26/06/2024
****PARENTS - Your child’s sports should have an off season****
When I grew up playing football, we always had an off season. No summer leagues, no tournaments, football would finish in the summer. I speak with a lot of parents about their child’s sport & how I believe it should be approached.
TAKE A BREAK FROM ONE SPORT AND DO ANOTHER.
I understand, your child really enjoys their chosen sport, and they want to do it with their friends all year round…. Here’s why i believe it’s the wrong approach and why they’ll thank you for it eventually.
1. Skill Development: Different sports emphasise various physical skills such as coordination, balance, strength, agility, and endurance which are expressed in different ways. By doing different sports, your child will develop a greater range of physical abilities.
2. Reduced Risk of Overuse Injuries: Focusing on one sport can lead to repetitive strain and overuse injuries at an early age which often is completely AVOIDABLE. Playing multiple sports allows different muscle groups to be used and gives some body parts time to rest and recover. For example, Ice Hockey players need to rest their groins as they are used so much in the season.
3. Avoiding Burnout: Specialising in one sport from a young age can quickly lead to burnout, where children lose interest and motivation. Multi-sport participation keeps their experience fresh and enjoyable. I have seen this first hand numerous times, and it always make me sad when I hear this with a child.
4. Long-term Athletic Development: Multi-sport participation can contribute to more well-rounded athletic development. Children can discover their strengths and preferences, which can help them choose to specialise in a sport later on. I was fortunate to work under Brett Davey, a great Welsh rugby player and coach who had played European Rugby AND European Football, attributing the long range vision used in football in helping with his rugby abilities.
It’s great when a child has a passion for sport and it’s all they want to do, and that’s needs to be encouraged. But it’s also important we manage their passion and their development for their long term benefit.
Any parents out there who have any questions, I’m always happy to answer them 💪🏻
