Weekly Word: Single Sport vs. Multisport

To begin with, I am not here to argue one point over another, but to simply offer a couple of thoughts to help create success for today's high school athletes.  You can find my opinion in my Final Thought at the bottom of this article.  But to start with, in today's day and age, you can do enough research to find merit behind just about any argument you want when it comes to this topic so don't get caught up on "this research" or "those statistics", because there are research and statistics that exist for both arguments. The top argument I hear in regards to this debate is that multisport athletes use different muscle groups, and their reflexes are tested differently in each sport.  There is definitely some truth to that, no argument there.  However, if you are a single sport athlete, you can find regular workouts, plyometrics, and other skills tests to help develop your senses and muscle groups that might not be heightened in your one sport.  If you want to stay in just one sport, you almost need to commit yourself, though, to those extra activities, even though they might not be enjoyable or specific to your sport.  They will both give you a competitive advantage and help your health. I also always hear about how if you don't focus on one sport and work harder than the next person, they will have more opportunities come their way as it relates to college.  Again, there is some truth to this, but how much are you willing to do and work to "make it"?  As a multisport athlete, you have a lot less time to dedicate to your primary sport.  But are you finding a little time here and there to "make it" and get a workout in, if that's what you truly want?  Or are you spending a lot of time on social media, on video games, hanging out with friends, etc., when you do have spare time?  As a multisport athlete, you have to make sacrifices if you want to become a college athlete. Another thing I hear is that multisport athletes have less opportunity to play grassroots sports, and their recruiting suffers because of it.  First, I have addressed recruiting in other articles.  If you are a big-time ballplayer, you'll get recruited.  If not, and you are following my previous advice and recruiting colleges as much as they are recruiting you, you will get recruited.  Second, I have coached grassroots basketball, and I had baseball players, golfers, and track participants all play for me.  Yes, they might miss a Friday night or Saturday morning basketball game because of another IHSAA sport, but they really wanted to play basketball in college AND help their high school team in another sport, so they showed up Saturday afternoon when they could and finished out the weekend with us.  Not all grassroots coaches will take players who are multisport athletes, and that's disappointing, but several will, and you need to find that coach who is willing to work with you...they are out there.  But again, you have to be willing to sacrifice and put your goals and dreams ahead of the social life. &nbsp; <strong>FINAL THOUGHT</strong> I have been around the game of basketball as a coach, trainer, and event coordinator for the better part of 23 years now.  I have seen successes and failures from both single sport athletes and multisport athletes.  My opinion is this...try several sports at least once when you are in 3rd through 8th grades.  Play as much as you can then, because the commitment isn't as great as when you get into high school or start adding in grassroots teams in a specific sport.  Figure out what you enjoy when you are younger, then when you get to high school <strong>DO WHATEVER YOU ENJOY!!!</strong>  If that's one sport, cool, two or three, also great.  YOU have to ENJOY the process of what you are doing, and don't just follow someone else's plan that they suggest based on "research".  These are YOUR teen years, so enjoy them as you see fit.  You know what kind of time you put into your academic workload, your family commitments, and your social life, so choose the path that best suits your wants and needs.  It's that simple. &nbsp; <em>Header photo of multisport athlete (volleyball, basketball) Jenny Lundy of Northview High School; photo courtesy of thebraziltimes.com.</em>