Are We Heeding the Warnings on Youth Sports Specialization?
Abstract:
Evidence suggests that early sports specialization is associated with an increased risk of overuse injuries among children and adolescents. As a result, sport governing bodies and medical organizations have developed recommendations regarding sports participation volume and early sports specialization. However, the awareness and use of these recommendations by various stakeholders, including health care providers, coaches and parents are limited. This session will aim to fill this gap with a review of the evidence regarding the physical and psychological concerns with early sports specialization and empower athletic trainers to be advocates for young athletes through educating other stakeholders about the importance of these recommendations.
Learning Objectives:
- Assess the physical and psychological concerns with early sports specialization.
- Describe the numerous sports specialization recommendations from sport governing bodies and medical organizations.
- Identify gaps in stakeholder knowledge and awareness of sports specialization recommendations.
- Describe efforts to improve stakeholder awareness and use of sports specialization recommendations.
- Formulate ways to advocate for young athletes in regards to early sports specialization.
Level:
Advanced
Domain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Orthopedic Domain(s):
N/A
CEUs:
1.0 Category A
Keywords:
Overuse injury, Athletic development, Risk reduction
In order to earn your CEUs, you must watch the session video in its entirety and complete the assessment.
Course Expiration:
All sessions of the NATA 76th Symposia On-Demand must be completed by October 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.
Tamara Valovich McLeod, PhD, ATC, FNATA
Dr. Tamara Valovich McLeod is the Chair, Director, and a Professor of Athletic Training, Professor in the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, and John P. Wood, D.O., Endowed Chair for Sports Medicine at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. Dr. McLeod completed her PhD from the University of Virginia. She was the founding director of the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network and her research has focused on the pediatric athlete with respect to sport-related concussion.
Dr. McLeod is fellow of the NATA, the National Academy of Kinesiology, and the National Academies of Practice-Athletic Training and was the recipient of the NATA Foundation Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research in 2023.