Talk to your child about what they want, their goals for participation, and how they came to that decision. It is possible for athletes who specialize at an early age to have a positive experience if they do so out of enjoyment for their sport and have appropriate family support.

• If a child chooses to specialize you should still be mindful of total hours of participation per week, taking the needed time off from that sport, and incorporating other activities into their routine that support mental and physical fitness including strength training, pick-up games, free play, and non-sports related activities (i.e. music, church, etc).

• Remember, everyone needs some downtime.

References:
Brenner JS and AAP Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report: Sports Specialization and Intensive Training in Young Athletes Pediatrics. 2016;138(3):e20162148. https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/3/e20162148
DiFiori JP, Benjamin HJ, Brenner JS et al. Overuse injuries and burnout in youth sports: a position statement from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Br J Sports Med. 2014;48(4):287-288.