How Many Sports Should My Child Participate In At One Time?

June 11, 2008

A reader from Toronto, Canada asks about training for track XC and soccer. Thanks to 800m Runner Alisa Harvey for addressing this issue . Mother’s Day Special Track Mom Alisa Harvey 800m Runner

How do you successfully plan a XC and track and field training schedule around soccer practices? Is this system overload for a 10-year-old?
Can too much involvement in these activities lead to burnout?

My son, who just turned 10-years-old in May, plays rep soccer and loves to compete in track and field events (100m, 200m & long jump) and cross country races. His soccer team has won back to back league championships and is considered to be one of the best U10 teams in the province. To help with their development, the club has decided to increase practices from 2 days/week to 3 days/week; games also take place during the week. This means he will be playing soccer for 1.5 hours the evenings of Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Friday. Since I do not want him to be too tired for his practices, we do not do any additional training at the moment. I find that his soccer schedule has significantly limited his ability to train for XC meets and track and field events. In fact, he only practiced once for his 100 meter race but still managed to place 1st in the 100 meter finals of his school’s regional track and field qualifier meet. He will be going into his last year of elementary school (grade 5) and before he graduates, his goal is to win the annual XC meet (3000m) that takes place in October. He has come close each year since grade 1. His best finish was 3rd.

So here is the challenge. Given that he has to prepare to run the 100m in the city qualifier meet next week and possibly compete in the city finals the week after and given that he has his eye on training for at least one more track and field meet in July and the XC meet in October. How does he or I approach training in light of his soccer schedule? His club plays soccer all year. I was planning to enter him in some cross country races in the summer to help him prepare for the XC meet in October. However I am concerned that this may reduce his effectiveness in soccer or perhaps not allow time for his muscles to recover. I would appreciate your advice.

Thanks,

Wow! Busy 10-year-old. Many red flags! Given his age I believe he should only train for one sport at a time. He risks injury, burnout, and decrease athletic performance if he keeps this up much longer. He is approaching a big spurt in growth probably in a year or so. It sounds like he may be torn between a great team of soccer friends and his passion for running. Being a talented 100m runner and having a desire to do cross country is a challenge as well. The two events are physiologically the opposite of each other. At his age and with his great performances in the 100m he can keep training for soccer and be just fine in the sprints. He should not spend any time training on the track. The actual races will be enough practice for his next race. If he is seriously considering cross country I think he should stop the soccer. Both is too much even for teenagers and adults. Though, I think he should wait a couple of more years before taking on cross country training. The high mileage is not always the best for young children. I think he is better off finding his way in the sprints. Who knows, with his stamina and speed he may be a phenomenal 800m or 1600m someday. Watch his performances on the track. If he continues to show exceptional skills on the track then maybe he should stop the soccer to avoid a nasty contact injury that soccer players can receive; a knee injury could be career ending. Good luck! Alisa

You may want to check out these previous articles as well

Overuse Injuries and Youth Athletes

Rest and Transitions Between Running Seasons

Primer on Periodization

Pre Season Preparation…..Are You Ready?

Until Next Time

Written by trackmom · Filed Under Elite Youth, Injury Prevention, Training Tips