I would imagine that the gap between players who specialize and those who play multiple sports is intensified now because of the recently changed rule allowing skill work to legally take place for basketball during the football season. It used to be open gyms only. Now coaches can instruct. Big difference.

For the top three players it probably doesn't matter, but for kids fighting to be the fifth starter vs coming off the bench, specializing can and often does make the difference.

That being said, a coach should never forbid a kid from playing both. But what is often perceived as retaliation by coaches is actually a difference in skill development.

I would have to disagree those who play more than just one sport are usually head and heels above some of the other players athletically... Over the past three years I have noticed the state champion teams have more more than three who play a multiple sport... If you are trying to win state championships in both sports you can't just be a one sport school.

Maybe it's an issue of semantics for me, but although I would say the general answer to this question is "no", I think there are situations were it is acceptable for a coach to have a realistic conversation with a prospect about whether or not playing another sport is a good idea.

 

Example:

 

Take a kid like Jarrod Polson who'd sat out some time in his high school career already. Before his senior year, he tells the basketball coach he wants to play football (assuming he hadn't played football since middle school). I think the basketball coach isn't overstepping his boundaries if he sits down with him and has a heart to heart about the pros and cons of playing football and what it could mean for his basketball career. A kid like Polson honestly probably needed every minute of his development in basketball to get to the point he's at at UK. I know he probably could have gotten a scholly to a smaller school (i.e., a full scholly, and not one that would be pulled if the recruiting class filled), but there's probably quite a difference in his future (i.e., job prospects gained through networking, the opportunity to get into coaching, etc.) being a hometown hero who played at UK versus one who played at a school like Wright State.

 

I used semantics earlier in the post because in some situations, I think a realistic talk about prospects and what it means going forward could be a strong (but arguably needed) deterrent versus outright being told not to.

 

I do agree, if a kid has D1 offers. Then playing football isn't a good idea.

I do agree, if a kid has D1 offers. Then playing football isn't a good idea.

 

It worked out well for Willy Cauly-Stine.

Any coach that tells a kid not to play another sport should be fired. It is never okay for coaches of one sport to discourage a kid from playing another sport.

 

As a coach I completely agree with this.

I have heard from parents that a school near hear has had coaches pretty much flat out tell kids that if they played another sport and it caused them to miss practice or summer ball that they would probably never be able to catch up (wink wink)and get playing time during the season. Kids that tried to play both ended up riding the pine most of the season. It was one coaches way of showing others not to test him. Luckily that coach is no longer at the school and I think his trying to play hard ball with kids is part of the reason.

We tell our incoming frosh that any coach encouraging you to only play their sport cares more about their sport than the person.

 

A few years ago, one of our guys was torn between football and another activity. He decided the coach/leader that pushed him to quit the other, that was the one he would give up. The other guy started to push him and he went to football. I didn't know he did this until he graduated.

 

Our basketball coach, Chris O'Hearn is very supportive of our kids playing both. Our AD, Fred Hester wants our kids to be able to play multiple sports.

 

On the thread title, I understand but Mason County basketball is not on our schedule. Winning two state titles in basketball has been good for our school, student-athletes, and athletic program. The experience from the 2003 sweet 16 title helped us reach the 3A Semifinals in 2003- the best football team we ever put on the field.

 

I would argue it hurts football when other sports struggle- resources, money, and attention are diverted to fix the struggling programs. Parents and student-athletes become disgruntled and go to other schools.

 

Things go alot better when everybody is happy!

Also worth pointing out that there is a big difference in perspective of playing both football and basketball because of the seasons. Football coaches get the players for every practice and every game if a kid plays both sports. Basketball coaches lose out on considerable practice time and sometimes on games if the football team advances far enough into the playoffs. Also since football is played first, there is no risk of injury from playing another sport.

 

Not saying this is reason to make kids choose, but it isn't the same sacrifice for football coaches to encourage multiple sport participation as it is for basketball coaches.

It worked out well for Willy Cauly-Stine.

 

Yes it did. But big risk playing both. With an offer to play UK basketball being 7'0 tall, I would not play HS football. But it worked out well for him.

Also worth pointing out that there is a big difference in perspective of playing both football and basketball because of the seasons. Football coaches get the players for every practice and every game if a kid plays both sports. Basketball coaches lose out on considerable practice time and sometimes on games if the football team advances far enough into the playoffs. Also since football is played first, there is no risk of injury from playing another sport.

 

Not saying this is reason to make kids choose, but it isn't the same sacrifice for football coaches to encourage multiple sport participation as it is for basketball coaches.

 

 

And... A basketball player can get hurt playing summer basketball before football practice starts. You are right on the risk and practice time. One reason the two sports do fit well is because the first game basketball must win is not until the last week of February.

 

If it can be worked out, and since this is probably the only time in their life that the student-athlete will get to play both sports, the pluses far outweigh the minuses.

I agree Chief. I might move to Maysville so my kids can play for two coaches who have a student first mentality. It isn't that way everywhere. Coach O'Hearn is a great guy/ great coach. And I love the way Mason Co Schools does things... The home visits have always been one of the coolest community outreach ideas I have heard.

Plus I love De'Sha's.

 

I was just pointing out some facts that some football die hards don't consider when they discuss playing multiple sports. The sports that happen later in the school year sacrifice more by being team players.

Any coach that tells a kid not to play another sport should be fired. It is never okay for coaches of one sport to discourage a kid from playing another sport.

 

Agreed. Unfortunately, This happens ALL THE TIME in NKY I believe. Have heard it from several parents and players.

These are HS kids, let them do whatever activities at school they want. Let them enjoy the total experience. A coach that doesn't allow them to or encourages them not to is not a person I would want coaching HS kids.

I agree with most of you on this thread, but not totally. My school has a great relationship between our football and basketball coaches. We do not fight over athletes. We actually plan our summer schedules so kids can do both. However, there are times where we encourage kids to prioritize their better sport. I have kids that play basketball, football, and baseball. If they are a borderline college prospect in baseball, I tell them to play baseball first in the summer and fit basketball in when they can. It would be the same with any sport. However, we occasionally have kids that can be a role player at best in one sport and a contributor in another sport, sometimes in those cases we tell a kid he might consider concentrating on one sport to insure playing time for that sport. There are occasions where the kid should pick a sport, for his own best interest, not the coaches.

I agree with most of you on this thread, but not totally. My school has a great relationship between our football and basketball coaches. We do not fight over athletes. We actually plan our summer schedules so kids can do both. However, there are times where we encourage kids to prioritize their better sport. I have kids that play basketball, football, and baseball. If they are a borderline college prospect in baseball, I tell them to play baseball first in the summer and fit basketball in when they can. It would be the same with any sport. However, we occasionally have kids that can be a role player at best in one sport and a contributor in another sport, sometimes in those cases we tell a kid he might consider concentrating on one sport to insure playing time for that sport. There are occasions where the kid should pick a sport, for his own best interest, not the coaches.

 

If you sit the athlete down as coaches and talk honestly like you stated that is great for the athlete.