It’s rare to hear of a three sport athlete these days. Specialization in youth sports has forced athletes to make decisions which sport to focus on earlier and earlier. Some players are choosing to focus on one specific sport before they get into Middle School, playing that sport year-round.
The impact of specialization in sports stretches beyond the athlete. Unfortunately, it effects coaches as well.
As parents guide their children to specialize in sports, spend money to make their children better, and increasingly involve themselves in their child’s organized sports experience; the pressure to win in High School sports begins to increase. As parent’s see their children compete in school, they expect their teams to be nothing short of competitive. As the added pressures of being competitive and winning in High School sports increases, quality High School Varsity coaches are forced to develop a year-round training schedule for their sport, as opposed to just working with Varsity athletes in season.
As coaches start to work with their players year-round, the opportunity to coach multiple sports begins to fade. The idea of a quality 3 Sport Coach has turned into a 1 sport Head Coach. These Head Coaches, most of whom serve as Linchpins within their communities, are now dedicating all their effort into developing studletes in one specific sport.
With parent pressures, year-round schedules, and specialization in sports, will soon be the time that quality High School coaches decide it’s worth it to coach Varsity sports?
To me, the biggest travesty would be seeing the most qualified and indispensable coaches go from being a 3 Sport Coach, to not one at all.
How can we help promote the importance of multi-sport athletes and coaches within schools? For ideas, please comment below…
