The practice is, to say the least, controversial

We’ve all seen it and experienced it – kids playing more than one sport in one season. I’ve seen it in my own family.

The practice is, to say the least, controversial.

Which side are you on? I think it depends if you are the athlete, the coach or the parent.

I think all three groups agree that children should play multiple sports during their pre-adolescent and early teen years. These players tend to be more resilient, athletic, adaptive, and competitive than those who specialize at this age.

However, practicing multiple sports at the same time can have potential consequences.

The National Federation of State High School Associations asks the following questions when the decision is made to play more than one sport at the same time.

Being able to play both sports part-time can cause major problems, particularly with regards to fair playing time and team dynamics. I have seen coaches tell players that they will get less playing time if they miss practice to play the second sport.

Young athletes have a hard time getting in calories when they’re only playing one sport at a time, so when they’re playing two sports at once, it becomes even more difficult for them. According to the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, male high school athletes need between 3,000 and 6,000 calories per day, and females need between 2,200 and 4,000 calories per day.

By practicing several sports, these values ​​increase significantly. If you don’t consume enough calories, you will lose weight.

Practicing two sports at the same time can also double travel time, resulting in getting up early and going to bed late, less time for studying and homework, and less sleep.

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommends delaying specialization in a single sport as long as possible. It advises that children should only participate in one organized sport at a time and should not participate in a single sport for more than eight months per year.

Rest gives overworked tissue time to recover. Children should not participate in physical activity for more hours per week than is appropriate for their age. For example, a 12-year-old should not participate in organized sports for more than 12 hours per week.

You should take at least two days off per week to rest and recover and take a break from the sport at the end of each competitive season.

What should parents do if their child really wants to play more than one sport? Is the coach inappropriate for him to punish the athlete by reducing playing time, not attending all practices and meets, or even missing occasional events?

Youth sports are changing on many levels. The culture is not going to change, so ultimately athletes and parents have to make a decision.

The child must choose his or her favorite sport.

Nancy Justis is a former competitive swimmer and information director for college sports. She is a partner at Justis Creative Communications and founder of the Iowa Youth Sports Initiative. You can reach her at [email protected]