{"id":1938,"date":"2013-05-23T16:16:35","date_gmt":"2013-05-23T16:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=1938"},"modified":"2024-03-27T14:13:30","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T18:13:30","slug":"early-sports-specialization-the-pitfalls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/early-sports-specialization-the-pitfalls\/","title":{"rendered":"Early Sports Specialization for Young Athletes: The Pitfalls [Podcast]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sport_Specialization_For_Kids\"><\/span>Sport Specialization For Kids<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/early-sports-specialization-the-pitfalls\/#Sport_Specialization_For_Kids\" >Sport Specialization For Kids<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/early-sports-specialization-the-pitfalls\/#To_listen_to_the_first_half_of_this_interview_use_the_player_below\" >To listen to the first half of this interview, use the player below:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/early-sports-specialization-the-pitfalls\/#Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\" >Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/early-sports-specialization-the-pitfalls\/#Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\" >Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/youth-sports-podcast-new.jpg\" alt=\"Ultimate Sports Parent Podcast\" class=\"wp-image-3780\" style=\"width:156px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/youth-sports-podcast-new.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/youth-sports-podcast-new-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Jack Malley, sports dad, coach, and author of &#8220;Meet The Lunatics Who Run Your Kids&#8217; Sports Leagues,&#8221; says he&#8217;s made quite a few mistakes as a sports dad and coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But allowing his kids to specialize was not one of those mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, Malley once became irked at an opposing coach for putting a goalie in the goal when that coach&#8217;s team was down by 15 points. Goalies were against league rules, so Malley spoke up after the goalie blocked his son&#8217;s shot. But once the words came out of Malley&#8217;s mouth, he realized he was being over the top. After all, Malley&#8217;s team was ahead by 15 points!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;When I saw the expression on the other coach&#8217;s face, I felt horrible,&#8221;<\/em> he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The point, of course, is that all parents and coaches get irked sometimes. They&#8217;re only human and watching our kids play sports is a very emotional experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But sometimes we get too wrapped up in our kids&#8217; sports teams-in ways that hurt their <strong>mental game,<\/strong> says Malley. And specialization is one example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His own son played numerous sports at the age of 9 and 10. A few coaches suggested that they didn&#8217;t like the fact he played more than one sport-especially if it took place during the same season as their sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;At age 9 or 10, he was asked to select a sport,&#8221;<\/em> says Malley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But early specialization is not good for kids, he maintains. Too often, kids who specialize at the age of 9 or 10 drop out by the time they are 13. What&#8217;s more, they&#8217;re more likely to be prone to overuse injuries, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malley has a number of great tips for sports parents and coaches in the audio interview he conducted for Kids&#8217; Sports Psychology-including when it makes sense to specialize.&nbsp; Exclusive members of Kids&#8217; Sports Psychology can listen to it here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Expert Interview with Jack Malley &#8211; Listen Here<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"To_listen_to_the_first_half_of_this_interview_use_the_player_below\"><\/span>To listen to the first half of this interview, use the player below:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/21565394\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/4188b5\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"100%\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exclusive members also have access to videos, ebooks-some written for kids, others for parents and coaches&#8211;articles, additional audio interviews-and much more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related-articles-on-hockey-mental-game\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\"><\/span>Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/be-all-in-with-christie-pearce-rampone\/\">\u201cBe All In\u201d with Christie Pearce Rampone<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/be-all-in-raising-kids-for-success-in-sports-interview\/\">Be All In: Raising Kids for Success in Sports \u2013 Interview<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/anxiety-depression-on-rise-in-youth-sports\/\">Anxiety, Depression on Rise in Youth Sports<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"block-f49818fa-7c7a-4ee3-b5ee-66581aad2c71\">*Subscribe to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a>&nbsp;on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\"><\/span><strong>Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mental-training-for-young-athletes.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6868\" style=\"width:138px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re certain that, as a parent,&nbsp;you want to help your child develop confidence and discipline in sports and life.&nbsp;And as a sports parent, you\u2019d love for your children to reach their potential in sports.&nbsp;But encouraging your child to <strong>strive for greatness without pressuring them<\/strong> can be a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can get expert mental coaching with us from anywhere. Meet with us via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or phone call. With today\u2019s video technology, we are able to connect with athletes and coaches all over the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Call Us Today to Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Session.<\/strong><br><strong>Find Out How Your Athlete Can Benefit From One-on-One Mental Coaching!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sport Specialization For Kids Jack Malley, sports dad, coach, and author of &#8220;Meet The Lunatics Who Run Your Kids&#8217; Sports Leagues,&#8221; says he&#8217;s made quite a few mistakes as a sports dad and coach. But allowing his kids to specialize was not one of those mistakes. For example, Malley once &#8230; <a title=\"Early Sports Specialization for Young Athletes: The Pitfalls [Podcast]\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/early-sports-specialization-the-pitfalls\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Early Sports Specialization for Young Athletes: The Pitfalls [Podcast]\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3780,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,15,6],"tags":[39,455],"class_list":["post-1938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-parenting","category-sports-parent-podcast","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-kids-sports-psychology","tag-young-athletes-specialize"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.7.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Should young athletes specialize in sports? 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