| Much of the research on early single-sport specialization has focused on young athletes involved in team sports. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain insight and understanding of the perception of the impact on young athletes (if any) of early single-sport specialization on athletes that specialize early in individual sports. The Youth Sport Research (YSR) survey was administered to undergraduate students at Fort Hays State University to identify persons who report early single-sport specialization experiences in an individual sport. Data from the YSR survey were used to identify potential students who were early specializers in an individual sport. The proposed study consisted of 12 undergraduate college students who self-reported early, individual single-sport specialization on the YSR survey and who consented for interviews concerning their experiences, including sport-related injuries, peer isolation, burnout, psychosocial issues, and dropout. Semi-structured interviews were conducted along with follow-up interviews by phone or e-mail to give opportunities to expand or clarify responses. This study used qualitative coding to analyze the themes that emerged from the data collected in the interviews. With an emphasis on the perceived experiences of athletes who specialized, or continue to specialize, this study examined the perceptions of injury, peer isolation, burnout, and dropout that may occur among those who specialize at a young age in an individual sport. The findings could be used to improve the design of youth sports programs to prolong participation in sport, especially considering the documented benefits of participating in physical activities. More introspective studies are needed to better understand the role of early specialization in individual sports. |
