Context: There is increased growth in sports participation across the globe. Sports
specialization patterns, which include year-round training, participation on multiple teams of …

Context: Sports specialization is intense training in 1 sport while excluding others. Sports
specialization in early to middle childhood has become increasingly common. While most …

Sport specialization is a training method now commonly used by young athletes who hope
to achieve elite-level success. This may be defined as (1) choosing a main sport,(2) quitting …

Context: Many coaches, parents, and children believe that the best way to develop elite
athletes is for them to participate in only 1 sport from an early age and to play it year-round …

Over the past 15 years, there has been an increase in youth sports participation with a
concomitant increase in early year-round training in a single sport. Many factors contribute to …

Background: Early sport specialization is not a requirement for success at the highest levels
of competition and is believed to be unhealthy physically and mentally for young athletes. It …

Context: The assumed risks of early specialization in sport are well known, with several
international consensus statements advising against specialization in early athlete …

Background: Specialization in young athletes has been linked to overuse injuries, burnout,
and decreased satisfaction. Despite continued opposition from the medical community …

Background: Youth participation in organized sports in the United States is rising, with many
athletes focusing on a single sport at an increasingly younger age. Purpose: To …

Year-round training in a single sport beginning at a relatively young age is increasingly
common among youth. Contributing factors include perceptions of Eastern European sport …