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Local college coaches see advantages to specialization
By Chris Geinosky
Three-sport high school athletes have become nearly extinct. In fact, it’s even becoming harder and harder to find student-athletes who want to play two different high school sports.
That’s the reality of athletics at the high school level in today’s society, no matter whether it’s viewed as unfortunate or not.
“More and more people are telling kids to play one sport year-round at a young age, and that’s what I disagree with,” said longtime Kearney High girls basketball coach Herb Webster, an educator with more than 40 years of service who ranks as the winningest girls hoops coach in Missouri high school history. “At the high school level, these student-athletes should try to experience as much as possible.
“Obviously, it’s hurting high school sports when certain athletes decide to play one sport year-round, but in my opinion, they’re hurting themselves even more. You’re seeing more and more kids dropping out from sports because of burnout. And who’s to say what sport a kid should play at such a young age?”
It’s easy to see why it’s happening.
Three of the top reasons why include:
1. Time: With increasing demands for athletes to put in offseason work, it’s tough to make additional commitments to coaches and teammates in other sports, not to mention their studies.
2. Money: When social acceptance depends on material goods such as cell phones, iPods, and cars, sports have taken a back seat to jobs.
3. College scholarships: Student-athletes have become more driven to compete at the highest level possible, while their parents hope to receive as much financial help as possible for a college education, and that in turn has led to the specialization of athletic skills.
“The reality of it all is that everyone is getting stretched thin,” said Bill Sobbe, who has spent the past 25 years in the Park Hill and North Kansas City school districts, the last eight as the athletic director at Park Hill High. “Everyone’s after that college scholarship, and not just in sports. It’s clubs, cheerleading, debate and student council. We’ve lost the idea that kids should be able to be kids until it’s time not to be.
“There’s so many demands on their time, that they’re almost like robots, programmed to do what’s expected of them day after day. There’s no doubt about it, this is just a sign of the times, but on the other hand, it seems like something has to give.”
In many cases, what gives is the athlete’s ability to discover his or her maximum potential. With kids making decisions before they’ve tapped their full athletic ability, they might pass up on a sport they never knew they could excel at.
But then again, is that a risk athletes have to take these days?
“You’re seeing kids specialize more and more these days, especially in the specialty sports like ours,” said Tim Busenhart, Park Hill South swim coach for the last 10 years. “In our sport, there’s not a lot of college scholarships out there. If that’s your goal, you have to be more than a high school swimmer. You have to at least swim in the summer as well, if not year-round. It’s just the way it is.”
Although club sports and year-round commitments have taken a toll on the multi-sport high school athletes, in many ways it has increased the level of play in the individual sports. Then again, sometimes club teams or coaches can also interfere with the high school teams or other social agendas.
“It’s all about looking out for the best interest of the kids,” Sobbe said. “That’s what people forget sometimes. Kids and parents have to be careful about who they’re listening to, because it’s easy to listen to what you want to hear, and it permeates all sports.
“College scholarships are not what they used to be. There’s a lot of opportunities out there, but the top-level, full-ride scholarships are almost non-existent anymore. Does a kid have to tie up all their time in one thing to be successful? I’m not sure that’s the case.”
Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or cgeinosky@npgco.com.
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That’s the reality of athletics at the high school level in today’s society, no matter whether it’s viewed as unfortunate or not.
“More and more people are telling kids to play one sport year-round at a young age, and that’s what I disagree with,” said longtime Kearney High girls basketball coach Herb Webster, an educator with more than 40 years of service who ranks as the winningest girls hoops coach in Missouri high school history. “At the high school level, these student-athletes should try to experience as much as possible.
“Obviously, it’s hurting high school sports when certain athletes decide to play one sport year-round, but in my opinion, they’re hurting themselves even more. You’re seeing more and more kids dropping out from sports because of burnout. And who’s to say what sport a kid should play at such a young age?”
It’s easy to see why it’s happening.
Three of the top reasons why include:
1. Time: With increasing demands for athletes to put in offseason work, it’s tough to make additional commitments to coaches and teammates in other sports, not to mention their studies.
2. Money: When social acceptance depends on material goods such as cell phones, iPods, and cars, sports have taken a back seat to jobs.
3. College scholarships: Student-athletes have become more driven to compete at the highest level possible, while their parents hope to receive as much financial help as possible for a college education, and that in turn has led to the specialization of athletic skills.
“The reality of it all is that everyone is getting stretched thin,” said Bill Sobbe, who has spent the past 25 years in the Park Hill and North Kansas City school districts, the last eight as the athletic director at Park Hill High. “Everyone’s after that college scholarship, and not just in sports. It’s clubs, cheerleading, debate and student council. We’ve lost the idea that kids should be able to be kids until it’s time not to be.
“There’s so many demands on their time, that they’re almost like robots, programmed to do what’s expected of them day after day. There’s no doubt about it, this is just a sign of the times, but on the other hand, it seems like something has to give.”
In many cases, what gives is the athlete’s ability to discover his or her maximum potential. With kids making decisions before they’ve tapped their full athletic ability, they might pass up on a sport they never knew they could excel at.
But then again, is that a risk athletes have to take these days?
“You’re seeing kids specialize more and more these days, especially in the specialty sports like ours,” said Tim Busenhart, Park Hill South swim coach for the last 10 years. “In our sport, there’s not a lot of college scholarships out there. If that’s your goal, you have to be more than a high school swimmer. You have to at least swim in the summer as well, if not year-round. It’s just the way it is.”
Although club sports and year-round commitments have taken a toll on the multi-sport high school athletes, in many ways it has increased the level of play in the individual sports. Then again, sometimes club teams or coaches can also interfere with the high school teams or other social agendas.
“It’s all about looking out for the best interest of the kids,” Sobbe said. “That’s what people forget sometimes. Kids and parents have to be careful about who they’re listening to, because it’s easy to listen to what you want to hear, and it permeates all sports.
“College scholarships are not what they used to be. There’s a lot of opportunities out there, but the top-level, full-ride scholarships are almost non-existent anymore. Does a kid have to tie up all their time in one thing to be successful? I’m not sure that’s the case.”
Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or cgeinosky@npgco.com.