Specializing in one sport

My son decided to give up Basketball and track after his 8th grade year, and then gave up Football after his Freshman year.

Too much wear and tear on the body, he said. Could have probably been a varsity athlete in all but basketball, but he always said that since he wasn't going to get a scholarship in any other sport than baseball, he wanted to concentrate on his first love.

Don't be afraid to let your son play two sports. I know of one kid out here in Southern California that just signed with Stanford for football who will also play baseball. While it is rare to be able to participate in two sports at next level, it is not impossible. Didn't Jackie Robinson compete in four sports at UCLA, {football, basketball, track and baseball}?

There is that old saying "the more you can do"

Pretty similar situation here. My son played football, bsketball and baseball up through 8th grade and is now a freshman.

He intended to play all three at least his freshman year, but after his freshman football season ended, he was asked to help out with the varsity playoff run as a member of the scout team. That kind of forced the decision to not play basketball, since he'd have to miss the first four weeks or so.

He decided to concentrate on football and baseball. I think those two sports work very well together. It does preclude fall ball, but other than that, they are complementary.

He knows he isn't D1 football material (not being a freak of nature) but he loves everything about football and I am sure he will play all four years, which I encourage.

Seems to me, if you can play more than one sport well, by all means play them all. Just understand the risk of being a jack of all trades and a master of none...size of school, level of competition, athletic ability, all play into it. For my sons, they played them all until High School. Being at a 5A School (Texas size classification, 5A being the largest), they both decided to concentrate on baseball.

If the boy is the one making the decison let him do it--shows maturity on the young mans part--he is thinking about his choices and is going about making them

My son used to play three sports plus summer baseball. He plays on a competitive summer legion team so needless to say all of the sports overlapped with the other. We could see burn out coming quickly and since basketball was his least favorite sport he decided to quit after his sophmore year. I have talked to alot of three sport athletes that say that they were average at everything. At times we miss watching him play basketball but seeing a happy kid is worth it. He is also working on pitching in the off season which would have been impossible playing basketball.

Ace101bubba,
I see this is your first post. Welcome to the HSBBW! Nice to have ya. Specialization in one sport is becoming very common. I think a lot depends on the player, the size of the school, and the physical demands put on the player by the different coaches. I’m sure there are pros and cons of specialization.
Like your son, my son was a high school baseball player and a punter/kicker on the football team. The one thing I made sure on the front end was to define HIS #1 sport (baseball) and to clear it with the coaches that baseball would take precedence over football whenever a conflict arose. I did this because it’s tough for a freshman to negotiate with the head football coach. I did this because I knew if the coaches, the school, and the player are left to decide, football will always win and I felt as if this was not in his best interest. I felt as if he had a future in baseball. Good thing I did because spring football did claim some other baseball players. He had an enjoyable experience playing football and baseball and I think his dual sport ability earned him a lot of valuable experience. They wanted him to play other football positions later on and I nixed that. There are a number of things that you should consider. Like TRHit says, your son should have a lot of input into the decision. Does your son have a future in baseball at the college level? If so, he may want to focus totally on baseball....or... does your son just want to hang out and have a good time? If so, you might want to encourage him to play football. Being a punter/kicker is not that demanding and could be a real good experience for your son (and the family too). I know it was for us.
Fungo

Fungo....you have a PM

ace101bubba,

I was probably something like you. My '07 son was a fabulous football player, absolutely dominating on the offensive and defensive line. As a Freshman and Sophmore, he was 235 lbs, and I am confident that had he chosen to pursue football, he could have easily played DI on a full ride.

But my son had other ideas, and although I was resistant to his wanting to drop football after his sophmore-junior summer baseball season, I finally decided that although I can provide counsel to him, ultimately it is his decision to make. Although I wasn't thrilled at the time, my son had a better handle on his desires than I did.

He told me, "Dad, if I play football, they are going to make me lift to get stronger, and get bigger to effectively play line. I don't want to be a 260 or 275 lbs lineman, and I don't want to be 300 lbs to play NFL." In retrospect, I do not want him to have to obtain those unhealthy weights either.

Instead he has lost 20 lbs, and is on his way to 200 instead of 235. And the best part is, he is working on what he wants (baseball) instead of what others want for him (football). I supported him fully as he made his decision, and I think that is probably what he needed most.

Let your kid play more than just baseball. I am a 3 sport athlete, and I am always in the best shape, fastest, and throwing hardest on my team. Part of that is that my school team isn't the greatest, but I definattly think that it is benificial.

Mine has played football. Now that he is a Junior, he is focusing on baseball. He wanted to play basketball, but decided against it.

If he wants to concentrate on one sport the only alternative you have is to make him play another sport. That does not seem like a wise choice to me. In my opinion it is up to the child what he wants to do when it comes to sports. If he wants to play three fine. If he wants to just play one whats wrong with that? It should be his decision to make shouldn't it?

Let him choose for sure, but both of my sons, one already playing college baseball and one that will be next year as well, both absolutely loved their high school football experiences. They wouldn't have missed it for anything.

By the way, if your son is a college-level punter, believe me when I tell you that's the easiest four year ride you'll ever see. Punters/kickers loosen up, kick a while, then try for two hours to look involved... what a deal!

Better he make the decision to "specialize" than you. At 15, he should be capable of making this decision. As parents, you need to hammer in to him the fact that he must be able to live with the outcome of his decision. Having regrets can be a terrible thing in life!

I am a big fan of playing as many sports as possible, especially when young. I believe each sport's skills can transfer over to each other's.

However, I made this same decision when I was 16. I played 3 sports, but I knew baseball was potentially the sport that would pay for colllege.

I knew I had to get stronger and in much better condition. I started at 175 lbs at 18% bodyfat. So I hit the gym hard worked on my baseball skills and earned a college scholarship. Played at 220 and 12%. After all basketball was not going to work as I am 5'8" and couldn't really jump.

If he really wants to play baseball and it is his decision, not one he thinks someone else wants him to do, I say let him do it.

...agree with the advice you've received advising that you let him follow his heart.

You might point out that high school is a memory that will stay with him forever. Some of his lifelong friends are those he will get to know over the next couple of years. Ya can't relive it. I recommend doing all you can while you have the opportunity.

My son gave up football his senior year...knew baseball would stay with him through college but not football. Interesting thing though... The recruiter who signed him to a top tier D1 (SEC) program encouraged him to stay with football. ...said he wanted his players to be tough.

Bottom line... Every kid has to find his own way. There are no oracles. We can only encourage and support them. I wish for your son an outstanding HS experience, however he chooses to frame it.

What a D-1 college coach told me the other day was that he picks Athlete's, kids with good 'character' and a person who has good grades and study habits. It was his job to mold the kid into the type of player that he wanted them to be. He said not to be afraid of letting your kid play more than one sport. It looks good on the resume and the kids tend to do better in school when they play a sport.

Nothing wrong with specializing....if it is the KID'S idea! I would advocate playing more than one sport for a lot of reasons, but specializing is not exactly a horrible thing to do. Every player must, as FloridaHokie said, "follow his heart" and do what is up to him to do. Parents get too involved with the sports decisions...the kid has the right to make up his own mind, right? I can't tell you how many parents I've talked to that have told me about how they are "making Johnny play football to toughen him up". What ****! Players should be allowed to play or not play - why do parents decide? If the kid makes a mistake and regrets it later, that's HIS problem to deal with - parents need to learn to get more involved in the real issues that they need to have more input in...like ACADEMICS!

My thought is you have to let kids be kids. I know we want the best for our ballplayers, but the day will come all too soon when the opportunity to be involved in more than one sport will be gone. Some of our kids excel in more than one sport, some excel in only one but play the others for fun and that should be okay, too.

My son is a HS sophomore and has played baseball, basketball, and football over the years. Now he runs cross-country in the fall season to build his aerobic endurance, then he switches to sprinting and hurdling for the winter indoor track season. That allows him to work on developing explosive lower body strength and agility. He trains with his pitching coach year round, and hits the slopes on his snowboard whenever he gets the opportunity in order to quell his off-season need for an adrenaline rush. He loves being part of a team and hanging with his teammates keeps him from some of the more destructive habits his non-athlete friends tend to do with their free time. The different teams also give him exposure to different coaches and different coaching styles, which could help him down the road.

Meanwhile, his 7 year old cousin started playing baseball, last year. We went to some of his games - you know the ones where all of the half-pint players are in the infield at the same time and the coaches pitch. We were stunned at the number of parents who have these little guys taking batting lessons and working with private coaches because their kid is "destined for the MLB". Some of these parents have already made the decision that their kids will be one sport specialists and that's just sad.

The KEY POINT is that this maturing young man has made a decision on his own--it is not a case of what Mom and Dad want--if he is comfortable in his decision so be it--let him run with it !

It is all part of the young man reaching a point in his life where he is making mature decisions--I for one applaud the young man

My feeling is to encourage the kids to do as much as possible, be as involved in school as much as possible, until such time as it starts to hinder school work. If he has a future in a sport, he will STILL have a future in the sport. Many coaches like to see a kid do more than one - shows versatility and skills from one sport can help improve you in annother sport - hand-eye, footwork, etc.

My guy played freshmen basketball, but it wasn't really his sport - frankly, I was shocked he made the team. He played footabll and baseball all four years. I tried to convince him to NOT play football prior to his junior year - we talked about the pros and cons, and told him to think on it,and we'd talk again in a week. His decision was to play and it turns out to be a good one. He was a backup QB - only played in one game on offense, but played 12-15 plays a game as special teams captain/punts/kickoffs and holder on place kicks. He had a blast and was a MAJOR part of the personality/leadership of the team, irrespective of the fact that he 'only' played special teams. He grew IMMENSELY as a person and a leader by virtue of his playing football and his exposure to the FANTASTIC football coaching staff. Last week he received the schools "Football Crown" for loyalty, sportsmanship and character.

You don't know how kids will change and grow, both interests and physically. I personally feel it's a mistake to "specialize" too soon [too soon meaning high school].. My daughter played field hockey, basketball and softball for 4 years - talked about dumping FH to use that time to prepare for hoops - her #1 sport. She ended up setting the school record for shutouts her senior year [goalkeeper, obviously] and know plays FH in college. You never know!!

I say encourage him to diversify for an other year or two.

windmill,

Great reflection on your son's story and I agree whole-heartedly.

I find myself battling internally about suggesting to my freshman to do baseball only. He plays football, baseball and he pole-vaults. He enjoys them all.

I finally decided to let him make the call. He is happy doing all three (he dropped basketball this year-on his own).

Better they make the call...they will naturally migrate to where their sports passions lay.

Best decision my son ever made was to drop football after his freshman year and basketball after his soph year. He had a baseball dream and was not going to look back years later and think "what if". He enjoyed playing the other sports and supplemented his basketball "Jones" with a CYO league and worked as a paid Asst coach for a Middle school football team. That asst. coach job got him interested in a teaching career which is his major now. A couple of HS coaches were not happy with his choices but they were not part of the equation.

Neither my wife or I were initially happy with the move but supported him. As this plan unfolded and we understood his comitttment we just sat back and enjoyed the ride. In hindsite and as a parent who looked at the situation like Ace101Bubba I would say that this may be that decision that changes his life and why not let him go there. It may not work in the long run, but, it will have been on HIS terms. I think that by you showing support for his decision will tell him that you trust his judgement and that many times is the pinnicle of a parental relationship.

I truly believe that left to their own devices they will do the right thing for themselves

My guy gave up hoops when he had the starting point guard spot locked up

In the fall of his senior year he comes in and says "dad I am on the s o c c e r team--the guys needed a goalie"--he helped them to the sectionals and he had a ball-- BUT it was all his decision both times

Great to watch young men mature

My son has played three sports (football dback, basketball point guard, baseball) all through high school. I remember reading an earlier thread about hiring speed training coaches - he didn't need this because he got so much through football and basketball. And he is always in shape. The schools who recruited him (he signed a D1 NLI) saw his athleticism as a real plus.

The summers were sometimes a scheduling nightmare and definitely made any work to earn money impossible. Football often took a back seat for him. The coaches didn't like it but they lived with it.

Our one real problem area was that he did not lift the football program. He is an LHP and knew that the obsession with bench pressing would hurt his flexibility. We have really tried not to be interfering parents, but this was one area where we did step in and meet with the coach when he was a sophomore and insist that he would lift their leg program but not the upper body routine.

I'd let your son decide. If he wants to cut back to one sport, for whatever reason, I think he should do it.

Both of our sons played football, basketball, and baseball through their freshman year, but cut back to baseball after that. My husband was the high school Athletic Trainer at our oldest's Texas 5A football powerhouse and I remember some of the football coaches telling him that he was, "letting him make the mistake of a lifetime" by dropping football. Our younger son was asked to go out for football every fall, but he always turned the coaches down. I've always respected my husband for supporting our our sons' decisions despite the negative feedback he faced daily at work.

In the end, both boys thrived in baseball. Neither of them ever regretted their decision. Their hearts were in baseball and that's where they wanted to invest their time and energy.

Most agree that it should be his decision - I concur.

Please make sure he considers EVEYTHING as many of these posts indicate a considerable amount of benefit from diversifying. It will be his decision to live with - just don't let him make an ill-informed or hasty decision.

We were lucky - coaches at our school tend to encourage kids to play 2 sports. Football coach is more of a baseball guy, so he didn't bust on Tom when he was doing shoulder/band work in the gym, while the behemoths were bench pressing the world. His point was: you better be in the weight room, UNLESS you are playing another sport.

TBIRD:

I'd keep him doing that pole vault as long as possible - that could end up being his ticket. Since I had a good friend that vaulted in HS, I tend to look at the heights kids are doing, still, in the paper. Buddy was doing 14'6" in the mid 70's - I don't see many even approaching that. Keep him on it!!

When they're young it's like going out to eat at a buffet and being able to sample a little bit of everything. The older they get they have to pick an Itallian, Mexican, Chinese, ...restaurant. No more going through the buffet line, they choose to specialize.

Luckily, we can let them sample for as long as it doesn't hurt them.

In reading this thread, I come back to the same conclusion...there is no one answer for every kid.

Some kids enjoy multiple sports in HS, some one. In the end, the kid needs to make the call.