Multi-sport athletes are a dying breed because of the profitability of the specialized athlete. Year-round training options and pressure from travel team coaches and parents persuade kids and their parents to invest large sums of money and time into a single sport. Foregone are family vacations and weekend getaways. Parents desperately cling to the hope of the elusive college-ticket/scholarship for their dedication. Gifted and passionate athletes should persue their single-sport whole-heartedly, but this doesn't apply to everyone. Yet, who is going to stand up and tell the other kids/parents not to waste their time/money? The owner of the training facility? NO. The coach? NO (He needs back up players, afterall.) The kids? NO, they're afraid their parents will be disappointed if they back out. Their teammates could tease them as well. The system is set up to foster more and more single-sport athletes because not enough athletic directors, college counselors, or sane parents are standing up to voice the reality of the situation. Too many times, the college athlete becomes a has-been in college -- blowing out knees and other body parts. Switching schools. Where are the coaches then? Do they care? No. Parents must look out for the best interest of their kids and know when enough is enough. They must look objectively at their kids' size and talent and know when to redirect time/money elsewhere. Having a kid with good grades, test scores and a personality will get them through life in one piece. Sports may be a part of it, but it will unlikely be their bread-and-butter.

I was a multi-sport athlete. Personally, I respect all multi-sport athletes. I believe it's a great thing. I'm currently a senior. I use to play football, basketball and volleyball till now. I quit football and decided not to basketball to focus on volleyball. The way I thought about it was that I want to play volleyball in college, so that's the one sport I really need to focus on. I'm happy with my desicion. I say that as long as your happy being a multi-sport athlete, then I don't see a problem.

I was a mulit-sport athelte. I played soccer, softball, and basketball all on varsity and level and i was starting pitcher for softball, starring midfield for soccer and starring shooting gaurd for basketball. But now i'm only doing basketball because its hard with family and working around everyones schedule for games and practices esepcially since i live in big family of 9. Also i'm a dual enrollment student so i have college classes. If it was up to me i would play every sport i could but that would be kind of selfish and inconsiderate to the rest of the members in my family who also have there jobs and responsiblites they need to take care. So i'm jst doing one sport b-ball and putting all my focus on to it. But hey u gotta do what u gotta do.

My son received 4 Varsity letters for soccer, 3 for football, 1 for golf, and 1 for track. He played soccer and football all four years of high school. He also played basketball freshman year, and golf sophmore, junior and senior years. It was hard to play all of these sports (2 at the same time for four years), but I believe that it was better for him to do it. He ended up receiving a scholarship for football, and will start playing his freshman year of college.

I go to a really small high school, only 38 people in my grade. If it wasn't for all of our 3 sport athletes we wouldnt have enough people to fill all of our sports rosters.

hey hey I know lots of kids who excel at multiple sports. Myself, I run cc, track and swimming. completely different seasons, completely different skills.

We live in a totally different world than 1992 both parents work and if not they have to due to the economy. If you work the complication of practice times, dinner and homework play a factor and the expense of travel that's costly, my daughter loves softball but loved basketball, track and drum major so the kids don't get burned out it's good to choose and do well at one it's alot for the parents and I conclude it's alot for the child I read a great reference book that is updated Cal Ripken Parenting Young Athletes of today please if your a parent read it will go into detail why things are different today

I also do track, I would like to do more if i could, but my parents don't want me to. I am mostly a runner. I used to do soccer also, but that was during my jr. high year. I hope to do cross-country, track, and soccer next upcoming school year. Good to be well rounded and active.