Make Variety a Goal in Sports Venus Williams was practicing her
backhand before she started kindergarten. Tiger Woods showed off
his putting skills on the evening news at age 2. But for every
prodigy who grows into a successful athlete, thousands of youths
suffer physically or psychologically from being pushed to
compete at a young age. For that reason, the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) recommends children avoid specializing in a
sport until they reach adolescence. The repetitive motions often
demanded by intense training in a single sport can cause overuse
injuries, such as stress fractures or tendonitis. Overtraining
also can contribute to psychological damage, including
depression. Avoid sports burnout Here are ideas for parents:
Remember that the goal of sports for children and adolescents is
to instill a lifelong love of activity and fitness. Do your best
to help your children find sports that they enjoy--and remember
the sports they enjoy may not be the same ones you want them to
enjoy! Reviewed