Sport Specialization or Overcommitment?

All sports today have a year-round season. Many privatized clubs hold camps and other training all year round. Some are so demanding that it doesn’t allow a young athlete to enjoy the sport that is in season. Thus, creating a quick burnout rate. Once an athlete feels burnout there is no longer the ability to develop their skill. Many label this as specializing in a sport. Well, what if we look at it differently, what if we look at it as overcommitment. 

Overcommitment is easy for someone to fall into. Parents hear so and so is doing this camp and that training and so on (guilty). Well now they feel they need to be keeping up and partake in the same camps and training and all of a sudden, their calendar is full. Little Johnny just wants a night off to be a kid and do kid things but can’t because he has been overcommitted to a sport, now the ability to play another sport has vanished, preventing a better type of athleticism. 

Preventing this article from falling into a rant let us focus on some things. When training and attending camps focus on smaller groups. Developing skill is about reps and those teaching holding athletes accountable for their movements to improve athleticism through discipline movements. Smaller groups can hold like-minded individuals training together pushing one another to continue to evolve and grow. Don’t be blinded by what everyone else is doing but instead focus on the quality.

Is it sport specialization or overcommitment?