Don’t Hurt Their Prospects
Early Sports Specialization Stresses Young Athletes
“Kids are more likely to break things than sprain things,” says Dr. Douglas Connor of ThedaCare Orthopedic Care. “Kids are not just little adults. What might cause an ankle sprain in an adult is much more likely to cause a fracture in a child.” Dr. Connor, board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics and fellowship-trained in sports medicine, specializes in non-surgical care of young athletes in the Fox Valley. He’s acutely aware of the physical and emotional pressures put on today’s serious child competitors. “Their bones are still growing, so their injuries are different compared to mature adults. Family social calendars can also revolve around a child’s willingness and ability to participate in year-round athletics. Early specialization in sports can be very stressful for young people.”
Statistics show that early specialization in most sports is actually less likely to lead to a successful collegiate athletic career compared to young people who continue to participate in a variety of activities. Nearly ninety percent of the Ohio State football team in 2015 members were multisport athletes in high school, and college coaches seek out this flexibility because these kids are generally more athletic and have proven themselves to adapt to different group dynamics. “Changing sports and changing your body’s patterns of movement are beneficial to your overall health and your team. That ability to adapt will take you to a higher level of performance, both on and off the field,” Dr. Connor said. The Postgame Blog
The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine conducted a study of nearly 300 NCAA Division 1 male and female athletes and discovered 88 percent of them achieved collegiate athletic success after participating in an average of two to three sports as children, not early specialization. Science Daily News
Dr. Connor echoes the American Academy of Pediatrics when he talks to his patients. “Young athletes need to take time off between sports teams and seasons throughout the year. Don’t play year round and don’t practice more hours per week than the child’s current age.” He recommends these minimal requirements to allow enough time for rest, healing, recovery—and hopefully restoring some of the joy that comes from participation. “We can’t forget that kids should be playing for the love of the game. It’s a very special time in their lives where they should be able to explore new interests and friends, not limit their possibilities,” he said.
Dr. Connor grew up in La Crosse and was an All-American track athlete at UW-La Crosse. He attended medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin and received his fellowship training in sports medicine at Vanderbilt University. He joined ThedaCare Orthopedic Care three years ago and also serves as the director of sports medicine at Menasha High School alongside ThedaCare licensed athletic trainer (LAT) Anna Linstedt. {Read the blog post}. He lives in Greenville with his wife and two young daughters and has a new baby on the way. A busy work and family life keep him away from organized athletic pursuits, but he also doesn’t have a chance to sit still for long. “Like I tell my patients, ‘Motion is lotion and do everything in moderation.’ My job is to help them steer clear of the extremes.”
