Afrikaans speech
According to Dr. Katherine Fox, "For most sports, early diversification is more likely to lead to
success." Childhood is a time for exploration and discovery. It's a time when developing
minds should be exposed to a range of situations so that they can discover their interests
and skills.
Imagine a world in which children are confined to the narrow lanes of a single athletic pursuit
from an early age. Consider their potential which was once limitless – now being restricted to
a single activity. This is the reality that many young athletes endure when exposed to early
specialisation.
Each and every one of you will have your own thoughts and opinions. I want you all to know,
Miss Abrahams and ladies, that these are all my opinions and experiences.
I've decided to create a timeline to help put things into perspective and explain why I think
it's crucial to introduce different sports to children at a young age.
As the only girl on the team, I ran onto the soccer field on 13 February 2011. I thought it
would be cool to follow in my older brother’s footsteps and do what he did. But soon after, I
grew bored with football, and the next thing I knew, I was performing as a penguin in a ballet
recital. In that moment on stage, I realised that I was not cut out for ballet. I needed some
action, something that I was enthusiastic and passionate about.
I began gymnastics when I was five years old. Something I loved doing and something that
was quite exciting. It was certainly the most difficult sport I have played, but it was also one
of the most fulfilling. I had participated in numerous competitions and won my eastern
Gauteng colours several times. But even at that young age, it started becoming too much for
me.
Despite me stopping gymnastics I had not decided to stop sport as a whole. I began playing
netball and decided to be in the action netball team, I swam for Central Gauteng Aquatics, all
the while deciding to play soccer again. In 2017, I had found myself having a change of
heart, and began playing touch rugby.
When I got to high school it was definitely a different ball game, I found my passion for touch
rugby. While that was my main focus I had continued with other sports like netball and
soccer, as I felt that it was important to keep a balance between all my sports. I believe that
without trying so many different sports and getting that exposure from a young age I would
not have known what was/ or was not for me.
By restricting children's exposure to other activities that may develop varied talents and
interests, we push them into a single sport too early. Leaving them deprived of the
opportunity to grow as people in their entirety.
Exposure to other sports can improve overall athleticism and you can develop a variety of
different skills by participating in different sports. Just as a garden flourish with a variety of
flowers, so too does the human spirit thrive when exposed to a multitude of experiences.
https://www.ssmhealth.com/newsroom/blogs/ssm-health-matters/may-2023/why-kids-
shouldn’t-specialize-in-one-sport
https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/3-reasons-young-kids-should-not-specialize-in-one-
sport/
