Youth Sport Specialization: Risks, Benefits, and Mental Health Considerations

As sport specialization among young athletes has become increasingly common; the topic has received much attention in the pediatric sports medicine arena over the last decade. The current paradigm shift in youth sports participation is toward participation with greater intensity, at higher competitive levels, and greater focus on singular sports activities to achieve these competitive levels. This chapter aims to discuss sport specialization with a unique focus on mental health, psychosocial well-being, and burnout along with the role of injury risk and the complex interplay between these factors in the young athlete.