Multiple Sports
View Supporting Videos - Connor Carrick & Ryan Hartman
Multiple Sports v Specialization
Advantages of playing multiple sports:
- Injury Prevention
- Decrease Burnout
- Translatable Skills
1) Different sports can develop different muscles
his will help our child strengthen different muscles and keep them safer from “traditional” hockey injuries. We are seeing a rise in hip, groin, abdominal injuries from the stress that too much skating and fatigue can put on those muscles.
2) Too much of anything will lead to less passion in that particular activity
Year round hockey can contribute to this - kids need to learn to miss the game. It doesn’t mean you have to totally stay away from hockey during the summer, but playing other sports and taking some time away can lead kids to miss the game and be re-energized when the season starts.
3) Skills that translate
Reading a play, hand eye coordination, endurance. Developing a wide pallet of problem solving skills will stimulate creativity and communication skills. Lastly, you get to interact and meet more people and you learn to work with new teammates.
When Should You Specialize ?
There is no linear answer - It depends and you should always have a conversation with your child. As a rule - you should not specialize until AFTER puberty. Are they mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally prepared to specialize?