Is it better for a child to play multiple sports?  Or, should they focus on one sport year round? These questions seem to plague parents of young athletes, and sometimes even the athletes themselves.  Contradictory information seems to be everywhere. Some sources suggest that playing many sports growing up best promotes athlete development. While others seem to quote the 10,000 hours rule, stating that early specialization and deliberate practice leads to accelerated skill development and elite performance.  There are also examples of elite and professional level athletes that seem to endorse both of these perspectives. Athletes like Lebron James, Stephen Curry, and Russell Wilson all have discussed the importance of a multi-sport focus on their athletic development. However, other athletes such as Christiano Ronaldo and Tiger Woods are examples of the importance of early sport specialization.  So, how do parents and athletes determine the right path?

Before answering this question, it is first important to understand how an athlete develops over time.  Jon Hellstedt (1988) first proposed a comprehensive model for athlete development that is still relevant for today’s athletes.  In his model, Hellstedt lists three stages of athlete development: Exploration/Sampling, Commitment/Specialization, and Proficiency/Investment.  The Exploration/Sampling stage is characterized by early interest in several sports with an emphasis on play. Athletes in this stage of development should be encouraged to explore any and all athletic interests.  Competition should not be an area of concern for athletes in this stage of development. The primary goal of the Exploration/Sampling stage is the development of love for sport and movement.

Athletes entering the Commitment/Specialization stage of development have begun to focus on one sport.  They experience an increasing commitment to this sport. They may continue participation in other sports/activities, but their primary focus in on their sport.  They begin to develop long term goals and may become more emotionally invested in their outcomes and performance. In this stage, competition becomes more of a focus, and athletes are at a higher risk for burn out and conflict associated with the sport.  

In the final stage of athletic development, Proficiency/Investment, athletics become a central focus of the athlete’s life.  Long term athletic goals become more realistic, and the athlete becomes focused on attaining these goals. During this stage, many athletes recognize their own potential and determine the depth of investment they are willing to make toward maximizing performance.  

Being able to identify and respond appropriately to the child’s developmental level is the key to making the appropriate decisions for the athlete.  Parents should be aware that their behaviors and responses to their child at each developmental stage has distinct benefits to athlete development but can also be detrimental to the child’s interest in sport participation.  It is also important for parents to consider the individual sport when determining the importance of early specialization. In some sports, such as gymnastics, young athletes benefit from early specialized training. While other sports, such as basketball, allow for more sampling at a younger age.  Parents who are unaware of their child’s level of athletic development, or who are unsure how to respond at each stage, should be encouraged to seek out consultation from sport psychologists or athletic club directors. Appropriately responding to these young athletes can lead to a lifetime of love for sport.

Jon C. Hellstedt (1988) Kids, Parents, and Sports: Some Questions and Answers, The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 16:4, 59-71, DOI: 10.1080/00913847.1988.11709481