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One-sport Wonders
Should Your Child Specialize in a Single Sport? By Sue Marquette Poremba
Sarah Bailey of New York City was a very active and athletic little girl. She began playing soccer when she was 6 years old, and over the years, she added tennis, golf, lacrosse, skiing and dance to her schedule. At 14, right before she entered high school, Bailey decided to specialize in soccer. "I loved soccer, and it got to a point where I was very good at it," she says.
Bailey's experience with soccer is a growing trend in a number of sports. An increasing number of adolescents are dropping multiple sports to specialize in a single sport. Whereas in the past, these children played different sports in different seasons, they are now playing one sport year-round.
Many parents and adolescents agree with Bailey's assessment, which is why so many young people have decided to pick one sport and focus solely on it. One reason for this is the expectation of (or hope for) a college scholarship. Another reason is that the child enjoys or excels at one sport above all others and chooses to specialize year-round in that particular activity.
The child should always take the lead in deciding whether or not to specialize in one sport. "If a child is passionate about one sport, that's fine," says Ron Quinn, associate professor of education at Xavier University and director of sports studies. But a child should not be forced to pick a sport. It's natural for young people to be undecided about the direction they want to take. "How can we ask a 10-year-old to pick one sport when most college students have trouble picking a career path?" Quinn says.