This is Part 2
of my commentary on the article - 'HOW TO GROW A SUPER-ATHLETE'
You can access the article here
In my last newsletter, I discussed my thoughts
on the cultural debate between the 'eastern' and 'western' methodologies of sport
development.
Today...
Early
specialization!
Below is an email I sent to the author of
'How To Grow A Super Athlete', who by the way is an incredibly nice
guy and very knowledgable as well:
You made this statement in your article
- "The kids here start young and specialize early". Absolutely true
and well stated. But in North America, we completely misunderstand
that point. Look no further then the intensive warm-up you saw the
kids go through while at Spartak - that was multilateral,
non-specific athletic development at its finest.
The former Soviet sport system was
founded on developing the essential movement, strength, coordination
and mobility skills in young athletes in the most universal and
non-specific platform possible. They then engaged in specific
technical skill development, unilaterally, in one particular sport.
However, if, after a few years of
training, the young athlete was showing less than spectacular skill
at that sport, the fundamental elements of athletic ability that had
been part of their daily training routine can and could be
transferred, very often successfully, to another sport - or to a
functional life for that matter.
So yes - specialize early - but do so
with the global ability of the athlete in mind so as to not cut them
off from excelling in any other sport if transition is required.
Again, that is what we do so poorly in
North America. We interpret early specialization to infer 'all
baseball... all the time'. Which is why you are seeing an
overwhelming rash of overuse and traumatic injuries in youth sports
here in the United States (45% of youth baseball players experience
elbow pain; over 80,000 ACL injuries every year).
There is no counter-balance with
globalized stimulus in youth sports. Go to any baseball or soccer
practice anywhere in the States - a lap around the field, a couple
of non-descript stretches and then... play.
I think your article was great and a necessary message for U.S.
coaches and parents to hear.
It is about technique and skill development first - honoring the
natural developmental realities of the human body. I could talk
forever about the unique plastic nature of the young nervous system
and why technique development at the youth level is not only
important... IT IS REQUIRED!!
Regarding the point of early specialization in terms of how it is
proposed in Russia versus North America:
Russian:
Early specialization infers optimal technique development via a
scientific and pedagogically relevant means of layering in motor
skill over time and in accordance with natural human development. No
competition.
North American:
Limited technical development and certainly not via any sort of
neurologically accurate methods. All competition.
The Russian system leads to sporting success and an
injury-resistant young athlete.
The North American model leads to the exact
opposite.
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