Specializing In Sports Research Paper

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Dreamed of being in the big leagues, of thousands of fans cheering your name from the stands? It seems impossible to most; believing that to achieve the impossible you must specialize in a sport. Truth is that, “the best medically, scientifically, and psychologically recommended way to develop such all around athleticism is ample free play and multiple sport participation as a child”(O'Sullivan). Training for one sport actually does more harm than good. Specializing in a specific sport before Middle School/High School increases the risk of injury and burnout, and amplifies parental pressure.

Specializing in a sport increases the risk of injury. One year ago a study showed that a surprising “49% of specialized athletes [suffered] an injury

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