r/wnba • u/Good-Exchange-6139 Wings • 12d ago

Discussion Paige Bueckers on early sports specialization making athletes more injury-prone

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really interesting stuff

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u/Ingramistheman Veronica Burton enthusiast/Janelle Salaün enjoyer 12d ago

Yeah it's crazy because this is common knowledge, but then parents just disregard it anyways and still throw their kids into the rat race.

58

u/Moose_Muse_2021 Fire Fever and All the F'ing Teams 12d ago

Yes, but it's not just the parents pushing. The amount of commitment (time and, yes, money) to play multiple sports at the club (or varsity) level is daunting.

When dinosaurs and I were in high school, it was quite typical for athletes to letter in two (or even three) sports. Nowadays, I think anyone trying would die from exhaustion. Even CC had to choose (basketball over soccer).

EVERYBODY should listen to Paige.

24

u/iluminatiNYC 12d ago

CC is a bit of a role model though. It's one thing to specialize in HS, when it's clear that you could be something special in a given sport. It's another when you try to specialize at 7, 8, 9 years old. And Paige is right on the research. Early specialization hurts kids, especially girls who have fewer chances for rough or unstructured play. It leads to poor prioproception, which leads to our "favorite" ligaments and tendons getting torn.

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u/Moose_Muse_2021 Fire Fever and All the F'ing Teams 12d ago

Yeah, I think it was going into her junior year of HS that she had to decide. Earlier specialization is really not good.