AOSSM Early Sport Specialization Consensus Statement
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Early sport specialization is not a requirement for success at the highest levels of competition and is believed to be unhealthy physically and mentally for young athletes. It also discourages unstructured free play, which has many benefits. PURPOSE: To review the available evidence on early sports specialization and identify areas where scientific data are lacking. STUDY DESIGN: Think tank, roundtable discussion. RESULTS: The primary outcome of this think tank was that there is no evidence that young children will benefit from early sport specialization in the majority of sports. They are subject to overuse injury and burnout from concentrated activity. Early multisport participation will not deter young athletes from long-term competitive athletic success. CONCLUSION: Youth advocates, parents, clinicians, and coaches need to work together with the sport governing bodies to ensure healthy environments for play and competition that do not create long-term health issues yet support athletic competition at the highest level desired.
Institutions: Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Harborview Medical Center, York University, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Hospital for Special Surgery, Cornell University, Queen's University, Oslo University Hospital, International Olympic Committee, Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, Michigan State University, Indiana University School of Medicine, New York University, Mayo Clinic, Emory University, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard University, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, University of Cincinnati, University of Pennsylvania, University of Connecticut, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Trinity College, University of Pittsburgh, Steadman Clinic, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,500
OpenAlex ID: W2344659028