Do multiple sports affect player performance?

We have several players on our team that are also playing football.  When those players have games the evening before or the morning before the game, I feel like there's a steep decline in performance, effecting the whole team of course.  Is it typical for players this age and in such a competitive league to play multiple sports? If so, is there an age where teams or coaches insist that players "make a choice"?

Just my two cents in this, so it probably will not apply to most, but depends on the BB and parents. Playing multiple sports at once with overlapping schedules is tough for both parties. However, at this age you could expect this.

If BB is talented enough to make U12 DA at one for the clubs, then multiple sport BB's are pretty much non existent. Some of the contracts require this but some are more lenient. By the time they make u14 DA, practice is 5 times a week with games on weekend so no multiple sport BBs. Not saying this is for everyone but my experience.

at 10 years old they should be able to play multiple sports. would actually argue that is better for them. not too much stress placed on certain body parts. i.e. pitchers straining their elbows. don't think I remember getting tired till 40.

just-a-dad wrote:at 10 years old they should be able to play multiple sports.   would actually argue that is better for them.  not too much stress placed on certain body parts.   i.e. pitchers straining their elbows.   don't think I remember getting tired till 40.  

I think that is true....but for every NFL or NBA player out there that played 3 sports through HS and the few that played 2 sports in College, there are 1000 European and South American Professional Soccer players that have only played soccer from ages 10 (or less)  and beyond....This is certainly true with most Brits, Germans, Spanish and Brazilian players...

Don't recall having seen fatigue really change how players have played but I do know several that develop over use injuries; especially Sever's.

Socceroo wrote:

just-a-dad wrote:at 10 years old they should be able to play multiple sports.   would actually argue that is better for them.  not too much stress placed on certain body parts.   i.e. pitchers straining their elbows.   don't think I remember getting tired till 40.  

I think that is true....but for every NFL or NBA player out there that played 3 sports through HS and the few that played 2 sports in College, there are 1000 European and South American Professional Soccer players that have only played soccer from ages 10 (or less)  and beyond....This is certainly true with most Brits, Germans, Spanish and Brazilian players...

there are a lot more avenues to play at higher levels in soccer in all other countries but ours. Soccer is way down the pecking order. our top athletes usually go to other sports, or at least try them for the opportunity to participate at higher levels. think basketball is picking up in popularity in Europe and S America. probably beneficial for young athletes to strengthen all muscle vs a specific muscle group (legs for soccer, arms for baseball, etc. )

http://theconversation.com/making-young-children-give-everything-to-football-is-a-bad-idea-heres-why-61526

http://www.90min.com/posts/3746536-man-utd-using-circus-performers-and-parkour-runners-to-train-players-on-how-to-avoid-injury

http://changingthegameproject.com/what-about-the-single-sport-athlete-specialization-part-ii/

http://changingthegameproject.com/the-perils-of-single-sport-participation/

Uncleof05AP wrote:http://theconversation.com/making-young-children-give-everything-to-football-is-a-bad-idea-heres-why-61526

http://www.90min.com/posts/3746536-man-utd-using-circus-performers-and-parkour-runners-to-train-players-on-how-to-avoid-injury

http://changingthegameproject.com/what-about-the-single-sport-athlete-specialization-part-ii/

http://changingthegameproject.com/the-perils-of-single-sport-participation/

Interesting post about Man U.

There is no question based on the evidence that there is a slight chance of avoiding certain injuries when being a multi sport kid.... But the fact still remains that the vast majority of the "rest of the world's" kids, only play soccer....from day 1....and the injury doesn't seem to be an issue....

For me more variety of sports is great, however you need to consider fatigue and recovery, which unfortunately does not get considered in NTX much.

Especially the case when High School sports come into play in Freshman year and combine with club sports. My son was training 3 times per day sometimes, and most days per week, with games too on weekends.

Now in Sophmore year and his body has adapted / more muscle mass, but that freshmen year was really tough for him.

scottallison1 wrote:For me more variety of sports is great, however you need to consider fatigue and recovery, which unfortunately does not get considered in NTX much.

Especially the case when High School sports come into play in Freshman year and combine with club sports.  My son was training 3 times per day sometimes, and most days per week, with games too on weekends.

Now in Sophmore year and his body has adapted / more muscle mass, but that freshmen year was really tough for him.

Good point. My older son (now in College) played 3 sports during HS including his club sport. BY his Junior year, he had enough....It was just too much training.

Someone should conduct a study of former athletes between the ages of 25-40 with injuries/surgeries related to sports. Perhaps that data would correlate to something meaningful.