No Offseason: Does Focusing On One Sport Year-Round Help Or Hurt?

The days of the two-sport athlete are long gone. There likely won’t ever be another Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders. That’s because the line between all-around athlete and (for lack of a better term) “hired gun” becomes thinner every day.

Most sports today are becoming year-round commitments — particularly for athletes at the high school or collegiate level. The offseason is quickly losing its meaning, as teams are going from in-season games to off-season training programs and practices with almost no break.

It’s a growing trend that’s not going away, but is it good for young athletes? Let’s look at some pros and cons of focusing on one sport 365-days of the year:

Pro: A focus on just one sport allows athletes to better hone their skills.

Practice makes perfect. The more time and energy you put into one thing, the better you become at it; and being the best is important in the world of sports.

It makes a lot of sense that an athlete would want to focus all their energy on one sport, especially if they have the talent to play at a professional level. Playing other sports is certainly fun, but when a young athlete has the chance at a potential career in their sport of choice, time is extremely valuable and the risk of injury too great.

Con: Players get burnt out focusing on just one sport.

Doing the same thing day-in and day-out is no fun when you’re a kid — or, frankly, as an adult. Focusing entirely on one sport year-round may quickly become tedious to young players, and that constant tunnel vision may eventually burn them out.

No matter how much a young athlete may love a sport, too much exposure to one thing is an easy way to turn someone off and taint their experience with that sport. After all, variety isn’t just the spice of life; it’s an essential part of being young and finding your identity.

Pro: No distractions or conflicts between other teams or sports.

Training and practicing for an upcoming season is a major undertaking in itself and a time of year that is truly important for player and team development. Distractions like other commitments have the ability to derail the entire offseason process.

Without having to split time with another team or sport, players are able to take full advantage of the time of year that’s set aside for practice and preparation.

Con: Young players lose the advantage that comes from playing other sports.

The differences from one sport to another have the ability to unlock new insights for athletes. How many times have you heard about boxers or football players taking up ballet to improve their footwork? Well, that isn’t the only advantage one sport lends another.

A hockey player who takes up lacrosse may see an improvement in stick skills and hand-eye coordination due to the subtle nuances of the individual sports. Baseball players often pick-up tips for patience at the plate while playing golf during the offseason. There’s a reason many tight ends in the NFL played basketball in college; playing in the paint teaches you how to position your body on jump balls and improve your hands.

Pro: Players know early if they’re suited for a particular sport.

When you spend all of your time focused on one thing, you learn very quickly if you’re suited for that thing or not. Athletes may sometimes spend half their lives playing a sport until they realize they either don’t like it anymore or their skill set is simply better suited for another game.

When an athlete finds the right fit early, they have the benefit of time to develop their skills and craft their game. If they don’t mesh well with that sport early, then it’s not too late to try something else.

Con: Players don’t have an offseason to train, improve or recuperate.

Sure, athletes improve and progress throughout the course of a season, as they get meaningful game reps and practice time. But improvement also happens during the offseason, when players are able to make fundamental changes to their game and have ample time to learn proper techniques without worrying about the next game.

Besides, the regular season is a grind as it is. Players need time to heal and relax, as well as let their bodies recuperate. Why put even more stress and pressure on them? With a blurred line between each season, athletes lose valuable time to mend their bodies and improve their games.

What do you think? Is the lack of offseason helping or hurting young athletes?

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