Youth sports are definitely not the same as a generation or two ago. Gone are the days when kids could play whatever sport was in season, and could go from town sports all the way through high school, and sometimes college, without the benefit of private instructors, tournament teams and scouts. Today, kids are pushed to choose one sport at an early age and play that sport all year round if they have hope to play in high school (or even middle school). But that competitive strategy may physically damage kids, and may be more detrimental to kids' athletic prowess than helpful. Our panel talks about the pressure to specialize and why that may not be best for children.
Guests
Dr. Neeru Jayanthi - medical director of primary care sports medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, author ofHyperspecialization in Youth Sports.
Dr. Kevin Burroughs - medical director, Carolinas Healthcare Sports Medicine & Injury Care; director, Cabarrus Sports Medicine Fellowship.
David Darwin -pitching instructor
Cliff Boyd - president of Matthews Athletic & Recreation Association (MARA)