From the King Street Chronicle: Youth Sports Intensify as Teen Athletes Navigate Rising Demands

Youth Sports Intensify as Teen Athletes Navigate Rising Demands

By Brianna Timlin ‘26, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Hours of daily training and long-distance travel to compete mirror the demanding schedules of a professional athlete.  However, this level of commitment no longer applies only to those playing at the highest level. Today, it is the expectation for elite high school athletes as well. As academic, athletic, and personal demands on teenagers increase, their schedules become harder to manage, making rest increasingly rare.

A growing number of sports leagues are becoming profit-driven, responding to parents who encourage their children to start playing at a younger age to improve their chances of reaching college or professional levels. A survey by the Aspen Institute found that 11.4 percent of parents believe their children could play professionally, according to The New York Times. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports that the professionalization of youth sports contributes to a 70 percent dropout rate by age 13, according to usatoday.com. By the early teenage years, sports become more intense, competition grows tougher, and schedules become more demanding, according to The New York Times.

In addition to increased intensity, leaving school early for athletics is common in high school, but the missed class time adds up. A 2023 study published in the Journal of School Athletics found that student-athletes miss, on average, 15 percent more class time than their non-athlete peers. Additionally, a 2022 report from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) revealed that more than 60 percent of student-athletes feel they do not have enough time to complete assignments after games, according to thesentinel.com. Without proper support and time management, the pressure of youth athletics can drive kids away from sports.

While athletics can be stressful, there are a multitude of benefits to taking part in youth sports. Participation in athletics can positively influence self-esteem and confidence and help teens develop discipline and social skills, according to The New York Times. Dr. Joel Brenner, a sports medicine physician, and Mr. Kody Moffatt, the division chief of pediatric sports medicine at Children’s Nebraska, explained how parents can help foster a healthy relationship with athletics. Dr. Brenner and Mr. Moffatt advise caregivers to focus on fun, teamwork, and healthy habits instead of just winning. They also recommend encouraging balance, monitoring for injuries and burnout, supporting healthy sleep, nutrition, and emotional well-being, and checking in regularly with a pediatrician, according to usatoday.com.

There has been a growing emphasis on mental health for athletes in recent years.  In fact, seven states have mandated that coaches receive mental health training since 2020, according to The New York Times. Dr. Brenner described how mindfulness can help athletes maintain a positive outlook, according to usatoday.com.

“The underlying goal for sports should be to have fun and learn lifelong physical activity skills,” Dr. Brenner said, according to usatoday.com. “If they’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, they can be doing different breathing exercises, for instance, to kind of help them come back to [the] moment and try to avoid that negative self-talk that we all inherently have and try to focus more on the positive.”

Senior Arianna Chin will continue her academic and athletic career next fall, playing for the Division III women’s soccer team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She started playing soccer at age seven. As a child, Arianna enjoyed a flexible, low-pressure schedule. At 11, she joined competitive club teams, which required frequent traveling for games.  Today, she trains almost every day while keeping up with school and coursework. Arianna described the physical and mental challenges that come with an intense training schedule and discussed how she sustains this lifestyle.

“Physically, it’s about knowing when your body needs a rest day and managing that by drinking more water, adding electrolytes, and stretching,” Arianna said. “Take mental rest days when you need them, and talk with people who understand, like other athletes or family members who know what you’re going through. That support has helped me a lot.”

Arianna stays organized by planning ahead. Every Sunday, she reviews her upcoming week and works around school and soccer commitments. This routine helps her manage all her responsibilities.  Arianna shared advice for young athletes on balancing the demands of sports.

“Definitely get organized and don’t procrastinate, because it will catch up to you,” Arianna said. “You have to manage your time while keeping up with schoolwork, and it can get overwhelming if you put things off. Build a schedule and stick to it so you stay consistent and don’t fall behind. Having a set plan makes everything more manageable.”

Featured Image by Brianna Timlin ’26

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