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Youth sport specialization by the numbers

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, August 27, 2019

By Chuck Taylor Herald Writer

Youth sport specialization by the numbers
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Youth sport specialization by the numbers
Colby Kyle began playing soccer at a young age and went on to play at the select level for several years, training and competing for 10 or 11 months out of the year. But after taking up basketball in the fourth grade, developing a love for the game and shooting up the growth chart, the former Monroe High School hoops star eventually realized his future was on the hardwood. He plays basketball now for Princeton University. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file, 2018)

Sport specialization at the youth and high school levels has become increasingly common over the past two decades, mirroring the rise of club and select youth sports programs that often operate on a nearly year-round basis.

But it’s not entirely clear whether specializing increases an athlete’s chances of, say, earning a college scholarship — and if so, by how much. The perception has been enough to fuel year-round, single-sport training.

Local coaches and others also say a “keeping up with the Joneses” dynamic has also contributed to the rise of specialization. That applies not only to select programs but also to the dramatic increase in sport-specific training and camps.

Here are a few key facts derived from our recent story on youth sport specialization:

[infogram id=”78bed84f-fbeb-41ea-a008-e5f947b922fc” prefix=”Joj” format=”interactive” title=”Youth sports specialization”]

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