Unpopular Opinion On Sport Specialization

Bulldog 19 posted:

This picture has been making its rounds the last few days. There are many graphics out there from the NFL draft about how many of these professional athletes played multiple sports in high school. But somebody always seems to use the argument that "Well when you're that good, it doesn't really matter." Well... maybe they're THAT GOOD because they played multiple sports. Maybe they're THAT GOOD because they took time off from their sport, so they weren't burnt out by the time they're 15. Maybe they're THAT GOOD because they weren't in a constant state of injured all through high school.

Sport Specialization is BAD for athletes. And in the long run, expect it to be bad for sports. Injuries continue to rise. Injuries will continue to rise. Athletes are doing things today that their bodies just can't handle. And why should they? Why do we need pitchers throwing 105 MPH? Why does a high school pitcher need to be throwing 95 MPH?

Youth athletes need to play a variety of sports. Youth athletes need to take time off from sports. Youth players need the ADULTS responsible for their health and wellbeing to remember that athletics should be about the kids. Not the adults.

...or maybe he was THAT GOOD because he was 6'6" 250 as a freshman in HS.

I think I'll sit back, relax and be entertained as this one unfolds. 

I'll try again.

My son has always played a couple of sports. But I honestly don't understand how kids can fit in all the various weight trainings, summer basketball, fall baseball and all else that goes with playing multiple sports in a year. I also don't know how parents fit in all the games, tournaments, etc. that go with playing multiple sports in a year.

Son will be a senior this fall, and for the first time will be a single sport athlete. And I have to confess, I'm okay with the prospect of being a single sport parent.

Iowamom23 posted:

My son has always played a couple of sports. But I honestly don't understand how kids can fit in all the various weight trainings, summer basketball, fall baseball and all else that goes with playing multiple sports in a year.

I also don't know how parents fit in all the games, tournaments, etc. that go with playing multiple sports in a year.

Son will be a senior this fall, and for the first time will be a single sport athlete. And I have to confess, I'm okay with the prospect of being a single sport parent.

Now add multiple kids playing sports. At one point I had two kids (one in middle school, one in high school) playing seven sports for eleven teams. 

RJM posted:

Iowamom23 posted:

My son has always played a couple of sports. But I honestly don't understand how kids can fit in all the various weight trainings, summer basketball, fall baseball and all else that goes with playing multiple sports in a year.

I also don't know how parents fit in all the games, tournaments, etc. that go with playing multiple sports in a year.

Son will be a senior this fall, and for the first time will be a single sport athlete. And I have to confess, I'm okay with the prospect of being a single sport parent.

Now add multiple kids playing sports.

I have a friend with triplet sons. I hope for her sake they all play one sport.

My dog plays two sports: fetch and sprinting.

My boys play two: soccer/basketball/cross country and baseball/baseball/baseball

I prefer checkers.

I just noticed that Royce Lewis, Hunter Greene, and McKenzie Gore, the top three picks in the 2017 draft, played only baseball in high school. No doubt they would be much better had they played multiple sports.

AFAIK, Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper were baseball only players. OTOH, Bryant's wife was a three sport athlete in high school, so maybe she should have been drafted. The Dominican players in MLB likely weren't playing basketball and football in high school either. The multi-sport argument doesn't appear to hold up well with evidence of success to the contrary.

Almost every High School & Youth Coach says they want multi-sport athletes, but they all want their sport to be the #1 priority.   Try fitting in AAU Basketball in the summer with Showcase Baseball and see how that works.  Meanwhile the football coach is calling saying you have mandatory lift days in the summer and several team practices in July.

It just isn't very realistic.  Unless you are so mediocre in all 3 sports that nobody really wants you on a great AAU Basketball or Showcase Baseball team.

You say "just play the sports in season:  Football in the fall, Basketball in the winter, Baseball in Spring/Summer. "

 Yeah, as if.  That has no basis in today's reality.

Unfortunately, this has been my sons' experiences as well.  My oldest bucked the trend and did a tightrope walk between soccer and baseball the past three years.  Fortunately, the baseball coach agreed to keep hands off until soccer was completely over.  However, to this day he complains that my son wasn't 100% in shape for baseball, even through the end of the season.  Officially hands off, but subtle pressure none the less.  Son was okay with the pressure because he knew where his priorities lay.

Other two boys have quit soccer because of the pressure.

for the 1% this is awesome advice, unless they choose not to follow it like so many to pro draft picks...coaches say what they want to believe...then do what they have to do or at least what they think they have to do.

Yep, y'all continue to hit it right on the nail. Exactly what I'm saying... the ADULTS continue to create the problems. Because the adults makes it all about them. And the adults don't care about the kids. Sad reality. 

I think it comes down to age. I think specializing at one sport at age 11 is not good and you are better off doing more than one sport to develope athleticism and a not so dysbalanced body (baseball is one of the worst sports for this). 

But I think there is nothing wrong specialising at age 15, between travel and homework hs kids already have their  hands full with one sport.

3and2Fastball posted:

Try fitting in AAU Basketball in the summer with Showcase Baseball and see how that works.  

 

It doesn't.   

But 2018 son still trying.  For him it's a tall glass of summer baseball with a splash of basketball.  Trying to keep doing both until life or a coach slams the door on one.  Probably hoops.  He plays two just because he enjoys both.  One sport kicks his a$$ all the time and the other makes him feel like a stud.  I won't say which is which, lol. 

I just let my kid choose, I mean it isn't my sport so what's the point?  He did 9th grade football, since he wasn't an avid football fan he was kind of lost...okay, 10th grade he said no to football.  However, he is very interested in basketball now.  I made sure he understood he would miss baseball tryouts if he did basketball, he said he understood but the coach last year let several kids tryout for baseball after basketball was over and he's good with that.  Okay, guess we are doing basketball this year. *shrug*  It's up to him.

I really don't care how many sports he plays.  I don't care if he's a multi-sport athlete, or a single sport athlete.  I just want him to be happy.

I can say that there are not many athletes that can be competitive at a high level at multiple sports, most of the kids I know once they get to HS age are forced to make the choice if they want to stay at or near the top of the game. Granted we are talking about 600 or higher graduating classes. Smaller schools might have a different perspective. Again I am talking about the one who aren't top 1 or 3% but still very good players.

Both of my boys could have played HS football and been competitive...but it absolutely would have hurt the baseball product.

Other issue that pushes HS athletes to focus on one sport is the seeking and striving for perfection in all things sports related.  Especially the sport they happen to be playing THAT given day.   Been interesting to watch my '18 grow thru this process.  He doesn't feel right, doesn't feel like he's honoring the sport, team, coach, or himself if he's stepping onto a field or court NOT 110% prepared for THAT day.  

He has come to point where just walking out there cold and simply competing with 75% preparation and 110% effort (due to playing the other sport at high level for 5-days prior for example) doesn't cut it.  Doesn't want to embarrass the sport, teammates, or himself by doing so.   Especially when his teammates may only play THAT sport on the docket that day. 

Some super gifted athletes (Bo Jackson, Pat Connaughton, etc) can walk with ease from court, to diamond, to field through the entire sports journey.  From playground, to middle school, to HS, to college to pro. For some it ends in middle school, others HS or college.   To be a dual sport starter post-HS takes gifts (yes and hard work).  To be a dual sport impact player coming off bench and/or out of bullpen in college takes a lot of hard work and less "gifted" talent.  Just dogged perseverance, persistence, and work ethic, and a "situation" where both coaches are on board.  ESPECIALLY THE COACH WHO IS FUNDING YOUR SCHOLLY OR SUPPORTING YOUR APPLICATION.  

Author Note:  Grandfather played football and baseball at Tufts while studying for a degree in dentistry.....1919-1922.   Dad played basketball and baseball at Stonehill 1952-1955 while earning a degree in business.  I lasted just one season of PAC-10 club water polo.  Still in awe of both.  Giants to me.   

Correlation is not causation. Maybe some athletes can play multiple sports BECAUSE they are gifted athletes. Maybe they don't need to train as much in the offseason for each sport to be successful. Maybe the coach of each sport allows the stud athlete to do so, but may not be so accommodating to others who may be less gifted. Maybe kids who aren't quite as athletically gifted would choose to focus and train more on the sport they love in order to play it at the level he/she wants to play it. In other words, we shouldn't paint all athletes with the same broad brush and we shouldn't rush to judge other's decisions either. Do what makes the kid and the family happy & healthy in a way that affords the best opportunity for a good life AFTER sports--which for most people is high school, maybe college. Easier said than done for sure, but for us that's the goal. 

First, I think it's funny that you call your opinion "unpopular" since it is anything but unpopular. I also think the whole issue is ridiculous. You can find plenty of one sport guys in the pros and plenty of multi-sport guys. I can't see that there is any correlation one way or the other. My son played three sports as a youth player and I used to insist on multi-sports through his sophomore year. However, what would end up happening is that, in high school, when baseball season rolled around, he wasn't physically ready. His legs were beat up from basketball, he was tired, and, with our short preparation time made far shorter by participation in basketball, when he did take the mound, he hadn't been properly prepared and was, I believe, an injury risk. 

Now, he's a big kid and a good basketball player and it certainly didn't sit well with the coaching staff when he quit basketball. In fact, the head baseball coach had a former player who was a basketball/baseball star at this school and currently the pitching coach for a major league team call my son and try to convince him to continue with basketball. It's a small school and there aren't a whole lot of 6'4" kids running around. The fact is, though, that he doesn't really even like playing basketball. 

I also get frustrated every year with the number of kids we lose early in the year because they are recovering from wrestling injuries. Is there a possibility that multi-sport athletes are also more apt to burn out on sports as a whole? Maybe more prone to injury in high school due to the short time period between sports (even overlap in the event of post-season play) that gives them little to no time to prepare for a season? I don't know. I tend to think it's an individual thing and has little effect either way.

roothog66 posted:

 

I also get frustrated every year with the number of kids we lose early in the year because they are recovering from wrestling injuries. Is there a possibility that multi-sport athletes are also more apt to burn out on sports as a whole? Maybe more prone to injury in high school due to the short time period between sports (even overlap in the event of post-season play) that gives them little to no time to prepare for a season? 

I think there is something to that, for some (many?) individuals.

I played a lot of Basketball growing up.  Hundreds & hundreds (thousands?) of games.  The wear & tear on the knees, ankles, and lower back from daily Basketball is something else.  It is a very physically demanding game to play.  Playing it year round is, to me, foolhardy.... anyways, yes I've seen similar things in some of the high school players I've coached.  Basketball & Hockey players showing up to Baseball tryouts in much less than ideal condition, legs worn down a little and then their throwing mechanics get compromised and the arm gets sore.  And for some they are just merely behind others who come into tryouts more prepared and dialed in.

Some athletes have no issues with durability in that regard.  Many do.  

Most kids aren't playing past high school sports. Going back further most kids who played as pre teens and early teens aren't even playing high school sports. So I don't understand why a kid shouldn't play as many sports as he can for as long as he can. When he gets to high school he can start making choices. 

My daughter (oldest) grew up playing volleyball, field hockey, basketball and softball. She dropped field hockey as a teen. She played three sports in high school. Softball became a year round effort on top of the other sports in high school.

My son played soccer, football, basketball and baseball until high school. After being the starting point guard freshman year people were discussing if he would skip JV and go right to varsity. He was cut. The varsity basketball coach didn't like him missing all the off season voluntarily events and not playing in a summer league. The varsity coach didn't like multi sport athletes. His only multi sport player was 6'7".

He was the only soccer player not playing in an elite summer league. He was the only player on the roster who didn't play college soccer. The coach constantly badgered him about not playing summer soccer and blowing colleges. He did attend and elite goalie day camp for a month in the summer. Like his sister baseball became year round in high school on top of soccer. 

Playing multiple sports can be challenging timewise. It's up to the kid. Some great pro athletes played multiple sports when they were younger. Some didn't. There isn't one side you can make a good argument for. A friend/former neighbor of my daughter is considered the best female field hockey player in the history of American field hockey. She was on Team USA in high school. She played high school field hockey, for Team USA and high school soccer while in high school. As a kid she also played basketball and softball. 

Another kid who was on Team USA soccer from our high school also played basketball. Like the Khmer multi sport athlete the coach fostered this guy was 6'6". The kid was older than both my kids so I never saw him play baseball. I heard he was a dominant pitcher through 8th grade.

A kid drafted in the 7th round of the baseball draft also played basketball. He could have played D1 hoops. He also could have played D1 football. He ran for 1,800 yards soph year before walking away from the sport.

I was a multi-sport guy as were all of my kids.  The HS where I coach (and where they attended) is still just small enough that many student athletes can choose multiple sports and make rosters.  When I observe players that come into (or out for) the baseball program, it's a mixed bag.  For some, they really should also play other sports for a variety of reasons.  For some, the only way they are going to crack the lineup is to play a heck of a lot more baseball outside of the HS season and get additional instruction/reps.  This really has nothing to do with adults in the room.  It's just the fact of the matter as to where they stand in the current competitive environment they are trying to navigate.

I'm torn on this issue.  I would love high school age kids to play multiple sports if they want to.  But, when they play sports, the majority want to be competitive (it's not just the coaches and parents) and that IS, after all, the object of sport - to win the game.  It is my experience that for the majority, those who play more games and get more good instruction will have more advanced skill sets and game awareness particularly at the mid-youth and HS levels.  This becomes a difference maker in competing at those ages.  So, in the end, the HS starting lineups are typically loaded with those who focus primarily on one sport.  The exceptions are those who are well above average in athleticism and those who are at smaller, less competitive schools.  Again, I don't really see this as an "adults screw everything up" issue.  Adults are involved but they sorta have to be, don't they?

I totally agree that kids should play a variety of sports when they are very young, just as they should be introduced to a variety of other things.   But at some point, interests and competitive environment will begin to narrow their selections.  That is not to say they cannot still enjoy other sports on a more recreational level.  

I, too, could tell endless stories that could support either side.  Most recently, I have a player who was our best offensive producer as well as a defensive standout at the V level the year before last.  He had decided prior to put all of his efforts toward baseball.  Then, this year, he decided to pick up soccer again.  He came out from soccer to baseball, having missed much of the preparation time he enjoyed the previous year.  He struggled quite a bit, particularly offensively, because he just wasn't as sharp and prepared as he was the year prior.

On the other side - same two seasons -  there is a player on JV who was quite weak and un-athletic but had decent mechanics.  He was not on the radar to advance to V at any point.  He decided to play football the next fall.  The improvement in strength and athleticism was pretty remarkable.  He was now on the radar. 

roothog66 posted:

First, I think it's funny that you call your opinion "unpopular" since it is anything but unpopular. I also think the whole issue is ridiculous. You can find plenty of one sport guys in the pros and plenty of multi-sport guys. I can't see that there is any correlation one way or the other….

I agree that the issue is ridiculous, and I believe that because every individual’s situation is different. However, I do think there’s a correlation in that whatever happens is almost entirely because of the environment. If mom or dad really believe multiple sports is the way to go, chances are that’s what’s gonna happen. Also, if there’s little opportunity for multiple sports or the person in charge of one of the sports actively discourages other sports, chances are there won’t be a lot of it.

 In all of those situations it’s the adults driving the outcome, and I think that’s too bad.

When you want to play college baseball and your second sport is football, you take a huge risk continuing to play in high school. My son will be a senior. He really tried not to play football his junior year. It only lasted 3 days until the pressure from the football coaches became too much and he went out. Doesn't really want to play his senior year, because of a legit fear of a baseball ending injury, but also doesn't want to quit his senior year and be looking back with regret. The compromise is that he plays defense only. It's easier to be the hitter and not the hittee (is that a word?).  

Does being considered a multi-sport athlete require that a kid play all four years of high school in every sport? There are definitely benefits to playing multiple sports and I think most of us see what those are, but there are also risks and costs. In the last football game of the season, our QB broke his foot. It took a while to get the right diagnosis and surgery. The injury took him out of his senior season of baseball. That's a real life example fresh in my son's memory. Every football season, we lose 2-3 kids from knee injuries. A knee injury his senior year would be devastating. These are all the things we weigh as a family. Ultimately, the decision is up to my kid. 

Playing multiple sports > Being a 1 sport athlete and doing nothing the rest of the year

Playing 1 sport and training the rest of the year with specific sport skill improvements and also a comprehensive speed, strength, and agility program > or = playing multiple sports

Being touched by the hand of God and being as athletically gifted as Aaron Judge > all other scenarios

I would say the coaches have as much effect on the single or multi sport athlete.  If the coaches work well together, it will be more likely to happen.  If they don't...

CaCO3Girl posted:

I just let my kid choose, I mean it isn't my sport so what's the point?  He did 9th grade football, since he wasn't an avid football fan he was kind of lost...okay, 10th grade he said no to football.  However, he is very interested in basketball now.  I made sure he understood he would miss baseball tryouts if he did basketball, he said he understood but the coach last year let several kids tryout for baseball after basketball was over and he's good with that.  Okay, guess we are doing basketball this year. *shrug*  It's up to him.

I really don't care how many sports he plays.  I don't care if he's a multi-sport athlete, or a single sport athlete.  I just want him to be happy.

They let him stop playing football?  In Texas, if the coach wants you in the program, the pressure is immense on the kid. 

Go44dad posted:

CaCO3Girl posted:

I just let my kid choose, I mean it isn't my sport so what's the point?  He did 9th grade football, since he wasn't an avid football fan he was kind of lost...okay, 10th grade he said no to football.  However, he is very interested in basketball now.  I made sure he understood he would miss baseball tryouts if he did basketball, he said he understood but the coach last year let several kids tryout for baseball after basketball was over and he's good with that.  Okay, guess we are doing basketball this year. *shrug*  It's up to him.

I really don't care how many sports he plays.  I don't care if he's a multi-sport athlete, or a single sport athlete.  I just want him to be happy.

They let him stop playing football?  In Texas, if the coach wants you in the program, the pressure is immense on the kid. 

If the kid can't figure out what a "path" even is, let alone which one he is suppose to be taking, they get over it!

We have kids who do a sport and show choir. My favorite concert was the night that a show choir concert was stopped and the music director turned to a kid and said "go get them now" and then explained to the audience that we were waiting for two or three wrestlers to put on sweats and leave their meet down the hall and come perform with the choir, then they would go back. 

That's how things SHOULD work, but too often don't.

Keep in mind also that there is a big difference in how things are handled at large schools vs. small schools. When my 2018 was in 8th grade and headed to high school at a large Denver metro school, both the basketball coach and baseball coach told him he needed to choose; that doing both was too difficult. When we moved to a small school, it was the opposite - there was tremendous pressure to play football, basketball, and baseball. Heck, our head baseball coach is the defensive coordinator for football.

Because of his size, they are on him every year to play football (and basketball). In fact they can be sneaky. During January - March, my son throws a football around to keep the arm in shape. One of his teachers, who happens to be the offensive coordinator, saw this and said, "Hey, as long as you're tossing the football around, why don't I bring our receivers out and you can throw passes to them while they run patterns." Yeah, the kid can throw a ball 75 yards in the air, so what do you think the next conversation was?

Iowamom23 posted:

We have kids who do a sport and show choir. My favorite concert was the night that a show choir concert was stopped and the music director turned to a kid and said "go get them now" and then explained to the audience that we were waiting for two or three wrestlers to put on sweats and leave their meet down the hall and come perform with the choir, then they would go back. 

That's how things SHOULD work, but too often don't.

There was a football player at a nearby high school who did the halftime show in his uniform with the band.

A friend's son pitched at a D3. He kept the music going on the side. The first year out of college his band won Boston band album of the year.

kandkfunk posted:

When you want to play college baseball and your second sport is football, you take a huge risk continuing to play in high school. My son will be a senior. He really tried not to play football his junior year. It only lasted 3 days until the pressure from the football coaches became too much and he went out. Doesn't really want to play his senior year, because of a legit fear of a baseball ending injury, but also doesn't want to quit his senior year and be looking back with regret. The compromise is that he plays defense only. It's easier to be the hitter and not the hittee (is that a word?).  

Does being considered a multi-sport athlete require that a kid play all four years of high school in every sport? There are definitely benefits to playing multiple sports and I think most of us see what those are, but there are also risks and costs. In the last football game of the season, our QB broke his foot. It took a while to get the right diagnosis and surgery. The injury took him out of his senior season of baseball. That's a real life example fresh in my son's memory. Every football season, we lose 2-3 kids from knee injuries. A knee injury his senior year would be devastating. These are all the things we weigh as a family. Ultimately, the decision is up to my kid. 

If a kid loves a sport he should keep playing. After playing middle school football my son stopped. He was afraid he would get injured and miss baseball. I told him he can't play football if he's afraid of getting hurt. He tore his MCL and PCL playing baseball in a freak collision. Life happens.

RJM posted:

kandkfunk posted:

When you want to play college baseball and your second sport is football, you take a huge risk continuing to play in high school. My son will be a senior. He really tried not to play football his junior year. It only lasted 3 days until the pressure from the football coaches became too much and he went out. Doesn't really want to play his senior year, because of a legit fear of a baseball ending injury, but also doesn't want to quit his senior year and be looking back with regret. The compromise is that he plays defense only. It's easier to be the hitter and not the hittee (is that a word?).  

Does being considered a multi-sport athlete require that a kid play all four years of high school in every sport? There are definitely benefits to playing multiple sports and I think most of us see what those are, but there are also risks and costs. In the last football game of the season, our QB broke his foot. It took a while to get the right diagnosis and surgery. The injury took him out of his senior season of baseball. That's a real life example fresh in my son's memory. Every football season, we lose 2-3 kids from knee injuries. A knee injury his senior year would be devastating. These are all the things we weigh as a family. Ultimately, the decision is up to my kid. 

If a kid loves a sport he should keep playing. After playing middle school football my son stopped. He was afraid he would get injured and miss baseball. I told him he can't play football if he's afraid of getting hurt. He tore his MCL and PCL playing baseball in a freak collision. Life happens.

My son played HS football while continuing to play as much fall baseball as possible. The main issue was that he maintained a bodyweight of 25-30lbs above what is now his current baseball weight. He lifted heavy, and ate heavy in order to compete as an offensive lineman. Looking back, it was a bad idea for baseball. But, if he could go back in time he would likely do it again. And while he played in several fall tournaments, he missed Jupiter his junior and senior seasons due to football.

One of his travel teammates was a "skill" guy who also played football at a small private school. This kid was a speed guy and played receiver and defensive back. He missed Jupiter his junior season due to football, but told the coach that baseball was his primary sport. And, that he would miss one football game his senior year because he was going to go with the travel team to Jupiter. The coach agreed and he continued to play both fall baseball on the weekends while playing football as a senior. 

However, the weekend before he would miss the one football game, he sustained an injury.... by breaking his ankle while sliding into 3rd in a baseball game. Didn't go to Jupiter and didn't finish the football season. 

Son is a rising sophomore who plays baseball and football in the largest classification in GA. He was fortunate enough to be a varsity starter as freshmen in both. His goal is to play both in college. 

People ask him/me all the time what his favorite is and he says if he has to give up one, it will be football but still enjoys both. 

We have a new high school football coach who wants more of his time during the summer. He communicates with him and lets him know his baseball schedule. It's his choice and I will support him whether he plays one or two. 

I really think some folks expect me to tell him that he shouldn't play football because of injury risks. I just don't think that way. One of the top '19 football players in the country sustained a serious leg injury on the baseball diamond. It can happen anywhere. 

3and2Fastball posted:

Almost every High School & Youth Coach says they want multi-sport athletes, but they all want their sport to be the #1 priority.

I laugh when I hear coaches at higher levels spread this nonsense about wanting multi-sport athletes. They do not. It's a sick joke on the players and parents.  They want the best players, period.

Just as in life, discover what you are really great at, and pursue that.

Of course you may have to play multi-sports, or multi-positions for a while just after puberty to make that discovery.  But be quick about it, it's a dog eat dog world out there, man.

hshuler posted:

Son is a rising sophomore who plays baseball and football in the largest classification in GA. He was fortunate enough to be a varsity starter as freshmen in both. His goal is to play both in college. 

People ask him/me all the time what his favorite is and he says if he has to give up one, it will be football but still enjoys both. 

We have a new high school football coach who wants more of his time during the summer. He communicates with him and lets him know his baseball schedule. It's his choice and I will support him whether he plays one or two. 

I really think some folks expect me to tell him that he shouldn't play football because of injury risks. I just don't think that way. One of the top '19 football players in the country sustained a serious leg injury on the baseball diamond. It can happen anywhere. 

 

I agree you can get hurt anywhere but the odds are not close, all you have to do is look at any football team and the 6,8,12 guys in jerseys with no pads to know you aren't comparing apples to apples. I am not even suggesting you are wrong about taking the risk if loves to play football just don't act as if the risk is the same anywhere.

if your son truly had a passion for baseball over football you could even more easily argue the risk isn't worth it. The injury numbers for football just make the accidents happen "argument" unwinnable.

old_school posted:

hshuler posted:

Son is a rising sophomore who plays baseball and football in the largest classification in GA. He was fortunate enough to be a varsity starter as freshmen in both. His goal is to play both in college. 

People ask him/me all the time what his favorite is and he says if he has to give up one, it will be football but still enjoys both. 

We have a new high school football coach who wants more of his time during the summer. He communicates with him and lets him know his baseball schedule. It's his choice and I will support him whether he plays one or two. 

I really think some folks expect me to tell him that he shouldn't play football because of injury risks. I just don't think that way. One of the top '19 football players in the country sustained a serious leg injury on the baseball diamond. It can happen anywhere. 

 

I agree you can get hurt anywhere but the odds are not close, all you have to do is look at any football team and the 6,8,12 guys in jerseys with no pads to know you aren't comparing apples to apples. I am not even suggesting you are wrong about taking the risk if loves to play football just don't act as if the risk is the same anywhere.

if your son truly had a passion for baseball over football you could even more easily argue the risk isn't worth it. The injury numbers for football just make the accidents happen "argument" unwinnable.

I'm not suggesting that the odds are the same and not trying to win an argument or convince anyone to change their opinion. My son made it through the entire football season injury free but fractured a growth plate in his hip playing baseball. My point is that injuries are a wildcard that we hope our kids are never dealt. 

As long as he enjoys playing both and continues to play both at a high level, I'm all for it. 

hshuler posted:

old_school posted:

hshuler posted:

Son is a rising sophomore who plays baseball and football in the largest classification in GA. He was fortunate enough to be a varsity starter as freshmen in both. His goal is to play both in college. 

People ask him/me all the time what his favorite is and he says if he has to give up one, it will be football but still enjoys both. 

We have a new high school football coach who wants more of his time during the summer. He communicates with him and lets him know his baseball schedule. It's his choice and I will support him whether he plays one or two. 

I really think some folks expect me to tell him that he shouldn't play football because of injury risks. I just don't think that way. One of the top '19 football players in the country sustained a serious leg injury on the baseball diamond. It can happen anywhere. 

 

I agree you can get hurt anywhere but the odds are not close, all you have to do is look at any football team and the 6,8,12 guys in jerseys with no pads to know you aren't comparing apples to apples. I am not even suggesting you are wrong about taking the risk if loves to play football just don't act as if the risk is the same anywhere.

if your son truly had a passion for baseball over football you could even more easily argue the risk isn't worth it. The injury numbers for football just make the accidents happen "argument" unwinnable.

I'm not suggesting that the odds are the same and not trying to win an argument or convince anyone to change their opinion. My son made it through the entire football season injury free but fractured a growth plate in his hip playing baseball. My point is that injuries are a wildcard that we hope our kids are never dealt. 

As long as he enjoys playing both and continues to play both at a high level, I'm all for it. 

agreed- I have three very active boys, between the three of them they've played baseball, football, and hockey- we've had injuries in all three, but ironically our worst injuries were a broken arm on the monkey bars, broken hand by a slammed car door, and a broken leg on a trampoline! 

injuries in football are a factor, and I admit I was glad when my middle son- the baseball player gave it up after sophomore year- partially for fear of injury,

however the biggest issue with multi sports is twofold- just the sheer time it takes to develop the skill to play at a high level in baseball (for most kids) not all, and the requirements of the HS coaches- and I can't say I blame them-   son was our starting QB going into junior year.  He was missing summer practices due to baseball- as that was his priority.  Coach forced his hand and he chose baseball.    I really don't blame the coach for forcing his hand.  you kind of need your quarterback at the summer workouts, 7 v 7 camps etc.    looking back on it, he did my son a favor and it allowed him to focus on his first love.