We all want what’s best for our children. In youth sports, that often means making tough decisions — about teams, time commitments, and what “success” really looks like. As a sport coach and leader, here some insights to help a parent or other coaches to support a child’s development in a healthy, long-term way.
The Problem: Too Much, Too Soon
Across many clubs, there’s growing pressure for children to:
– Specialize in one sport at a young age
– Commit to intense year-round schedules
– Focus on winning and rankings early
While these choices may feel necessary to “keep up,” they often backfire. In fact, 70% of children drop out of organized sports by age 13, most commonly because they stop enjoying it.
What Really Helps Kids Thrive?
Research shows that the most successful and happy athletes — whether elite or lifelong recreational — share common childhood experiences:
– They played multiple sports growing up
– They had unstructured play and free time
– They had fun and weren’t pressured to win early
– They learned at their own pace, not rushed or burned out
– They stayed active into adulthood
What can parents do:
Here’s what you can do to help your child grow into a strong, confident, and healthy athlete — and more importantly, a happy and active adult:
1. Support Multi-Sport Play
Let them try different sports throughout the year. It builds coordination, reduces injury risk, and prevents burnout.
2. Don’t Rush Specialization
Most elite athletes didn’t focus on one sport until after age 14. Let your child develop broadly first. Indeed
3. Focus on Enjoyment
Ask your child if they’re having fun — not just if they won or scored. Joy is what keeps them in sport.
4. Think Long-Term
A medal at age 10 or 13 is nice, but what matters more is whether your child still loves being active at age 21.
5. Watch for Red Flags
If your child is constantly tired, anxious about performance, or talks about quitting — it’s time to reassess.
Facts:
Early specialization increases the risk of injury and mental burnout.
Athletes who play multiple sports tend to perform better later in life.
Long-term success depends more on skill development and fun than on early competition wins. Many Olympic medalists actually started their sport later in childhood or in their teens — especially in:
Endurance sports (cycling, rowing, triathlon)
Combat sports (judo, boxing, wrestling)
Team sports (soccer, basketball, volleyball)
Winter sports (Cross country, biathlon, freestyle skiing, speed skating)
…
The road to Olympic gold doesn’t start at age 6. For many, it begins at 14, 16, or even 20 — built on passion, persistence, and smart development.