world, classroom, or a work setting. It is a very similar aspect where a team experience results in massively important life lessons that will help in many different realms.”
In what is perhaps the most important benefit of trying one’s hand in lacrosse and other sports, a young athlete starts to understand the significance of balance in life. Many people strive to lead a harmonious life—grasping how to balance several sports across the span of a year is no easy task.
Multi-sport athletes are better suited than anyone to find the proper balance of life’s variables and become more well-rounded individuals. As Buttafuoco expresses, there are few things in life more important than discovering how everything fits together.
“I strongly believe that one of the most important things in life one can do is achieve balance in all things,” he said. “Balance in terms of family, school, friends, profession, whatever it may be. When a sport like lacrosse factors into this, it can help young kids find that balance because they make so many incredible friendships on the field and are put in a position to be more well-rounded.”
Whereas multi-sport athletes tend to become more versatile and well-rounded on the playing field, in the classroom, and in the social arena, those who focus too much on one sport can be harmed in the long run.
The primary concern is burnout. Athletes who are too intensely focused on one sport tend to suffer from this. They lose sight of the fun of the game, end up playing for all the wrong reasons, and the infectious enthusiasm they formerly latched onto becomes lost.
“In my opinion burnout is without a doubt an issue that kids can face, especially at a young age,” Buttafuoco said. “When there are so many opportunities out there, parents often push their kids
to participate more and be more involved. However, this can hurt them in the end because they can lose the passion they once had, physically become exhausted, and even lose out on what a great game like lacrosse can accomplish.”
All too often this unfortunate situation of burnout
unfolds and, while not entirely to blame, parents tend to play a role in their kids no longer playing a game they once loved. In the case of athletes focusing on one sport, parents can often push their kids towards the goal of a collegiate scholarship, even at a young age.
In reality though, the odds of getting a scholarship are minimal and when one looks at the broader picture, their child having fun is what really matters at the end of the day.
“It’s hard for parents because when your kid is really good at something, your natural instinct is to push them into it,” James said. “If your kid is really good at lacrosse you want to push them into it and have them get even better. The issue with that though, is there is not really much of a pay-off in terms of your kid having fun. The chances of your kid getting a scholarship is minimal, but the chance of your kid of having fun is really endless.”
For parents it is a perilous and shaky path they have to walk, as too much involvement can prove to be detrimental for their child. All want their child to get the most out of the game as possible, but often times the best solution is stepping back and letting them try different things on their own.
Children grow and develop at different paces and limiting them in their formative years to solely lacrosse or any other singular sport can do them more harm
Successful lacrosse players such as The Scoop's featured player Matt Whippen have diverse athletic backgrounds including baseball, football, and hockey
Mass Bay Colonials member Nolan Houlihan has enjoyed success in basketball and football, contributing to his prowess on the lacrosse field
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