce more and better national athletes.

Implications of early specialisation

• Burnout, sick of the sport and lead to inactivity of sport as adult

• Lack of physical literacy.

• Sports injuries, overuse of that body part

• Disconnect to lifelong recreational activity

Tips for youth coaches to prevent early specialisation

• Discourage early specialisation and encourage youth athletes to play multiple sports

• Encourage LTAD model

• Age number = number of hours the athlete can train a week

• Allow athlete to have adequate rest

• Healthy balance between deliberate play and deliberate practice. Allow more chances to play when they are younger and intensity and volume of practice should only increase after 14 – 16 years old when they are going to specialise.

Reference American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2017, March 14). Nearly half of today's high school athletes specialize in one sport: Only 22 percent of professional athletes want their own children to focus on a single sport. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 22, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170314081634.htm

Bridge, M. W., & Toms, M. R. (2013). The specialising or sampling debate: a retrospective analysis of adolescent sports participation in the UK. Journal of Sports Sciences,31(1), 87-96. doi:10.1080/02640414.2012.721560

Marshall, A. (2016, December 28). School Days: Bastian Schweinsteiger. Retrieved July 24, 2017, from http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2016/Dec/manchester-united-midfielder-bastian-schweinsteiger-skiiing-scoring-goals-striker-school-days.aspx?AL

Tucker, R. (2016, February 02). Talent ID & Management Part 5: Early vs Late Specialisation. Retrieved July 24, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKhX4keAIQ0

Further readings How other coaches delay early specialisation and expose athletes to multiple sports Evidence that most players who turn professional are those who have delayed specialisation The benefits of sports and how burnout originates and how to prevent burnout Account of Bastian Schweinsteiger on late specialisation and exposure to multi-sport before