This paper examines the literature within sport pedagogy that addresses early sport specialization. The paper is presented in two sections. First, research on a number of common sense assumptions about early specialization is examined from a pedagogical perspective: (a) Is limiting youths’ experiences to a single sport the best path to elite status? (b) Do early specializers receive better coaching? (c) Do coaches of early specializers have better sport content knowledge? (d) Do coaches of early specializers have better planning behaviors? (e) Do instructional climates differ between specialized and diversified coaching settings? Second, a research agenda from a pedagogical perspective is proposed for answering the questions posed in the first section, as well as the various assessments and protocols that would allow for these questions to be answered.
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Madeline Winans, Kevin M. Biese, Grace Rudek, Madison N. Renner, Julie M. Stamm, and David R. Bell
Key Points ▸ Goalies were more likely to specialize than any other position. ▸ Parents believe that sport specialization moderately improves skills. ▸ Parents of specialized athletes had most positive outlook on sport specialization. ▸ Spending on ice hockey is highest in parents of specialized
Shelby Waldron, J.D. DeFreese, Brian Pietrosimone, Johna Register-Mihalik, and Nikki Barczak
There is a trend towards sport specialization (high intensity, year-round training in a single sport at the exclusion of other sports) in American youth organized sport, as evident in the increasing number of elite youth competitions including Junior Olympics and Amateur Athletic Union ( Wiersma
Sierra Reich, Jeremy Hawkins, Alli Powell, and Michael Reeder
Clinical Scenario Sport specialization among youth athletes is growing in popularity each year as youth sport participation continues to increase. 1 Sport specialization is defined as a combination of playing or training in a specific sport for greater than 8 months per year, playing a sport to
Tyler J. Noble and Robert F. Chapman
greater amounts of physical activity and specific training during developmental periods. 1 , 2 Like most sports, marathon running requires specialization and specificity of training on the part of athletes to experience elite-level success. 3 – 5 It has been suggested that it may take as much as of 10
Mayrena I. Hernandez, Kevin M. Biese, Dan A. Schaefer, Eric G. Post, David R. Bell, and M. Alison Brooks
scholarships have all led to increasing deliberate practice and competition in youth athletics. This trend has been coined sport specialization. 4 – 8 Sport specialization is commonly defined as year-round participation in a single sport with intense, high-volume training. 9 The consequences of sport
Matthew Burwell, Justin DiSanti, and Tamara C. Valovich McLeod
participation. 2 , 3 In addition, other factors can result in negative associations with sport participation, including sport specialization. It is estimated that 30% of youth athletes engage in sport specialization, 4 a practice defined as “year-round intensive training in a sport at the exclusion of other
Makenzie A. Schoeff, Katie R. Morey, James E. Johnson, Anya T. Eicher, and Lawrence W. Judge
continue to play with her throughout the spring and summer. For Taylor, it started to feel like the expectation for girls her age was to pick one sport and work to become really good at that sport. Taylor embraced this approach. The Drive to Specialize As her season came to an end playing on the 14U
Chloe McKay, Johanna M. Hoch, Matthew C. Hoch, and Deirdre Dlugonski
skills that are essential for continued participation in physical activities. Thus, youth sport may be an avenue for promoting physical activity into young adulthood. The type of youth sport experiences, whether an individual participates in multiple sports or specializes in one sport, may be associated
Tsz Lun (Alan) Chu, Ellea Bachmeier, and Taylor Mair
psychology professionals’ specialization and employment, an indirect indication of gender stereotyping and representation ( Fink, 2016 ; Hardin & Greer, 2009 ). This study, therefore, examined the data from Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPCs), who are mostly based in the United States, as the
