Injury Rates Higher for Athletes Who Specialize in One Sport

By Bruce Howard, NFHS editor of High School Today

The issue of whether high school student-athletes should specialize in one sport or play multiple sports continues to be debated across the country. How prevalent is the practice of specialization and what are the potential drawbacks for individuals who focus on a single sport?

In an effort to find answers to some questions related to sport specialization, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Foundation funded a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. While the primary focus of the study was to determine the injury rate for those athletes who specialize in one sport vs. individuals who do not specialize in one sport, the study also provided information about the rate of specialization by male and female athletes.   Read More.

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