02/12/2026
Okay hear me out. I love sports. I built my career around them. I love seeing kids compete, grow, and chase big goals.
But something has shifted.
Youth sports used to build well-rounded athletes. Now they often build year-round specialists before their bodies are ready.
When a 10- or 11-year-old is told to focus on one sport only, train almost every day, and compete nearly every weekend, we remove variability. And variability is protective. Different sports develop different motor patterns, different strength demands, different coordination skills. That diversity builds resilience.
What I see in the clinic now is different.
More overuse knee pain.
More stress reactions.
More early ACL tears.
More burnout before high school.
That isn’t random.
Research consistently shows that single-sport participation for more than eight months per year increases overuse injury risk. Rapid spikes in workload are strongly associated with injury. Growth spurts create temporary coordination and strength deficits that require smart load management. Yet the volume often keeps climbing.
Kids are not miniature adults. Growth plates are still open. Tendons adapt slower than muscle. Neuromuscular control is still developing. High, repetitive stress without true recovery adds up.
Many high-level athletes played multiple sports growing up. Multi-sport participation is associated with fewer injuries and longer careers.
This is not anti-sport.
It’s pro-longevity.
It’s pro-health.
It’s pro letting kids develop into strong, adaptable athletes instead of fragile ones.
One thing stands out: the bodies of today’s young athletes are under more stress than ever, and that makes thoughtful preparation and recovery essential.
