I know what you are thinking, who has time for that? After all, how many “pro” athletes played multiple sports? Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray and the late Kobe Bryant are a few of the elite class of “multi-sport” athletes. They played multiple sports leading up into their professional career, and two of them had careers in multiple sports. Obviously, being a multi-sport athlete doesn’t guarantee a career in professional sports, yet there are many benefits to the youth athlete, both short and long term.

My own personal experience will shed some light on the importance of being a young multi-sport athlete. I loved baseball, football, and track. Little did I know the impact it would have on me as an athlete and in adulthood. Physically, mentally, and socially I gained invaluable opportunities for personal and physical growth. Extensive research and the firsthand knowledge gained with young athletes I train; I know I am not alone in my experiences. There are numerous studies emphasizing why specializing in a single sport too early can be detrimental. I wish I had realized the true value of playing multiple sports as a young adult. Looking back, I see the value. After enjoying those multiple sports in high school, I shifted my focus specifically to baseball in college. When I was unable to pursue the dream of college baseball I shifted ALL my attention to football. After a couple of years of sole focus on football, in a variety of capacities, I experienced a detrimental ACL tear. I believe I could have avoided that injury or decreased the likelihood of having it, had I continued to be active in multiple sports. I believe single sport focus and training can be the factor for so many career ending injuries in sports today. 

Below are the five reasons I believe young athletes should participate in multiple sports:

1. Being a role player

A role player is an athlete with a defined or implied position on a team. A defined position may be a quarterback, team captain, pitcher, etc. An implied position would be second string, hype person, all-around player, etc. As a 5’9” speedster (as I dust my shoulder), I was put into stereotypical positions in all three competitive sports I participated in. I was an outfielder in baseball and stole bases. I was a receiver, but a better defensive back (because I lacked reliable hands) when playing football. I did short sprints on the track (almost died during a 400-meter race). Many of the roles I played were implied. I was not typically a team captain, quarterback, etc. My roles were fluid, meaning I could change at any time. 

On each team that I played; I had an entirely different role. I was not always considered 1st string or an appointed leader, but I was always a player who adapted to my surroundings. In some cases, teammates looked up to me for motivation, while I looked to others for inspiration. Depending on the sport I could take on vastly different roles; on the baseball field I had a lot of swag but I needed constant reinforcement on the football field. As a novice track member, I took a role as “student” while my teammates were more experienced and provided education as I followed their lead.  

I was so good at baseball, but football humbled me. Had I not been given a chance to play multiple sports, I may have missed an opportunity to learn humility. I was able to take my experience from other sports and apply it to the sport I genuinely loved and focused my time on. I had a winner mentality and the skills for baseball, but through football, and even track, I learned an early education of how to WIN within a team atmosphere in different climates. I believe this helps with how I operate and cooperate with my co-workers and my family.

2. One compliments the other

Over the years, parents consistently share concern for the lack of practice or strength training. They ask how much their student athlete should be practicing or spending time in the gym. They have this preconceived notion that excessive practice and weight training will result in game day excellence. Contrary to popular belief, excessive practice and training in one sport will not always result in excellence. Studies have shown multi-sport athletes tend to have more success when competing in more than one sport that compliments the other. 

The hand eye coordination and endurance on a soccer field, can transfer and compliment the hand eye coordination and endurance on a basketball court. The quick reactive jumping ability and post up position in basketball can transfer very well to a receiver on a football field. The agility and reaction time on the football field can transfer very well to an outfielder getting a good jump on a ball in the air. 

All sports have a component of athleticism that will exponentially improve the overall athleticism of the athlete. Increased athleticism from one in-season to the next in-season results in a better athlete. Which leads to my third point…

3. Less injuries = more game time

This is where well-meaning parents get it backwards. The athletic and strength qualities of one sport will indirectly develop the qualities of another sport. Overuse injuries are the result of the repetitious movements, without a balanced development of the youth athlete.

Young athletic bodies are still developing ligament and tendon strength, as well as building muscle and natural strength. If we specialize them too early, this can lead to muscle imbalances and asymmetries. An athlete pitching all spring and summer who then spends the fall and winter to focus on a curveball, will neglect the opportunity for overall development; likely resulting in fatigue and/or injury. Injury and fatigue result in less playing time and a frustrated athlete.

What do you do if your child is only interested in one competitive sport? I would suggest incorporating non-competitive free play, calisthenics, biking or jogging etc. Soliciting the direction and support of a personal trainer or athletic trainer would prove beneficial. Having an unbiased set of eyes and direction can help the athlete look at their development in different ways ultimately increasing their confidence. This will help to incorporate different movements needed for balanced athletic development.

4. Burnout

As a parent, think about all the tasks you manage; kids, work, significant other, friendships, extended family and more. It can be exhausting. Even more exhausting is when we put too much focus on one category and ignore the others. When focus shifts other areas suffer. The same thing can happen with young athletes. When a parent hears 4 different sports all year round, they automatically think of burnout. Yes, it adds to the many slices of an already full pie. If you think your child has the chance to be the next “big star” and you force them to focus on the one sport YOU think they will succeed at, you risk a full burnout. 

PARENTS hear me out on this one with a little bit of humility. We all want to believe that our kid is going to be the NEXT big thing. So much so that we can “encourage” them (sometimes forcibly) to excess. We love to share in our children’s success and tell everyone we know about their abilities. Sometimes we even fight for them when they don’t get playing time that we feel they deserve. In moderation, pride and joy for our children is admirable, but is it standing in their way? Is it burning them out?

One potential problem is that the athlete doesn’t see that same path. Its not out of lack of talent, ability, or drive. It’s mainly due to the parents wanting it more than the athlete. Its more of a parent wanting to live their dreams through their child. Kids are very aware of this and most times do not have the emotional maturity to speak out and share their true feelings. Mainly due to not wanting to disappoint or deflate their parents. 

What parents do not realize; the lack of emotional maturity can lead to anxiety, depression, and resentment. The resentment can come with an unappreciated interest from the parent for the other 1 or 2 other sports. When weighing the risk versus the reward, adding another sport to your schedules can prove far more beneficial than the status of a singular sport.

5. Longevity + Athleticism = More Attention

When you look at the previous four points, you can see the logic behind recruiting a multi-sport athlete. It makes sense to recruit or draft an athlete, who has the ability to manage the various roles one can have when playing multiple sports. It adds depth, character and longevity.  

Coaches in elite NCAA programs want to bring quality players that already have well developed team dynamics. A statistic on a research study showed that 88% of all DI athletes played multiple sports. That is a staggering percentage when there are close to 180,000 athletes participating in DI sports (DiFiori 2013).

Another statistic showed that athletes that played multiple sports played more games/minutes and spent less time being injured (John 2018). In fact, we are seeing an increase in athletes playing multiple sports at the collegiate level, because it is a win-win situation for the coaches and teams involved. This gives the young athletes more opportunities for visibility which directly impacts their chances for scholarships, sponsorships and professional careers. 

Multisport athletes add the component of mental health and mindset you don’t always get with a single sport. When there is no resentment between parent and child for being held back from competing in multiple sports, the result is a better relationship. The burnout that we may have feared, increased the athleticism in the young athlete. Being a star on one team and a bench player on another, built character and humility. Your level of maturity will have an impact recruitment. These intangibles will help young athletes throughout adolescence, and well into adulthood.