Campaign targets sport specialization: ‘Parents get caught up in peer pressure’
HALIFAX — Parents are being warned about the dangers of early specialization in sport, in a new campaign that says overfocusing on one-sport skills may burn out younger athletes.
Carolyn Townsend, communications director with Sport Nova Scotia, said research has shown that kids who focus too much on one sport risk an increase in repetitive injuries, can stunt their athletic development, and are at risk of dropping out by the age of 14 or older because of burnout.
“There are about 65 (organizations) in our fold and there’s not one of them that hasn’t identified this as an issue,” said Townsend.
“What we find happens is that parents get caught up in peer pressure. They listen to their coach who may or may not be educated and they listen to other parents.”