New campaign warns against sports specialization for young athletes
Posted October 24, 2016 1:42 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NOVA SCOTIA – A new campaign warns parents about the dangers for young athletes of early specialization in sport.
Carolyn Townsend of Sport Nova Scotia says research has shown that kids who focus too much on one sport risk an increase in repetitive injuries, can stunt their athletic development, and are at risk of dropping out by the age of 14 or older because of burnout.
“Get More from Sport” is a campaign by Sport Nova Scotia in partnership with Hockey Nova Scotia and Soccer Nova Scotia, aimed at parents of athletes 12 and under.
Brad Lawlor, executive director of Soccer Nova Scotia, says it’s important to educate parents who feel pressure to keep their children in one sport to give them a potential edge.
Lawlor says there are athletic benefits to playing other sports – in either an organized or informal way – that keep kids interested in physical activity.
The campaign includes social media, billboards and a website with videos, information and a test parents can take to see if they are making the right choices for their child’s athletic development.
