When my younger daughter was four I started a new job. Over lunch one day my new coworker and I realized our kids were in the same preschool class. What sports is she in? my coworker asked between bites of her salad. Right now she’s just in dance but I want her to try soccer I responded.
You better hurry up she said.
I asked her what she meant and her reply was well if your kid isn’t in their chosen sport by the time they’re six there’s no way they’re making the high school team.
Yes you read that right. People are having their kids specialize in sports before they even know how to actually play the sport.
I was not an athletically gifted child, I did not play competitive sports growing up. I, of course, had friends who did. Their sports were seasonal.
Winter was basketball since that was played inside, fall I think was soccer and spring was baseball/softball. Quite a few of my friends played all three. Kids sports have changed. You can now play one sport year round and apparently if you want to make the high school team you better specialize early.
A simple internet search will pull up multiple studies showing kids who specialize in one sport from an early age have an increased risk of repetitive use injury. Doctors, who are used to seeing these injuries in adult patients, have been diagnosing younger and younger patients. Turns out the seasonal sports of my childhood is actually an explanation of why these injuries weren’t as prevalent back when I was growing up in the dark ages.
The answer comes down to cross-training. As a runner, I know the importance of cross training. I shaved minutes off of personal record when I started lifting weights. It is important to use different muscle groups while giving the other muscles a break. This can actually increase performance and prevent injury. This is also why kids back in the day didn’t have these injuries as often. Each season was a different sport and different way to move your body.
Your kid can play soccer but let them play basketball or baseball in the spring too. They may make new friends, discover they love another sport and most importantly help prevent injury while potentially making them a better soccer player.
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https://pixabay.com/en/competition-ball-game-squad-3314734/