National Scouting Report (NSR) shares varying perspectives on the commonly asked question as to whether it is "better to be single sport or a multi-sport athlete?" It is important to note that there is no simple answer and perhaps the answer lies more in knowing and understanding individual ambitions.
Many coaches and athletes are outspoken around their stand on either side of the question, so you have access to a plethora of opinions. Youth sports players start young, so there is a lot of time to think about the direction that your athlete can take. Down the road, as an athlete or a parent, you should research and make sense of the pros and cons in relation to specific needs and goals.
Some pros and cons of being a multi-sport athlete:
- skillset has a variety
- low burnout
- difficulty making the decision to chose one sport for college recruitment
- possibility of injury in off-season sport
Some pros and cons of being a single sport athlete:
- mastery of one sport skillset
- increased confidence in specific abilities
- increased burnout
- injuries from repetitive motions
Be mindful in making this decision and keep in mind that nothing is cast in stone, you may start off in one direction and change direction as you become more attuned to your abilities and intentions. However, if the goal is to be a college athlete you should know that, "college coaches tend to recruit or want multiple sport athletes".
For more details: Multi-Sport Athletes vs. Single Sport Athletes – The Pros and Cons
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