Single Sport (p)Sychos

Hard cast ankle braces. Knee bands. Ice packs. Wrist braces. These are what I saw at the last few youth sporting events I went to. Fifteen year olds completely geared out to prevent injury or to coverup a reoccurring one. Here are the stats on injuries and success among multi-sport and sport-specific athletes.


Statistics on injury rates in single sport vs multi-sport athletes.

• In one study of high school athletes in Wisconsin single sport athletes were noted as 60% more likely to sustain injuries than athletes who play more than one sport. Of those injuries 51% were ligament strains/tears and 20% going to tendinitis.
• Another study showed single sport athletes were 15% more likely to report multiple injuries keeping them out of athletics on average of 15 weeks a year. On top of that, they found that athletes training 28 hours or more per week on one sport were pre-high school age were more than 30% more likely to report an injury AND were only 1% more likely to get recruited for a college sport.
• From 1998-2010 percent of total UCL surgeries (Tommy John) being in adolescents rose from 11% to 44%.

Success amongst multi-sport athletes.

• Less than two percent of high school athletes receive college scholarships.
• More than 95% of Super Bowl 52 players were multi-sport athletes in high school.
• Among high school coaches 98% said they prefer athletes who play multiple sports.
• Twenty-nine of the 32 first round NFL draft picks played more than one sport in high school.
• Notable HOF level athletes that played more than one sport in high school and/or college: Russell Wilson, Julius Peppers, Lolo Jones, Marion Jones, Kenny Lofton....among so many others.

Being a sport-specific athlete isn’t inherently bad. They do not have a money-back-guarantee to get injured but they need more work than the same motion. If a high or younger athlete only wants to play one sport they NEED (not should or it would help) to be trained in a broad, inclusive fitness. Whether it’s personal training or in a group fitness class, those kids need strength work, they need running technique, they need increased body awareness beyond their sport.


The human body is not meant to repetitively do the same motion. Throwing a ball, running in a straight line, jump max effort, swing a club. All of these movements are fine, encouraged, but when focused exclusively on lead to the statistics previously listed, particularly in a developing teen and pre-teen. Inclusive and broad movements are necessary to be healthy and better athletes. Inclusive meaning, multi-joint encompassing. Movements that challenge multiple muscle groups and multiple joints to achieve the range of motion. Broad meaning using the entire spectrum of human movement.


What this means for young athletes and parents: FIND A STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH. Find a coach that teaches quality movement, has a background in athletics, uses multiple tools (barbells, bands, etc) and can explain what they do and why.