My son is trying to determine if he should play basketball. His best two sports are football and baseball. I would like him to forego basketball and lift. What are your thoughts?

Is your son D1 material? If so maybe he should concentrate on one sport.

If he plans on playing college ball at another level,then let him play whatever he wants!Kaelin Ammons is a Mr. Football candidate.He plays football,basketball,and baseball.I honestly don't believe he would be any better if he stuck to just one sport.Let HIM decide! It's HIS choice.

The Brohm kid did OK playing all three.

I was a three sport athlete, and i played basketball my freshman year, but after my first full season as a high school football player, that's all i had on my mind and wanted to spend every extra second in the weight room, so i passed on basketball my soph. and junior years. I played basketball again my senior year after my football career was done. If your son is still young, and wants to be great at football, I'd say let him left.

Sit down with all his coaches and discuss his chances of playing at the next level. Allow his input as what he wants to do. His chances at playing at the next level also rest on his academics. Weigh all options that he has. The final decision should be his and you should give him your full support whatever he chooses to do.

He can still play all the sports he wants to and lift. There will be downtime between sports to really push it hard too. I would never discourage a kid from playing all three. I was a two sport athlete, and that was because I just didn't enjoy baseball. If he is the type of kid to work all year round and not get burned out, I say go for it. It will only help him in all sports, IMO.

Sit down with all his coaches and discuss his chances of playing at the next level. Allow his input as what he wants to do. His chances at playing at the next level also rest on his academics. Weigh all options that he has. The final decision should be his and you should give him your full support whatever he chooses to do.

And sit down with college coaches and ask them too. Maybe the local colleges in the state, particularly the NAIA guys that don't have as many parental contact restrictions. The high school coaches are very well intentioned, but many times, are not in tune (yet) with what colleges are really looking for. I am not downing our high school coaches, just keep in mind that the rose colored shade of their glasses is frequently just slightly different than that of parents. But a good hard working high school coach, as most are, has inroads with college coaches where they can help get you a realistic assessment.

 

 

And remember this. Life is extremely short. Before you pigeon hole him into one sport, make sure that he is doing it because HE wants to, not because YOU want him too. The latter will only cause regret later. Trust me. That is the one thing that Cvillecat is absolutely correct about, it has to be his decision. So many kids today talk about regretting not trying this or that in sports because their parents wanted to live vicariously through them, or have the success that they themselves never got to have.

The Brohm kid did OK playing all three.

An absolute testimony to what a kid should do. Do what HE wants to do. That kid forgoeing a once in his lifetime all-star football game (even though football was his chosen collegiate sport) to fulfill his commitment to his teammates to play in the state baseball tournament ranks as one of the all-time selfless acts and exceeds anything he will ever do on the football field. He is truly top shelf.

There are a lot of benefits to playing more than one sport, as certain sports compliment skill sets from other sports. I'm assuming that you want him to play football because you want him to spend his time lifting.

 

Football is most benefited by basketball and track:

Basketball improves hand eye coordination, footwork, flexibility, and peripheral vision.

Track improves flexibility and speed.

 

You can lift weights through all sports seasons. The only real exception is if he is a pitcher, then you want to do an entirely different kind of lifting during that season. If he is a position player you can pretty much do what you want.

I think it also depends on how talented he is. If he is talented enough to get playing time in multiple sports then let him decide. If not then he might need to concentrate on one sport to get to the point he can contribute to the team.

Thanks, that is great input. He is not a D1 athlete but has seen varsity time in baseball as an 8th grader and quite a bit of varsity time as a 9th grader in football. His size is his biggest limitation as he is only going to be about 5'8''. He is extremely quick and running a 4.8 as a freshman. He enjoys basketball and will play point guard for the freshman team. I will be letting him make his own decision and trying to hide my preferences.

I really think playing basketball really helps a football player with footwork, but it may keep them out of the weightroom a little too much.

Also I think a playing football makes a basketball player much more physical, but the lack of time in the gym does hurt them fundamentally.

 

If a kid is good enough and wants to, why not play everything he can.

I gave up basketball to play football and baseball. I do not regret it at all.

No matter what you do, do NOT let him give up football. I have countless friends who played other sports instead of football, and they will regret it for the rest of thier lives.

Anytime you can get your son into a competitive situation it is making him a better athlete. He should still be able to lift either at school in a lifting class or before or after practice. Just make sure that he stretches before and after he lifts, also he should shoot baskets after he lifts during basketball season and throw and hit off a tee after he lifts during baseball season. Lifting can be incorporated and it will help his performance. Of course you shouldn't schedule lifting on game days. Good luck!!!!! :ylsuper: