When kids specialize in a sport, remember these training principles
For young athletes who specialize in playing a single sport, a higher risk of injuries is a serious concern. In one 2015 study focused on 1,190 athletes ages 7 to 18, sports-specialized training was shown to be an independent risk factor for injury. In another study, looking at 546 athletes from Kentucky, specialized female basketball, soccer and volleyball players had a 50 percent higher chance of overuse knee pain. And it’s not just physical, early specialization is also associated with psychological burnout. Despite all this, up to 30 percent of youth athletes today play a single sport to the exclusion of others. “While sport specialization has its well-documented ....
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