BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE BOTC MAIN FORUM (LI, CT, WC) Girls 2019 - 10th Grade Fall 2016/ Summer 2017

there are many parents, like myself, who are big proponents of zeroing in on one sport you love at this age, for our kids. pick one... focus on that one sport thru high school. academics and three sports a year do not mix. there is a huge percentage of injuries and burnout and unhappiness with it becoming a time burden for girls this age who overdo it with multiple sports. just no reason for it really. another important point here is that a singular high school sport is truly a year round thing at most high schools - workouts, off season practices, off season leagues.

there are many parents, like myself, who are big proponents of zeroing in on one sport you love at this age, for our kids. pick one... focus on that one sport thru high school. academics and three sports a year do not mix. there is a huge percentage of injuries and burnout and unhappiness with it becoming a time burden for girls this age who overdo it with multiple sports. just no reason for it really. another important point here is that a singular high school sport is truly a year round thing at most high schools - workouts, off season practices, off season leagues.

there are many parents, like myself, who are big proponents of zeroing in on one sport you love at this age, for our kids. pick one... focus on that one sport thru high school. academics and three sports a year do not mix. there is a huge percentage of injuries and burnout and unhappiness with it becoming a time burden for girls this age who overdo it with multiple sports. just no reason for it really. another important point here is that a singular high school sport is truly a year round thing at most high schools - workouts, off season practices, off season leagues.

Agreed. I know from experience playing and coaching. But parents know better.

Many college coaches agree. Most want their recruits playing another varsity sport in HS. My daughter is a D1 commit and a 3 sport varsity athlete. She's also on the honor roll. Time management can occasionally be challenging, but college life will be too. She's also fortunate to not have to have a part time job during the school year like I did in high school. I think her HS experiences will prepare her well.

She should get a job. That's actually a more valuable life experience than the 3rd sport... I make that statement a bit tongue in cheek, but also as a way to prompt a little thinking. What your daughter is doing might be exactly right for her. But might not be exactly right for someone else. Ultimately, this is about passion for things, and everyone is different. Just as being a one sport athlete isn't a bad thing, neither is being a three-sport athlete (or two or none). Each situation is different. Everyone seems to claim to know what's best for everyone else. They don't. In my daughter's particular situation, she could be a three-sport athlete, but chooses to play only two. She is committed to a top ten lax program, but also likes to participate in theater. So she takes one season off to be in a school play each year. If she said she no longer enjoyed sport two, and wanted to do something else, that would be fine too. It's their lives and they should pursue what makes them happy. As long my kids find their passions and work hard, I'm good with it. I have a couple that play sports, and a couple that don't. I'm proud of all of them.

She does have a job - a summer job each year. And I totally agree that having a job in high school it is a very valuable lesson. She's certainly learned that spending money SHE earns is much different than spending mom's and dad's money. I do see your point though. Everyone's situation is different and being a one sport athlete isn't a bad thing - unless the child wants to play other sports and is being convinced not to because of the need to "specialize". HS years go by in a flash - some of the best memories are made in after school activities whether it sports, theatre, clubs, etc.

there are many parents, like myself, who are big proponents of zeroing in on one sport you love at this age, for our kids. pick one... focus on that one sport thru high school. academics and three sports a year do not mix. there is a huge percentage of injuries and burnout and unhappiness with it becoming a time burden for girls this age who overdo it with multiple sports. just no reason for it really. another important point here is that a singular high school sport is truly a year round thing at most high schools - workouts, off season practices, off season leagues.

I hope this entire post is sarcasm? The absolute worst thing a kid could do is become a one sport athlete. Orthopedists to coaches will tell you the same thing. We did it as kids in Jr High and HS and so should kids today, as long as their grades don't suffer of course.

Really? The absolute worst thing a kid can do is play one sport??? I can think of a few other things worse. So you are saying a kid can't choose to play one sport and do other things with their time besides playing other sports? I hope you realize there are things besides sports. And poor little Michael Phelps, that one-sport athlete. He is such a loser.

Actually he was a multi sport athlete in high school. Yes there are worse things a kid can do but you will struggle to find any top high school lacrosse player that does not play another sport. Go read the countless articles by orthopedic surgeons , have never read one that recommends playing 1 sport year round.

Really? The absolute worst thing a kid can do is play one sport??? I can think of a few other things worse. So you are saying a kid can't choose to play one sport and do other things with their time besides playing other sports? I hope you realize there are things besides sports. And poor little Michael Phelps, that one-sport athlete. He is such a loser.

" You are 100pct incorrect about Phelps. He only swam." Your quote.

Because you responded like a tool I will treat you like one.
"When he entered Towson High School, Michael toyed with the idea of going out for football, and later played on the golf team" a quote from his biography , last I checked golf is a sport.

"important point here is that a singular high school sport is truly a year round thing at most high schools - workouts, off season practices, off season leagues"
"And nobody said playing one sport year round"

I used two of your quotes here to show what a tool bag you are and thanks for telling us what a fantastic athlete you thought you were , again what a loser.

"And later played on the golf team" ... yeah ok please. Quite the cross training genius with all the answers. And while he was on the golf team, he also swam every morning toolbag.

All the coaches pay lip service to the value of multi-sport athletes. And there is truth in it. But when it comes down to it, most are hypocrites and want high schoolers to have a stick in their hand year-round. Not to mention that injuries occur not just from over use, but from playing too many sports. How about the hockey player girl in our town (D1 commit) who decided to go out for lax and tore her ACL in pre-season? How'd that multi-sport attempt work out for her?

Your posts are so idiotic I am not convinced you actually believe what you are writing. Its funny that you think you know what most coaches believe and make up your own facts about kids playing too many sports, go look at the studies and the beliefs of the top orthopedic surgeons treating the kids with sport related injuries .Maybe the hockey girl tore her ACL because she was a one sport athlete prior to trying lacrosse you dope . Using one kid as an example to prove something is ridiculous. Its like saying playing one sport must make people stupid , just look at the example you are setting.

" Its like saying playing one sport must make people stupid"

How many did you play?

A study published in the journal Sports Health found that “for most sports, there is no evidence that intense training and specialization before [age 13 or 14] are necessary to achieve elite status. Risks of early sports specialization include higher rates of injury . . . and quitting sports at a young age.”

How big is the risk of injury if you specialize in one sport? A Loyola University Chicago study of 1,200 youth athletes found that kids who specialized in one sport were 70 percent to 93 percent more likely to be injured than multi-sport athletes.That’s a lot.

Kids who specialize in one sport also get burned out. An Ohio State University study found that kids who played a single sport were more likely to quit their sport and be physically inactive as adults.


There are a ton of studies and articles published stating the benefits of being a multi sport athlete such as the above and virtually none extoling the virtues of being a " specialized' athlete.

A study published in the journal Sports Health found that “for most sports, there is no evidence that intense training and specialization before [age 13 or 14] are necessary to achieve elite status. Risks of early sports specialization include higher rates of injury . . . and quitting sports at a young age.”

How big is the risk of injury if you specialize in one sport? A Loyola University Chicago study of 1,200 youth athletes found that kids who specialized in one sport were 70 percent to 93 percent more likely to be injured than multi-sport athletes.That’s a lot.

Kids who specialize in one sport also get burned out. An Ohio State University study found that kids who played a single sport were more likely to quit their sport and be physically inactive as adults.


There are a ton of studies and articles published stating the benefits of being a multi sport athlete such as the above and virtually none extoling the virtues of being a " specialized' athlete.

BEFORE 13-14!! The discussion was around high school sports. You make yourself look foolish when you cite a study that actually supports the opposite position. Read it again ... "A study published in the journal Sports Health found that “for most sports, there is no evidence that intense training and specialization before [age 13 or 14] are necessary to achieve elite status." Implying that after age 13-14 (high school for most but maybe u started at 16?) to achieve elite status specialization actually could be important. Nice job genius.

BEFORE 13-14!! The discussion was around high school sports. You make yourself look foolish when you cite a study that actually supports the opposite position. Read it again ... "A study published in the journal Sports Health found that “for most sports, there is no evidence that intense training and specialization before [age 13 or 14] are necessary to achieve elite status." Implying that after age 13-14 (high school for most but maybe u started at 16?) to achieve elite status specialization actually could be important. Nice job genius.

Can we move on from this nonsense?

Yeah, and studies that show smoking is bad for pre-teens imply that it is good for high school and college kids.

Every study that addresses sports specialization has been done with regard to "early specialization" as defined as youth sports, as this one was. I get it tho, your daughter isn't very good at sports. It's ok. She should try the flute.

Does anyone on this site know if any 2019s have committed to Michigan?

Moving on ... Many spots already filled at the top schools. When does the next tier start ramping up? Is it fair to say that the vast majority of top 40 D1 programs will be done/almost done by spring high school season?