Saint Stephen’s encourages and celebrates multi-sport athletes. The benefits include reduced risk of overuse injuries, increased athleticism, better mental development and teamwork skills, and reduced chance of burnout.
While more young athletes than ever before are pursuing year-round training in a single sport, there are a multitude of studies suggesting that this approach can produce significant negative consequences for student-athletes.
A report published in November 2022 by the National Institutes of Health indicates less risk of injury and better performance through multi-sport engagement. In fact, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, and the American College of Sports Medicine have all released statements expressing concern about early specialization.
The data supports this position. For example, studies by Major League Baseball and the NBA found that athletes who played multiple sports in high school were less likely to sustain major injuries and had increased longevity compared with those specializing early.
There is also a benefit when it comes to performance. A study of 1999 and 2002 Olympic athletes showed a significantly higher success rate for those who were involved in sports other than the one they participated in at the Games. And according to the scouting research service Tracking Football, 59 of the 64 first-round picks in the 2017 and 2018 NFL drafts played multiple sports in high school.
Competing on multiple teams increases overall sports IQ, improves sportsmanship and teaches young athletes to build positive relationships with different groups of people. Each sport has its own unique range of physical skills that all build coordination, balance, flexibility, agility and strength.
