As coaches, we excel in the delicate ballet between research and reality. Each day, we are forced to reconcile academic best practices with the stark realities we encounter. This is particularly relevant in the discussion of early sports specialization. In this high-stakes gamble between long-term health and immediate success, we often don’t know whether we’ve gone bust until long after that athlete has left our care.
Unlike a chef who can instantly recognize a charred steak, the repercussions of our decisions as coaches may take years to manifest—and by that time, they likely won’t be attributed back to us. I’ll admit, in my most insecure moments, this prospect haunts me.
Every once in a while, I receive messages from athletes that I haven’t trained since their teenage years. It’s usually a question about training methods or issues related to their current injuries. Knowing that they still value my opinion after all these years brings me a sense of accomplishment that far surpasses any trophy or medal. Yet, I can’t help but grapple with the nagging thoughts: “How much did I contribute to that injury?” and “What about the athletes who had to retire due to injuries?”