Should parents stop pushing kids to specialize in one sport before age 12?
I've coached youth soccer for five seasons, and every parent thinks their kid is the next Messi. But here's the thing: we're doing a disservice by pushing kids to specialize in one sport before age 12. Burnout rates are real, and injury rates spike. I've seen talented 10-year-olds quit entirely by 14 because they lost the joy. Should parents stop pushing early sports specialization, even if it means that future Olympic gold might slip away?