Junior Brother and Sister Athletes Experiencing Great Sporting Successes
by Hubsport Online | July 14th, 2025
This month we will celebrate an amazing sporting brother and sister, two of our valued Hub Athletes, Yasin and Yasemin footballer and Karate Fighter Jahanara, are both members of The Premier Hub Inner Circle.
The Hub Team have worked very closely with both Yasin and Yasemin over the last 4 years, it’s been an incredible journey, watching both grow and develop as outstanding young athletes.
Her mother said “Yasemin joined Yasin on the Britannia Contribution to Sport Hall of Fame. She also followed in his footsteps by playing for Suffolk basketball. Yasemin has had a very successful year with her karate. She achieved her black belt after being assessed by JKA England technical committee and Tatsuya Naka Sensei. She also became JKA England National champion in kata (adding to her JKA Open gold medal from back in October.)”
It’s wonderful to see Yasemin’s parent’s encouraging her to be involved in other sports. There are many reasons why this is very positive, from a physical, mental, emotional and social perspective.
Her mother went on to tell The Hub “She also won the football manager’s player of the year, and netball player’s player of the year award”. It’s very clear, that all the family are extremely proud of Yasemin’s achievements, and rightly so.
I’ve been personally working with Yasin, who is focused on football as his main sport, but again enjoys a multi-sport life. He’s a young man who embraces coaching support and feedback; I would class him as a young man with an ‘Open Mind’. He’s an utter joy to coach as a young football player and takes his component of strength and conditioning extremely seriously. Yasin has drawn the attention of several professional football clubs over the years. He has recently signed for Felixstowe & Walton EJA u14 team and looking forward to a challenging season of high-level football.
Above I mention the very valuable returns from investing in a multi-sport experience for young athletes, below outlines exactly why, whenever possible, during the years leading up to heavy specification, all athletes should benefit from a multi-sport schedule.
The Value of a Multi-Sport Approach for Young Developing Athletes
In recent decades, the pressure for young athletes to specialize early in a single sport has grown significantly. Parents, coaches, and organizations often encourage year-round training and competition with the hope of gaining a competitive edge, securing scholarships, or even reaching professional levels. However, an increasing body of evidence suggests that early specialization can carry risks—ranging from physical injury to mental burnout—while a multi-sport approach offers substantial benefits. Allowing children to participate in a variety of sports as they develop has positive impacts on their bodies, minds, emotions, and social experiences. A multi-sport path supports holistic development, fosters resilience, and ultimately sets the stage for both athletic success and long-term enjoyment of physical activity.
Physical Benefits
Balanced Motor Development
Children who play multiple sports are exposed to diverse movement patterns. A young soccer player develops foot coordination, agility, and aerobic endurance, while a swimmer builds upper body strength, breath control, and flexibility. Basketball promotes jumping ability, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. By engaging in a variety of these activities, young athletes build a broader athletic foundation. This enhances their motor skills, reduces the risk of muscular imbalances, and provides transferable skills that can later be applied to any sport they choose to pursue more seriously.
Reduced Risk of Overuse Injuries
One of the leading concerns with early specialization is the high rate of overuse injuries, such as stress fractures, tendinitis, or ligament damage. When children repeat the same motions daily—throwing a baseball, sprinting on a track, or swinging a tennis racquet—the same muscles, joints, and growth plates endure continuous stress. Multi-sport participation spreads the physical load across different muscle groups and movement patterns, giving the body time to recover and adapt. This approach not only protects young bodies but also lengthens their athletic careers.
Better Long-Term Athletic Potential
Studies of elite athletes across sports show a common pattern: many did not specialize until their mid-to-late teenage years. Athletes like Roger Federer (tennis), Abby Wambach (soccer), and Steve Nash (basketball) all grew up playing multiple sports. Early diversity builds an athletic “toolbox,” making young players more adaptable and capable of learning new skills quickly. When specialization does occur, these athletes have a stronger base from which to excel.
Cognitive and Mental Benefits
Cognitive Flexibility and Problem-Solving
Different sports place different cognitive demands on young athletes. For example, hockey and basketball require quick decision-making in dynamic, fast-paced environments, while golf emphasizes patience, focus, and self-regulation. Gymnastics fosters body awareness and discipline, while team sports develop strategic thinking. Exposure to these diverse challenges strengthens cognitive flexibility—the ability to adapt thinking and problem-solving strategies across contexts. This not only benefits athletic performance but also has spillover effects in academic and everyday life.
Reduced Risk of Burnout
Mental burnout is a serious risk for young athletes who specialize early. Constant training in one sport can become monotonous and lead to decreased motivation. By contrast, switching between different sports keeps experiences fresh and exciting, reducing mental fatigue. The variety maintains enthusiasm for physical activity and fosters a lifelong love of movement, rather than creating a sense of obligation or pressure.
Growth Mindset and Adaptability
Each sport comes with unique challenges, rules, and skill sets. Learning to adapt to new environments, coaches, and team structures builds resilience and a growth mindset. Athletes come to understand that mastery requires time and persistence, which encourages them to embrace challenges rather than fear them. This mindset is valuable not just in sports but in academics, careers, and personal life.
Emotional Benefits
Confidence and Self-Esteem
Experiencing success in multiple sports builds a broader sense of competence. A child who struggles in one sport may thrive in another, helping them recognize that their abilities are not limited to a single activity. This boosts self-esteem and reduces the emotional toll of setbacks. Confidence derived from diverse experiences can also make them more resilient to failure when challenges inevitably arise.
Joy and Playfulness
Children are, by nature, playful learners. A multi-sport approach preserves the element of fun in physical activity by allowing young athletes to explore, experiment, and enjoy the game rather than feel pressured to achieve results in one narrow domain. Emotional enjoyment is key to sustaining motivation and ensuring that sports remain a source of happiness rather than stress.
Identity Beyond a Single Sport
When children define themselves solely by one sport, injuries, performance slumps, or failure to make a team can deeply affect their self-worth. Multi-sport participation helps them see themselves more broadly—as athletes, teammates, and individuals with diverse abilities. This well-rounded identity reduces emotional vulnerability and provides stability in the face of setbacks.
Social Benefits
Broader Peer Networks
Each sport offers opportunities to interact with new teammates, coaches, and social environments. Participating in multiple sports allows young athletes to form friendships with a wider variety of peers. These relationships enhance social skills, provide different role models, and create a stronger sense of belonging across communities.
Exposure to Different Team Dynamics
Team sports vary greatly in their structure. A soccer team with 11 players on the field fosters cooperation across a large group, while doubles tennis requires deep collaboration with just one partner. Playing multiple sports teaches children to adjust to different group dynamics, communication styles, and leadership roles. These experiences prepare them to work effectively with others in many contexts later in life.
Reduced Pressure and Competitive Stress
Focusing solely on one sport can intensify pressure, as all hopes and expectations hinge on success in that area. By diversifying, young athletes spread their energy and identity across multiple activities. This reduces the stakes in any single sport, allowing them to approach competition with healthier attitudes and less fear of failure.
Long-Term Outcomes
The ultimate goal of youth sports should not be professional contracts or college scholarships, though those may be outcomes for a small percentage of athletes. Rather, the goal should be to foster healthy, happy, and well-rounded individuals who value lifelong physical activity. A multi-sport approach sets the stage for this by:
- Encouraging long-term athletic participation and enjoyment.
- Reducing risks of injury and mental fatigue that drive many young athletes to quit.
- Providing transferable skills that benefit overall health, education, and social development.
- Supporting emotional resilience and identity beyond performance outcomes.
Parents and coaches who encourage exploration across sports not only support athletic potential but also safeguard the holistic development of the child.
The pressure to specialize early in one sport can be strong, but the benefits of a multi-sport approach for young athletes are undeniable. Physically, it builds stronger, more adaptable bodies and reduces injury risk. Mentally, it enhances problem-solving skills and prevents burnout. Emotionally, it supports confidence, joy, and resilience. Socially, it broadens networks and teaches valuable teamwork skills. Most importantly, it keeps the focus on what sports for young people should be about: growth, play, connection, and the development of healthy lifelong habits.
By embracing a multi-sport philosophy, parents, coaches, and communities give children the best possible chance to thrive—not only as athletes, but as balanced and fulfilled human beings.
