Why do some kids play multiple sports?..... Because they can! I was reviewing the names on a little league baseball all-star team and pointed out to a friend that most of the kids on the team are also on at least one and as many as three similar teams including the select and club lacrosse team, club soccer, elite hockey, AAU basketball etc… ever think that playing multiple sports may not have a causal relationship to kids being better athletes, it may just be that the better athletes play multiple sports because they can. The fact that most athletes that play sports at the higher levels played multiple sports growing up is not what made them better at their eventual chosen sport, they simply had the desire and ability to play several sports well and enjoyed doing it because they had success…… read the bios of college athletes and it is amazing how many excelled in multiple sports all the way through high school. Why? Because the could!

Sorry your kid got cut from multiple sports.

Why? Because they want to. My older son was a three sport varsity kid in high school and went on to play junior hockey with multiple college offers so let's let the 'your kid was no good anyway' stuff stop before it starts. The sad reality is for many kids who attend a competitive sports high school they need to specialize at an early age just to make varsity. Girls soccer, boys hockey, boys football....camps, select & club teams, year round training unless the kid is a very special athlete by local standards.

But many of my son's hockey friends stopped playing other sports in 7th-8th grade because they wanted to just do one. No crime in it.

I agree with the OP on this. Playing multiple sports doesn't make you a better athlete, but being a good athlete allows you to perform at a higher level and enjoy success in multiple sports. Most of the kids in my small town play multiple sports, however, besides maybe one or two in each sport, it is the same "athletes" that are standing out in each.

While I also agree with the OP I do find it strange that he posted that on a forum in 2016 like its some new found information that he discovered by talking to another parent at an all start baseball game.

Its been like this since the beginning of time, and there is a reason that a ton of those athletes are recruited for multiple sports and even drafted for multiple sports.

but congrats for bringing something that has been prevalent in youth sports since the 1950's into the spotlight !

The better athletes play multiple sports because they are athletic, which usually means that they do well in several sports. My kid is decent athlete, but is better at hockey than he is at baseball, but he is still better at baseball than the majority of baseball kids. I also coach kids on a baseball team and a hockey team and the kids that are really good are good on both, and the kids who are average are average at both sports

Well said! In my small town the kids that are really good at Baseball are also really good at Hockey, Lax and FB. I am surprised at how many kids play year round hockey. I know my son would burn out fast and revolt if I did not let him play other sports.

And my kid would have cashed put by now if I forced him to play other sports.

Every kid is different. Which means other people's opinions on what your kid need to be taken in that light. They don't know your kid and there's no one, right answer.

There may not be a "right" answer but the overall consensus is to let kids play multiple sports when they're young and not to specialize too early. I would say your child is the exception and not the rule. I've never heard a child say they would "cash out" of one sport if made to play another. I'm not saying you're wrong or not being truthful but it seems a little unusual. Like others here have stated the best hockey players in my town are also very good and enthusiastic baseball and lax players. They thrive on competition and certainly don't seem to mind playing a sport outside after being inside rinks for the past 6-8 months. To each their own I guess.

There is no one, right answer? USA hockey and Canada Hockey both advocate for not having year round hockey. if the governing bodies of hockey in 2 countries (plus a few more in Europe) are telling people NOT to play year round. It might be worth listening to and giving the kids a break.

They advocate that, at a certain age. Forgot that part. Let's call it 10 and younger. By 15 they are requiring that kids chosen for the NTDP give up other sports because now they are a "depreciable asset." If it were still good for development wouldn't they be having them play multiple sports in Ann Arbor?

So the grey area is in that age 10 - 15 age group. That's where you have to decide for yourself what's right for your kid. And the kid should have a lot of input.

When I was in high school I was on a US national team and our federation mailed a letter to my school excusing me from all athletic activity and any form of gym class. Can't say they were too understanding about my interest to play other sports.

Maybe so but you're talking about a small fraction of kids that fall into this category. The majority of kids playing youth hockey in Massachusetts at all levels will be lucky to play varsity in high school. Unless a kid is truly elite and has a chance to play competitive hockey after high school there is no reason to specialize in one sport. I would say 90% of kids fall into this group.

if your being selected for the NTDP then your in the top 1% of the best players at that age group. Also 99% of those kids played multiple sports until that point. And the idea that you let your kid decide? My kid wants to play Xbox all day long to but i don't let him do it.

The point I was making was that just because USA Hockey says kids should play multiple sports doesn't mean it is so for all age groups. You think the top 1% (it's way smaller than that but never mind the math) have "special muscle groups" or something?

And I didn't say let your kid decide, I said he needs to have input. Don't know how old your spawn is, but he will, eventually, decide all on his own to play XBox. He has to want it for himself, it can't be about you, Dad.

There is no debate. Get your kids out of the **** rinks and out of your basements in the spring/summer and let them be kids. Little league, lacrosse, flag football, soccer, basketball...use some of that summer tourney money to get them a junior membership at you're local golf course....what ever they choose to do athletically let them do. If they chose to do nothing then you're probably wasting way too much money on hockey anyway, because the better athletes want to compete at whatever sport or neighborhood game they happen to be playing on any given day. that's what gives them the edge. It's really not that hard people and there is absolutely no gray area for 10-15 year old kids. Get them outside.

What does "getting them outside" have to do with playing multiple sports? Can't they mountain bike? Hang with their friends? Have a girlfriend? Oh, you haven't gotten to that stage yet? That also varies kid to kid.

At a certain age, you don't become a better hockey/lacrosse/football/baseball/soccer player by playing other sports. Doesn't mean you can't.

At a certain age, if your kid aspires to excel at one sport, they will need to focus on that sport. That is the current philosophy. Fight it if you want. It is cyclical, you can wait out the cycle. But, your kid's still gonna grow up.

USA Hockey won't allow their "properties" to play other sports. So, the argument that other sports benefit their hockey clearly stops.

At a certain age.

Very true. At our local high school almost every kid plays some club level sport and focuses on usually one, sometimes two. This includes hockey, baseball, volleyball, soccer and a few more. The unfortunate thing is these kids become so focused and advanced with their professional coaching that the high school experience is sometimes a let down. For example a few years ago when BA was the place to play in the fall for Bantams & Midgets the parents fully believed they had maybe 2-3 teams that could have made the Super 8. And then some of the kids went back to their high school and the coaches are still forcing them to play 1970's style hockey and getting yelled at for not playing 'dump & chase' hockey.

I'm sure the other club sport players have many similar experiences.

Apparently we're in the remedial dboard for the pompous folk. What do you think get them outside means. This must be the same 06 parent that can't figure out what a money grab is. Apparently you got the gist of the outside thing because it would be pretty hard to mountain bike in you're basement, cool but not too productive I'm afraid. I'm sorry I failed to list every sport known to man so please feel free to use your imagination. Go mountain biking, mountain climbing, cliff diving, sky diving or whatever you're little heart desires. If you don't, It's more than likely that "At a certain age" your kid is going to realize that the hockey dream was yours not his, and then what do you have left. Let them play 2,3,4 sports and any other phsyical activity they choose to partake in. (Don't you remember the old Bo Jackson commercials?) The goal here folks is to raise well rounded student athletes. If it becomes apparent that your well rounded student athlete is a high school hockey stud as a freshman or sophomore and the college scouts are calling, then clearly it's time to focus on one sport. Until then...and oh yeah, make sure you have "the talk" with them before you let them hang out with their girlfriend in the basement..."At a certain age"

Like That 70's Show everything happens in the basement.

Where the heck was Fez from anyway? And I know he was kind of cute in his own way, but there is no way Eric would have hooked up with Donna in real life. But I think the real theme to that show was their parents all wanted them to be Wisconsin hockey players, even though they wanted to play basketball and baseball, so they all quit and started smoking dope in Eric's basement.

That's because Red kept making all of Eric's decisions for him. That's how he was raised and if it was good enough for him, it's good enough for his kid.

And no way could Kelso land Jackie in real life.

Oh hold on a minute.

My oldest is that kid you describe - Keller Div player, having those conversations about hockey after HS. And, as a prep school athlete, he is required to play three sports, and excels at two. But he chose - HE chose - to stop playing "multiple sports" - or at least the sports you mean - a few years ago. Instead he chooses - HE chooses - sports that do still directly benefit his hockey. But, really, only because he's required to. And, he trains specifically for and plays hockey year round.

I also know a bunch of other families with boys my kid's age and older that are draft picks of the various leagues. I've had the opportunity to see the choices that they have made, or have been required to make. I've asked them about the reasoning behind their decisions, and I've been able to observe the impact.

When your little spawn gets there, you'll understand more about how much boys of that age think independently and insist on input into the decisions that affect them. If you raise them right, it's amazing how well they can think for themselves, and how critical that is to their maintaining their focus and energy.

But, keep fighting change. I'm sure he'll make a fine team manager in HS.

And, yes we did have "the talk."

????
Are you saying you're son is a multi-sport athlete who's now a year or two into the high school experience and he's going to choose to focus on hockey? If so, good for him! That's the point of this whole thred. Encourage them in all of their academic and athletic endeavors and let THEM make the choice in high school. My little spawn, as you say, is also enjoying his high school experience playing three sports. HIS choice as long as he keeps up his GPA. Sorry to disappoint you about the manager thing. Nice try though.

No, I pretty clearly said that he chose to give up other sports a few years ago, trains for and plays hockey year round, and only is continuing in other sports because he has to.

Hate having to repeat myself. Maybe I should use all caps and skip every other line for you?

Did you not say he's in prep school playing multiple sports. Doesn't matter what they are. Prep schools espouse the student athlete theory. There's a reason for that. Tell him to enjoy it.