Specialization affects athlete mental health

MARRISA cHoW

From Little League to swimming lessons at the YMCA, youth sports have played a dominant role in American childhoods. But something that was once done for pure enjoyment has been rewritten into getting admitted into Ivy League and Division I schools.

Parents and coaches drive this “get ahead of the pack” mindset by forcing kids to spend every waking minute in swimming pools, basketball and volleyball courts, and soccer fields. Emphasis is placed on cultivating skillsets early so they can excel at the highest levels of their sport.

Often, they don’t realize that pushing kids to the brink, mentally and physically, is counterproductive to what they hope to accomplish in the long run.

Typically, the pros don’t outweigh the cons.

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), only 6% of high school athletes compete at NCAA schools.

This can be attributed to several factors, including athlete burnout, mental fatigue, and early specialization in youth sports.

The physical toll that intense training has could result in overuse injuries and a limited range of athleticism. “There are two distinct issues which are intertwined and sometimes confused with each other. There is the focus on a single sport, often with training targeting specific muscle groups. Then, there is an increase in intensity, often resulting in multiple daily practice sessions and frequent competitions minimizing the necessary periods of rest and recovery from that specialized training,” said Dr. David Feigley, the founder of the Rutgers Youth Sports Council.

Being a competitive athlete means pushing oneself to their performance’s limit over extended periods. While that can be beneficial for competition, it also exacts a large toll on the body.

But specialization is also thought to damage athletes psychologically, which leads to burnout and fatigue.

When kids show an ounce of promise, they are pushed to the limit, with absolute disregard for the athlete’s mental health and enjoyment of the sport.

“I started competitive swimming at age 9. At one point, I loved doing it and spent all my time at the pool. This was when I was really good and made a lot of high-caliber times. It’s no longer a priority, though, because I don’t enjoy it as much,” said junior Maile Firenze.

Firenze’s voice is just one among many high school students’ disillusionment with their sport. It’s a common phenomenon that can be attributed to the adverse effects of competition.

According to the Journal of Athletic Training, athletes’ increased training hours and expected performance in competitive sports environments can lead to social isolation, increased anxiety, inadequate sleep, and greater stress.

Parents’ or coaches’ unrealistic expectations often account for excessive psychological stress. This can lead to maladaptive coping mechanisms, loss of interest in practice, and burnout. Social isolation also impedes a growing athlete’s sense of identity. “I think the competitive

environment impacted me negatively and wasn’t good for my mental health,” Firenze said.

Parents and coaches often perpetuate the innate drive for elite status. Such sport environments are conducive to poor mental health. Excessive time commitment and increased demand from coaches can lead to low selfesteem.

“Typically, my clients, particularly high school athletes, take the sport too seriously. This can detriment other things in their lives and lead to extreme pressure, stress, and time management challenges. If they have a bad day at their sport, they come home and think they’re a failure. They think life is awful,” said William Cole, a sports psychology consultant.

Allowing their sport to become their entire identity damages an athlete’s wellbeing, including physical health.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the solution can be found in encouraging athletes to become wellversed in several activities instead of a singular sport.

Parents should be mindful that they act as a resource to their children by being a strong support system rather than an impediment. They need to widen their one-track mind and allow children to decide which sports best fit their capabilities but, more importantly, their interests.

Once a strong foundation is set up, then talks about specialization can occur.

John Labeta is the assistant commissioner of the San Diego Section of the California Interscholastic Federation. His three-decade career as a coach and athletic director means he’s well versed in high school athletics. Though he’s seen the shift from multisport athletes to specialists, he notes kids sometimes play on more than one team for the same sport.

“They didn’t play because they thought they were going to get a scholarship or so their parents could brag about them being on a select team. They played because they loved the sport,” Labeta said.

ANIKA MARINo

MARRISA cHoW