Hey, nice issue, as usual. Not disagreeing with your take on sport specialization, but I thought I would share my experience. I was a wrestling coach for 25 years. My school was a top ranked academic high school with white collar families and professionals. Not a blue collar background that often makes for a good wrestling team. We would typically have five or so good wrestlers, but not a full team of them. I would try to recruit athletes from other sports. But when a good baseball player goes up against a specialist wrestler, it is a bloodbath. Good athletes were humiliated by good wrestlers. We would field a team of part-timers to go up against a school of full-timers and get shellacked. It made it hard to field a team.
In a different experience, my son was a full-time soccer player. His whole team was. A non-specialist had no chance to make his team. So, for your own kid, I agree go ahead and specialize. But for the good of high school sports as a whole, specialization is making it tough to have a traditional program.
💯 agree with this. It has actually hurt HS football programs too…when the stud basketball or baseball player that is also really good at football decide to give it up.
Interesting debate, Henny. I think the issue might be larger than youth sports. In order to succeed at an elite level, including music, business or any of a bunch of professions, it takes passion and commitment. But, we’re also encouraged to “play the field” and sample different things - does that approach weaken our commitment to succeed?
Maybe, maybe not. But also, it depends what your definition of success is. Some people want to be the best at something, others like to experience a variety of things.
Couldn’t agree with you more about sports. There is real value to sucking at something- some of the things I enjoy most are things I’ve not been the best at, because I can do them for enjoyment and not for the raw pursuit of accomplishment.
Fun fact. Dave Butz would drive Mark Moseley and Joe Theismann to home games at RFK stadium. Butz would try to run over dead animals on the way, believing the bigger the carcass the better the game’s outcome.
Although my daughter played five years of collegiate volleyball, I imagine the money spent on club dues and travel costs may have rivaled the price of in state tuition. Still worth it, though. Her cousin pitched for Texas softball and just hoisted a national championship trophy and was the Women’s College World Series MVP. Neither regret specializing in their sport. I get that’s not most kid’s experience, but if that’s your dream why not go for it?
That’s hilarious on Butz. I actually coached against Joe Jacoby a few times when he was coaching D3.
Totally in agreement on your second part. Our daughter is chasing her dream right now and it is crazy expensive. But she loves it, is passionate about it, and works her tail off to be good at it. Lots of positive life lessons to be learned with that!
It’s crazy how much better athletes are now. Some of that comes down to better training techniques and equipment, but it’s also how relentless the athletes are. And how relaxed their predecessors were. That kicker you mentioned also smoked two packs a day and downed a couple of Bud Lights during halftime. Ok, maybe he didn’t, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
Just googled it. Classic. That’s not something you see much these days. Although there is a female golfer who just recently got a lot of attention for smoking during tournaments. Charley Hull.
You know sports are not typically a focus for me, but working in public education one of the hardest things to swallow is the widening of the equity gap that comes with our present-day approach to specialization. Specialization makes it more and more difficult for those students who come from families that aren't able to afford the year-round travel team, the special baseball bag with slots for two expensive bats that seemingly even middle school students need to carry to school each day (how many bats does a team actually need?), or the highly targeted private coach. School sports used to be a great equalizer. Everybody had a shot to be a part of a team and therefore develop the skills that comes with working together. Now it is increasingly only an option for some, while those who would benefit the most from a larger connection to school and peers miss out.
Hey, nice issue, as usual. Not disagreeing with your take on sport specialization, but I thought I would share my experience. I was a wrestling coach for 25 years. My school was a top ranked academic high school with white collar families and professionals. Not a blue collar background that often makes for a good wrestling team. We would typically have five or so good wrestlers, but not a full team of them. I would try to recruit athletes from other sports. But when a good baseball player goes up against a specialist wrestler, it is a bloodbath. Good athletes were humiliated by good wrestlers. We would field a team of part-timers to go up against a school of full-timers and get shellacked. It made it hard to field a team.
In a different experience, my son was a full-time soccer player. His whole team was. A non-specialist had no chance to make his team. So, for your own kid, I agree go ahead and specialize. But for the good of high school sports as a whole, specialization is making it tough to have a traditional program.
💯 agree with this. It has actually hurt HS football programs too…when the stud basketball or baseball player that is also really good at football decide to give it up.
Thank you for your fun and so true takes on specialization!
Thanks for reading Melissa!
I’m so happy we’re done paying for elite club sports. Now, my kid plays on the HS team and the other one does yoga. I have weekends again!!
Glorious
Interesting debate, Henny. I think the issue might be larger than youth sports. In order to succeed at an elite level, including music, business or any of a bunch of professions, it takes passion and commitment. But, we’re also encouraged to “play the field” and sample different things - does that approach weaken our commitment to succeed?
Maybe, maybe not. But also, it depends what your definition of success is. Some people want to be the best at something, others like to experience a variety of things.
Different strokes for different folks I suppose.
Couldn’t agree with you more about sports. There is real value to sucking at something- some of the things I enjoy most are things I’ve not been the best at, because I can do them for enjoyment and not for the raw pursuit of accomplishment.
I’m pretty good at sucking at things and agree with your sentiment
Fun fact. Dave Butz would drive Mark Moseley and Joe Theismann to home games at RFK stadium. Butz would try to run over dead animals on the way, believing the bigger the carcass the better the game’s outcome.
Although my daughter played five years of collegiate volleyball, I imagine the money spent on club dues and travel costs may have rivaled the price of in state tuition. Still worth it, though. Her cousin pitched for Texas softball and just hoisted a national championship trophy and was the Women’s College World Series MVP. Neither regret specializing in their sport. I get that’s not most kid’s experience, but if that’s your dream why not go for it?
That’s hilarious on Butz. I actually coached against Joe Jacoby a few times when he was coaching D3.
Totally in agreement on your second part. Our daughter is chasing her dream right now and it is crazy expensive. But she loves it, is passionate about it, and works her tail off to be good at it. Lots of positive life lessons to be learned with that!
It’s crazy how much better athletes are now. Some of that comes down to better training techniques and equipment, but it’s also how relentless the athletes are. And how relaxed their predecessors were. That kicker you mentioned also smoked two packs a day and downed a couple of Bud Lights during halftime. Ok, maybe he didn’t, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
We can’t post pictures here but one of my favorites ever is the Len Dawson of the Chiefs pic. Have you seen that?
Just googled it. Classic. That’s not something you see much these days. Although there is a female golfer who just recently got a lot of attention for smoking during tournaments. Charley Hull.
She’s very good
I got a chance to watch her play in person a few weeks ago, she had quite the following
Oh wow. Is she actually good, or is it mostly the novelty factor?
Laughed out loud at the specialization! Hilarious and so true.
Frowned when reminded of the cost of college.
Thanks Patty!
And sorry too, 😬 😉. We’re touring colleges this summer with our daughter. Tuition is staggering.
I know - I have a rising sophomore and junior. Good luck on the tours!!
Same to you, as I’m guessing you’re doing the same!
Frisbee Team is probably worth as much as any college degree at this point lol
We are just starting to look this summer with our daughter. Tuition is so crazy.
Yeah, it really is. A lot of debt to take on just to get a starter job.
I would gladly pay a couple more bucks a year in taxes to make 4 year degree free for everyone.
At this point they are so expensive I’m afraid it would take more than a few bucks. But I agree with your sentiment.
You know sports are not typically a focus for me, but working in public education one of the hardest things to swallow is the widening of the equity gap that comes with our present-day approach to specialization. Specialization makes it more and more difficult for those students who come from families that aren't able to afford the year-round travel team, the special baseball bag with slots for two expensive bats that seemingly even middle school students need to carry to school each day (how many bats does a team actually need?), or the highly targeted private coach. School sports used to be a great equalizer. Everybody had a shot to be a part of a team and therefore develop the skills that comes with working together. Now it is increasingly only an option for some, while those who would benefit the most from a larger connection to school and peers miss out.