US Lacrosse magazine is working to demystify a trend reported by a poll from the National Alliance for Youth Sports, "Around 70 percent of kids in the United States stop playing organized sports by age 13. Early-sport specialization encourages us to treat these children as commodities and cater to the few who peak early, rather than the masses of those who won’t realize their full athletic potential until they are well into their teens."
Erin Smith, managing director of education and athlete development, shares 10 myths about lacrosse that science and experience puncture. Here are 3 of the 10 myths:
- If your kid is an all-star at age 11, he or she will continue on the same trajectory for the rest of his or her athletic career. - Children who stand out early often get all the attention and extra coaching, therefore seem more successful early on. If you are considering opting your child out early, please keep this in mind, "Research shows that late growth spurt can do wonders for athletic potential."
- Drills are the only way your kid is going to get better at lacrosse. - Actually, of equal relevance is that your child is in sync with their own physical development, and learns movement patterns appropriate for their level.
- Practicing skills is boring. - Practicing is necessary to improve, however, skill practices can be designed to be fun and kid-centered.
Read more: 10 Myths About Youth Lacrosse and Athlete Development