A Study of the Sport Specialization on High School Athletics

Abstract

This research considered the status, the underlying causes, and the effects of sport specialization at the high school level. A questionnaire was utilized to solicit the perceptions of 152 high school athletic directors in Illinois. Athletic directors perceived that specialization at the high school level has increased over the past ten years and predicted that it is likely to continue to increase over the next decade. Athletic directors perceived that specialization occurs at the high school level primarily because of the influence of adults and, because of the perception by athletes that specialization increases the possibility of both participating in state championships and of receiving a collegiate athletic scholarship. Directors were highly critical of coaches who promote specialization in their programs, however, they acknowledged that specialization enhances athletic performance for both individuals and teams. Finally, the findings suggest that athletic directors perceive that sport specialization is contrary to the basic purposes of high school athletics. Thus, schools should actively promote multi-sport participation in their athletic programs.