Should my son play only football? Should I allow him to try other sports?
Many parents today feel that they increase the likelihood of their youngster attaining a college scholarship or becoming a professional athlete by focusing on one sport at an early age.. In truth, only 2% of high school athletes receive an athletic scholarship to a Division 1 or Division 2 college. Those numbers become even more staggering when you consider the amount of youngsters that go professional in sports, numbers vary but it is estimated that only 1% of college athletes go on to play at the professional level.
What is best for my son or daughter at this point of their life? If your child has not yet reached the high school level, college decisions and specialization (focusing on the practice and skill of one sport only) can wait. There is plenty of time to worry about that as they get older and their bodies mature. Some of the best skills they will learn will happen in the early years, skills that cross over from many different athletic experiences, like eye-hand coordination, agility and coordination. Let your child have as many athletic experiences as possible. There have been countless stories of youngsters that enter school with the hope of being the star quarterback but in turn go on to an all-state career in cross country, tennis or swimming.
Let your child build relationships with their friends that will last forever through many different experiences and endeavors. Often the highlight of athletic careers from former players that have gone on an played at both the collegiate and professional levels, is the fondness that they have for the championships, great games, or tough defeats and the lessons they learned from their high school careers. It is these moments from their high school years that helped to shape them into the people they are today.
Keith Croft
Owner and Director of the Elite Football School
