Multi-sport Athlete versus Specialists - By Sam Biggs
One of the biggest debates between athletes, coaches, and spectators of sports is whether playing one sport and specializing or being a multi-sport athlete is more beneficial. Both of which have very compelling arguments. Specializing in one sport can give you an advantage with experience and provide more exposure to specific skills and training to be an elite athlete in a specific endeavor. Although the advantages in cross training are equally profound.
Much research suggests that specialization helps you master skills and techniques and is widely viewed as the only way to develop proficiency and elite status in a sport. One-sport athletes have increased exposure, including more repetitions and increased feedback from coaches, leading to more time to learn and improve from the feedback and competition opportunities to improve overall self-confidence. A huge topic discussed in sports such as Lacrosse, Hockey, Football, Basketball, Soccer, and so on is what you call “Game IQ.” The IQ you obtain in sports will help you be more successful, leading you to make better decisions on the fly to make big plays. Focusing on just one sport can greatly increase your IQ, improving your overall ability to perform under pressure. Although you will perform better under pressure, there will be much more. One-sport athletes tend to suffer greater amounts of pressure both externally and in their own heads. As a multi-sport athlete, much of that pressure can be alleviated.
When young athletes can play multiple sports, they are receiving not only a physical break but also a mental one. Every sport requires different muscle uses and has unique demands that come along with a specific skill set. When you participate in a different sport, you can rest from the demands of other activities while you focus on the separate demands of your current sporting activity. Your mental break is also a big aspect. While specializing, you are constantly focused on one thing. However, when being a multi-sport participant, you change your focus every three to four months, which is a great way to rest from the mental demands while still being in shape both physically and mentally. Along with mental and physical breaks, you also receive a tremendous amount of cross-training, which will improve your overall performance in any athletic endeavor.
Ultimately, there are great aspects to both specializing in a sport and broadening your skill set by being a multiple-sport athlete. While in this day it is a big component for many athletes to be pressured to choose one sport and just be great at that one, it can be beneficial to broaden your perspective and in a way spread your athleticism to gain more skill sets. It's up to you. What works best for your body? How can you best prepare for your future? Finally, what is your passion, and how will you pursue your goals? No one person is the same. Get out there and enjoy athletics and just be the best athlete you can, whether that means you're a multi-sport weapon or specialize and become an elite athlete.
