Make Variety a Goal in Sports
Venus Williams was practicing her backhand before she started kindergarten. Tiger Woods showed off his putting skills on the evening news at age 2.
But for every prodigy who grows into a successful athlete, thousands of youths suffer physically or psychologically from being pushed to compete at a young age. For that reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends children avoid specializing in a sport until they reach adolescence.
The repetitive motions often demanded by intense training in a single sport can cause overuse injuries, such as stress fractures or tendonitis. Overtraining also can contribute to psychological damage, including depression.
Avoid sports burnout
Here are ideas for parents:
Remember that the goal of sports for children and adolescents is to instill a lifelong love of activity and fitness. Do your best to help your children find sports that they enjoy--and remember the sports they enjoy may not be the same ones you want them to enjoy!