Have you been lured by the notion that your kid needs to "specialize" in one particular sport so that he would excel in it? Well, while your kid may benefit from focusing on a single sport, you must also know that playing multiple sports has been shown to be more beneficial as compared to specializing in just one. Here are some things you would have to ponder upon.
Higher sports I.Q.
Playing multiple sports gives kids the chance to be the best in varied games, allowing them to easily adopt themselves to different types of skills that will be required of them. As they say, this type of playing produces the natural athlete.
Playing multiple sports lessens risk for injuries
When your kids engage in different types of sports, he is making use of a lot of muscles. One game may require him to use his arm muscles, while another may necessitate him to develop his leg muscles more. In effect since there is no repetition of movements, body muscles work at the optimum, lessening the risk for injuries that require reconstructive surgeries and many more.
Skills and movements in one game get transferred
According to Parenting, 87 percent of the draft picks for the 2015 NFL were multiple sports players. Whatever skills they have honed in one type of sport were easily transferred when they were already NFL players. Consider the speed, agility, running, jumping, and a lot more.
More creative players
According to Changing the Game Project, players who engage in multiple sports tend to be more creative in their approaches. They don't become the monotone athlete who only knows one type of movement or strategy.
Lesser burnouts
Since playing multiple sports gives kids the chance to engage in different kinds of sports activities, they are less likely to experience burnouts or "boredom." The variety they enjoy will keep these athletes engaged and more alert, and somehow gives them the challenge that they need to push them forward.
So now is really the best time to start encouraging your kids to play multiple sports. The benefits they will enjoy certainly outweigh the "specialization" craze.
