Comparing High School Sport Specialization Trends Between Division I and Club Collegiate Athletes

Background: Adolescent athletes report that sports specialization improves their ability to receive a collegiate athletics scholarship, though this is not well-understood. The purpose of this study was to examine self-reported trends in high school specialization and influences for sport participation between Division I (D-I) and college-aged club (club) athletes. Hypothesis: There would be no difference in high school sport specialization or sport participation influences between D-I and club athletes. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A survey included specialization classification (low, moderate, and high) for 9th to 12th grade, age that the athlete started organized sport and his or her collegiate sport, and several influential factors for participation in one’s primary high school sport (1 = no influence to 5 = extremely influential). Chi-square analyses were used to compare specialization classifications between groups. Nonparametric tests were used to determine significant differences in age-related variables and influential factors between D-I and club athletes. All analysis were also conducted with boys and girls separately. Results: Participants included 266 D-I (girls, 155; 58%) and 180 club (girls, 122; 68%) athletes. Club athletes were more likely to be classified as low specialization at every grade in high school, and this difference was more pronounced between D-I and club female athletes than male athletes. The number of years an athlete was classified as highly specialized in high school was not different between D-I and club athletes. Club athletes were more influenced by playing with friends than D-I athletes and D-I athletes were more influenced by pursuing a collegiate scholarship than club athletes. Conclusion: High levels of specialization in high school sport may not be necessary for playing at the collegiate level, though some level of specialization in high school might be necessary. Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should advocate for healthy long-term athlete development, which does not support high specialization in high school sports.

Coaches attitudes about returning to play in youth and varsity sports post- COVID-19

BACKGROUND: One industry affected by the COVID-19 mandated social distancing policies is sport. In the wake of pressures to return to some normalcy, sport leagues have begun a return to play, many of which include regulations additional to the typical athlete and fan experience. Youth, Middle School, and High School sport leagues are of specific interest in America given the currently inconclusive national plan for returning to face-to-face instruction of students at schools. PURPOSE: The current goal is to identify the perceptions and experiences of current sport professionals throughout the country regarding a return to play. METHODS: The participants of this study were 181 Youth and High School Sport Coaches of various sports. The sample contained males (n = 123) and females (n = 58). The age of respondents ranged from 20 or more years of age. A return to play questionnaire was created and used to collect data for this study. The survey consisted of 12 yes or no questions regarding a return to play during the pandemic, with an opportunity for an open-ended explanation for each. Statistical methods employed to conduct data analysis included frequencies to determine percentages. A crosstabs analysis and Pearson Chi-Square tests of association were utilized to identify statistical significance within the variables. FINDING: No statistically significant association was found at the p ≤ .05 level between age or years of coaching experience and any response to a yes/no question. Percentages for high school coaches who responded "Yes" to each question are presented. Due to the wide variety of responses in these open-ended explanations, statistical expressions were not conducted, and an inclusive list of explanations for each question is provided. CONCLUSION: While the research result is unclear, the information obtained from coaches in the current study presents a small illustration of the current perceptions of athletic leaders in this region regarding the return to play of youth sport coaches and their respective schools' policies.

The Association of High School Sport Participation and Injury History in Collegiate Club Sport Athletes

Context: Sport specialization during adolescence may affect future injury risk. This association has been demonstrated in some professional sports athletes. Objective: Determine the association between adolescent sport specialization levels in high school and injuries sustained during collegiate club sports. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Paper and online surveys. Patients: Collegiate club sport athletes. Intervention: An anonymous survey was administered from September 2019–May 2020. The survey included sport specialization classification via commonly used 3-point scale (Low, Moderate, High) for each high school year (9th–12th), high school sports participation, and collegiate club sport injury history. The number of years an individual was highly specialized in high school was calculated (0–4 years). Individuals who participated in the same sport in high school and college were compared to individuals who were playing a different sport in college than their high school sports. Main Outcome Measures: An injury related to sport club activities and classified as arising from a contact, non-contact, or overuse mechanism that required the individual to seek medical treatment or diagnosis. Injuries were classified into overuse and acute injury mechanisms for the upper and lower extremity, (UE and LE respectively) and head/neck. Results: Single sport participation or number of years highly specialized in high school sport were not associated with college club sport injuries (p>0.1). Individuals who played a different collegiate club sport than their high school sports were more likely to report a LE and head/neck acute injury compared to athletes who played the same collegiate and high school sport (LE=20% vs 8%, χ2=7.4 p=0.006; head/neck=16% vs 3%, χ2=19.4 p<0.001). Conclusions: Adolescent sport specialization was not associated with reported club sport injuries in collegiate club sport athletes. Collegiate club sport athletic trainers should be aware that incoming students exploring a new sport may be at risk for LE and head/neck acute injuries.

Retrospective Evaluation of High School Sport Participation and Adult BMI Status, Physical Activity Levels, and Motivation to Exercise

Previous research reports that children who are physically active are more likely to be active adults. The primary purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine participants’ high school sport type and compare current adult Body Mass Index (BMI) status, physical activity (PA) level, and motivation to exercise. Adults who participated in individual sports reported to have a significantly higher number of individuals in the normal BMI category (F = 16.25, p < 0.05). Participants who competed in individual sports while in high school reported to partake in significantly more days of vigorous physical activity as an adult (F = 5.7, p < .05). The two exercise motivation constructs competence (r = .361, p < .01) and relatedness (r = .219, p < .01) were found to be the most prominently associated with overall physical activity levels between both individual and team sport participants. There were more days of vigorous PA and more individuals in the normal BMI category who participated in individual sports. The current study does not neglect the importance of team sports, but suggests that schools and communities should consider offering more individual sports/activities and emphasize the acquisition of individual skills associated with lifelong activities.

Follow-up evaluation of the Coaching for Life Skills online training program

Coach education has been positioned as an important catalyst in enabling coaches to maximise the positive influence of high school sport on student-athlete development. The purpose of the study was to conduct a subsequent season follow-up evaluation, examining longer-term changes in coach-athlete relationship, coach interpersonal behaviours, and life skills teaching in coaches who completed the Coaching for Life Skills (CLS) online training program. A 2 × 2 prospective causal comparative design was used. Coaches ( n = 285) were asked to complete follow-up measures during the high school sport season that followed their completion of the trial. The response rate was 36.84%, with the final sample consisting of 64 participants. Data were analysed using independent sample t-tests. From baseline to subsequent season follow-up, scores for coach-athlete relationship and coach interpersonal behaviours significantly increased for the CLS group and significantly decreased for the comparison group. No significant differences in scores were found on life skills teaching from baseline to subsequent season follow-up. The results suggest that the intervention may have helped CLS group coaches remain consistent in their use of relational coaching behaviours.