I came across this short article today and it’s worth a read. Below are some excerpts:
There is tremendous pressure from parents and coaches – and kids themselves – to excel in youth sports. Many young athletes are specializing in one sport and being trained like a professional athlete but at inappropriately young ages. Although the lessons learned by competing in team sports are valuable for the rest of a child’s life, parents and coaches must be cognizant of the fact that kids’ bodies are not meant to be trained in the same manner as an adult’s.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, participation in organized sports is on the rise, with nearly 30 million children and adolescents in the United States participating in youth sports. More than 3.5 million kids under age 14 receive medical treatment for sports injuries each year.
