As children grow and develop, it is a recognized fact that the more diverse they can be in their daily activities, including sports, the more well-rounded a person they will grow up to be.  Parents often believe that for their child to be “really, really good” in a sport, that means playing that one sport to the exclusion of everything else.  The belief today is that it might do more harm than good to only play one sport.  One downside to a child playing only one sport all the time is the risk of repetitive, orthopedic injuries that can be carried with that child for the rest of his/her life.

Benefits of Playing Multiple Sports

Playing on a team can help a child gain self-esteem, due to the necessary interaction with others on the team.  That interaction can help a child develop social skills that will serve them well for the rest of life.  Team sports also help children understand self-discipline.  The physical and mental health benefits from learning to play on a team and cooperating and supporting one another are undeniable.  When a child becomes physically active at an early age, it normally follows that he/she is more apt to remain physically active throughout their lifetime.

Research shows that children active in more than one sport can lead to better performance in all their activities.  Giving children multiple opportunities to try different sports allows them to see different aspects they like about each game of play and often can better lead to finding their passion for what they love to do most.

Skills children learn from one sport often transfer to another sport, enabling that child to become a diverse athlete.  When children are provided with multiple opportunities to be placed in varying sports positions, having to become accustomed to different coaches and coaching methods, that can be a valuable learning opportunity for them.  It not only helps them be a better athlete, but a more well-rounded adult as well.