Specialization In Sports

Dearly Beloved, We’re gathered here in the sight of God and the presence of these witnesses, to join 15 year old Jackson Blue and the “Oh So Fine” Julie Basketball in holy matrimony. Jackson owns a sweet jump shot and moves to die for. He’s played with Julie’s cousin AAU Basketball since he was 7 years old. Currently ranked by Rivals.com in the top 10 of Indiana’s class of 2012, Jackson has been fascinated by the Basketball family most of his life.

In the old testament of the Christian Bible, marriages are arranged between families. That’s what’s happening in this case. Mr. Jordan Blue sees his son’s talent at a young age and speaks with Mr. Brown Basketball about forming an alliance.

Folks in the state of Indiana have much love for the game. Basketball is a royal family that claims Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Glenn Robinson and Brad Miller as members. In the last few years, Indiana has pumped out NBA young guns, Eric Gordon, Greg Oden, Courtney Lee, George Hill, Rodney Carney, Zack Randolph and Mike Conley Jr. Hoping to help their sons be all that they can be in the sport, a number of parents allow their kids to focus all of their athletic energy on basketball. This, despite research which shows playing only one sport year round and training for one sport year round can have negative results. Some experts claim specializing in one sport at a young age can give athletes certain advantages over their peers. However, other researchers believe kids who specialize early run a higher risk of burnout and physical stress due to over using certain muscles and movements.

Basketball is a way of life for many Hoosiers. Everyone knows some of the best athletes in every school from grades 9 to 12 only play one sport, basketball. There are a number of high school basketball coaches who openly discourage their players from playing other sports. My friend Noah was a great athlete who played football 3 sports every year from elementary school through middle school. When Noah tried out for the freshman football team he was cut because of the basketball coach. Everyone knows most high schools are happy to have 100 players suit on Friday nights. Cutting football players is rarely done. Two years later another basketball player named Ron tries out for our high school football team. This guy is unstoppable at Free Safety and Linebacker. Ron is 6’2” tall, weighs 215 pounds, hits like a Mack truck and is fast as lightening. Our coach refuses to play him in games. Why? Because the head basketball coach informs the football coach that if Ron gets hurt he’ll make sure the football coach loses his job.

Today, I hear parents complain about basketball coaches who pressure kids into feeling if they play other sports they could lose their value to the basketball team. Consequently, I see kids who are actually afraid of playing football and baseball or running track because the basketball coach frowns upon such behavior. Now I’m seeing middle school athletes make the same decisions to specialize in basketball.

The preacher says, “Jackson Blue, Do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony? To love, honor, and cherish her, To keep her in sickness and in health, For as long as you both shall live?" Jackson responds, "I do."

The preacher says, “Repeat after me.” Jackson follows directions and says, “I Jackson Blue, take you Julie Basketball, to be my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part."

Sadly, many players will end up like Jackson Blue and never get to kiss their basketball bride. Jackson practices long hours to improve his jump shot. His ball handling skills are superb and he can drive to the bucket and finish like Chris Paul. But, and in every relationship there’s always a butt. Jackson is a 5’11” tall point guard who loves to shoot. Julie Basketball has a crush on 6’2” point guards who like to pass first. After a promising junior season Jackson is relegated to the bench as a senior. He’s having trouble with the coach’s mandate to run the triangle offense. By this time everyone in the Blue family is upset. They have big dreams of their boy matriculating to a school in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Three ACC schools showed strong interest in Jackson last year. Now recruiters wonder what’s wrong. Jackson sitting on the bench sends negative vibes that are hard to overcome. Eventually, no Division 1 school is willing to offer Jackson an athletic scholarship. His dream of playing games that are televised on ESPN is crashing like a “Big Bass Monster.”

The Blue family wonders where they went wrong. They think they’ve followed the formula for success. Jackson plays on all the right AAU teams. He played well enough to be ranked in Rivals top 100 players in the nation as a sophomore. He shows Julie Basketball nothing but love through practice and hard work most of his life. Why does she walk this kid down the aisle then crush his dream just before reaching the altar?

Too many young athletes each year end up like Jackson Blue. Some pick up their pride and move on to play college basketball at non division one schools. When you truly love playing the game, there’s certainly no shame in that. However, parents must stop allowing high school coaches to dictate what is best for their children. Savvy Stock Brokers on Wall Street would never be so negligent as to invest all of their client’s money into one type of stock. Given the risks involved in sports specialization, why do so many parents toss all of their children’s athletic eggs into one basket?