Three-sport athletes are a vanishing breed

[obie7661]

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=365903&Category=17&subCategoryID=0

...Saturday night’s Repository East-West All-Star game features some of this dying breed. Of the 74 players scheduled to participate, only 11 played three separate sports as high school seniors, according to Repository records. Only two — Jackson’s Ryan Pfeiffer and Massillon’s Bryan Sheegog — are from Division I schools....

[austinsm11]

I think part of it is that athletes and parents find their favorite sport and feel the need to specialize in that one sport. Instead of playing the sport just in it's season, there are camps, club teams, AAU teams and personal coaches to play/practice all year round.

[monte81]

I think part of it is that athletes and parents find their favorite sport and feel the need to specialize in that one sport. Instead of playing the sport just in it's season, there are camps, club teams, AAU teams and personal coaches to play/practice all year round.

You hit it the nail on the haed with your post. Back in the day we didn't have AAU, 1000 football camps, year round trainers because it was recommended that an athlete played multiple sports. In todays recruiting phase many college coaches would not prefer star recruits to play additional sports because of injury and fear that they may never get that player in a game for his/her team. Kids seem to try to specialize in one sport to maximize the schollie chances because EVERYBODY is shooting to get them EARLY in all sports!! Schollies for most DI colleges are on the table right now before the Senior year begins so if players are not on the AAU circuit or football combines the chances get slimmer because you chose to play additional school sports. Its not fair but reality of today's 1 sport athletes.

[TigerCoach]

I agree with Ron Blackledge and disagree with you Monte. I think the concept of a kid trying to specialize in 1 sport is a disservice to the kid. Like he said, "Unless your a Kenny Frease (or LeBron James), let kids be kids." Coaches and parents are selfish and usually mis-informed when they promote just 1 sport to a kid.

I remember a few years ago, my neighbor was a very good all around athlete. She was a starter, and All-Conference in basketball, soccer and track. The basketball coach decided after her junior year that she should specialize in basketball and give up soccer and track. She and her dad fought with the coach and finally decided to say "screw you" and dropped basketball. She is currently on a soccer scholarship to Kent State.

Monte, I talk with college coaches all the time like you do. The consensus I hear is that they would rather have the all-around athlete over a 1-sport guy if all else was equal. If I'm recruiting high school football players, I'm looking more for great athletes that are good football players vesrsus just a good football player. Look at some of the top college players. Many of them were the best athlete on their high school team and usually played QB or running back. When they get to college, their athleticism allows them to play other positions. Many defensive lineman in college were linebackers in high school. Many DB's were great running backs, you get the point.

I remember growing up fondly. We went from football in the fall to basketball in the winter to baseball in the spring to summer baseball and football conditioning in the summer. Life was good!

[austinsm11]

Specializing in one sport, especially at a young age, can also lead to burnout.

[monte81]

I agree with Ron Blackledge and disagree with you Monte. I think the concept of a kid trying to specialize in 1 sport is a disservice to the kid. Like he said, "Unless your a Kenny Frease (or LeBron James), let kids be kids." Coaches and parents are selfish and usually mis-informed when they promote just 1 sport to a kid.

I remember a few years ago, my neighbor was a very good all around athlete. She was a starter, and All-Conference in basketball, soccer and track. The basketball coach decided after her junior year that she should specialize in basketball and give up soccer and track. She and her dad fought with the coach and finally decided to say "screw you" and dropped basketball. She is currently on a soccer scholarship to Kent State.

Monte, I talk with college coaches all the time like you do. The consensus I hear is that they would rather have the all-around athlete over a 1-sport guy if all else was equal. If I'm recruiting high school football players, I'm looking more for great athletes that are good football players vesrsus just a good football player. Look at some of the top college players. Many of them were the best athlete on their high school team and usually played QB or running back. When they get to college, their athleticism allows them to play other positions. Many defensive lineman in college were linebackers in high school. Many DB's were great running backs, you get the point.

I remember growing up fondly. We went from football in the fall to basketball in the winter to baseball in the spring to summer baseball and football conditioning in the summer. Life was good!


TC-- I didn'y say it ws my feelings about the issue. The pressure is on for kids far worse than when you and I were competing for schollies. I didn't get my deal until after the senior season s well as many others. Players are commiting 1-2 years before graduating and it puts pressure on kids to compete in the sport they are better at in HS to get better looks. I am all for kids maximzing talents in HS and do not like the 1 sport idea. I even wish early commitmnets, AAU, and all these football combines were done away with entirely. However until the HS athletic associations step in and ban them more and more 1 sport athletes will emerge!

When I referred to 1 sport athletes I said "star player"--- not many star players on 1 team so most should be playing multiple sports. I played 3 sports until my Jr. season only stopping due to a shoulder injury that needed to address but still ran track. The average HS athlete needs multiple sports to enhance agility and conditioning---no conditioning like bball, wrestling, and track to enhance football skills!

LBJ was the best WR in Ohio as a JR. and everyone knew he was a bball 1st pick but continued to play. He even mentioned playing his Sr. year but someone told him he had $$$$$ to lose!

[Kamd50]

This is a very interesting topic and everyone's comments seem to be valid. While a lot of kids may not be 3 sports, there are usually a heck of a lot of 2 sports athletes in our school. Football/baseball, football/basketball, or football/track seem to be the usual trends for most of them. But yet there are still others who combine wrestling, tennis, or even golf with football. I also notice that a lot of the kids carry 3 sports until their jr year and then drop back to 2.

Besides the reasons previously mentioned, a lot of these kids that drop back to 2, just plain want a break from an organized sport regime 24/7 and want an opportunity to be just one of the kids and attend the games and experience at least one of the sports from a fan's perspective. I see nothing wrong with that. High school years go by quickly and once they get into college they will have to be even more disciplined and short on any quality free time if they are going to continue their athletic careers once they get there.

[TigerCoach]

Both good points by Kamd50 and Austinsm11, burnout is a real possibility. Another positive reason that no one mentions is the fact that playing sports(or just being in ANY activity) year round keeps kids busy and occupied. Maybe if kids didn't have so much idle time, we wouldn't have as many problems with fighting, vandalism, shoplifting, and teen pregnancy?

Think about that one! Most crimes are a situation where there is an impulse opportunity to do something when the criminal doesn't think someone is looking or don't think they would get caught. If our teens are busy, then they don't have the time to do these stupid things.

[austinsm11]

Another positive reason that no one mentions is the fact that playing sports(or just being in ANY activity) year round keeps kids busy and occupied. Maybe if kids didn't have so much idle time, we wouldn't have as many problems with fighting, vandalism, shoplifting, and teen pregnancy?


Very true. Just this week a kid I coached in football 2 years ago (he was an even better wrestler) is in trouble with 2-3 other friends for robbing a man and beating him until they killed him. I worked with the guy's father who was killed. We have too many lazy kids that don't want to put the time/energy into practice and are roaming the streets instead. He is 16 and his his live is over...just thrown away. I have a feeling that I knew the other kids as well, but the police won't release their names yet since they are only 15.

[Kamd50]

That is a horrible story. This kind of thing goes beyond being involved in sports though. First and foremost, you have to go back to the parents again and why they don't have a better grasp on what their kids are doing or even MORE importantly, why they don't have a better influence on their own kids' behavior when they are out of their sight?!

There are plenty of other things you can get your kid interested in if they don't happen to be into sports. A set of drums or a guitar can be a very time-consuming past-time and keep your kids off the streets. I'd rather put up with the noise and at least know where my kids are at most of the time.

What bothers me a lot, is why don't a lot of these kids have jobs? I know some kids that are 19 years old and are just now getting their first jobs. Ever! I can understand if a kid is in more thanone sport, but once summer comes, they should be working somewhere at least part time, instead of trying to figure out who they want to rob to get their partying money:thumbsdown:

[austinsm11]

That is a horrible story. This kind of thing goes beyond being involved in sports though. First and foremost, you have to go back to the parents again and why they don't have a better grasp on what their kids are doing or even MORE importantly, why they don't have a better influence on their own kids' behavior when they are out of their sight?!

There are plenty of other things you can get your kid interested in if they don't happen to be into sports. A set of drums or a guitar can be a very time-consuming past-time and keep your kids off the streets. I'd rather put up with the noise and at least know where my kids are at most of the time.

What bothers me a lot, is why don't a lot of these kids have jobs? I know some kids that are 19 years old and are just now getting their first jobs. Ever! I can understand if a kid is in more thanone sport, but once summer comes, they should be working somewhere at least part time, instead of trying to figure out who they want to rob to get their partying money:thumbsdown:

It is a cycle. Young teens having kids. They aren't financially/emotionally ready to handle the kids. Kids are left in front of the tv while mom/dad or bf go out to have fun or are working long hours just to make it. These kids run the house, believe it or not. Mom and dad talk the talk at school, but at home the kids are cooking dinner,watching little brother, etc. It is very sad.

These kids are out running the streets at younger and younger ages. It is amazing how streetsmart they are at 10,11,and 12. They are getting pregnant. Why have a job with set hours when you can sell drugs or rob people? Much easier and much quicker.

What bothers me the most is how kids are looked down on for being "snitches." If a kid acted up in school while the teacher was out of the class for a minute, at least 10 hands would be up to tell. These kids won't tell on anyone for anything. Before these 3 were caught, there was a report of more teens beating up and robbing a homeless man under a bridge. The kids know who is doing it, but they won't tell.