Specialization

The trend towards early specialization is fueled by  parents looking for an edge, the myth that more and earlier is better, and a belief that it is required for survival in today's hypercompetitive youth sports culture.

One of the reasons against early specialization often overlooked by parents is that the year-round commitment and extensive travel it often requires can become so consuming that childhood essentially disappears, interfering with normal child development.

There are three main phases of development for the youth athlete: Phase One (Exploration), Phase Two (Commitment) and Phase Three (Proficiency). While the developmental stages are issues for the entire family, some fundamental principles apply, regardless of phase.