Professor – Early elite venture does not lead to success

Early specialization and selection in children’s sports do not lead to more elite athletes. This is stated by Christer Malm, professor of sports medicine at Umeå University, in News Morning.
– All research shows that those who reach the ultimate elite have usually started to invest later.

Recently, AIK lowered the age for its academy teams in football. This means that the club is now selecting and dividing children into different levels based on ability and performance from the age of 10. But AIK is far from alone, the Bromma boys, for example, start its selection at the age of eight.

Christer Malm, professor of sports medicine at Umeå University, believes that many sports associations fail to absorb the existing research on early selection and elite venture. According to him, children should be encouraged to try many different sports to increase the chance to reach the elite level.

– If you are doing many sports, it is more likely that you will reach the elite, says Malm in News Morning.

Few children reach elite level

Malm points out that very few children who invest early actually become elite athletes. He believes that the risk of disappointment is great when the majority does not reach the high goals.

– The day you are kicked out of your team. If you have created your self -image that “I am an elite athlete” and then when you are 15, 16, 17, 18 years no longer place. Then you lose your self -image.

Early selection can then lead to negative effects such as poor self -esteem and increased mental illness among young people.

– Sports do not have to contribute to increased mental illness among children and young people, he adds.

Call for clubs

When it comes to clubs that invest in early selection, Malm wants to send an invitation.

– If you put the child’s best in focus and look at what the research says, then you would not do this.

He concludes by emphasizing that sports and development of abilities is important, but that the elite venture should come later.

– You have to start in time with sports and learn abilities, absolutely. But not the elite venture. All research shows that those who reach the ultimate elite have usually started to invest later or after puberty, when choosing the way.