The other side to the "Multi-Sport Athlete"

[Vertigo]

I can definitely see certain sports not meshing well together - for instance - softball and swimming. I know people say swimming is great exercise which it is, but certain strokes like the butterfly can cause a lot of shoulder strain combined with softball. Same for volleyball - lots of overhead motion. I can see that this could be where “overuse” injuries come into play - similar to a pitcher who throws year around without any breaks.

 

[CloudofDust]

Those are studies regarding overuse injuries but other sports like volleyball and basketball tend to have more injuries that are traumatic in nature..sprains,tears,etc.

Like I said before, if you are making your kid play multiple sports because you think it is going to optimize something else softball related I think you are barking up the wrong tree. I also think that if you make your kid play only 1 sport because you are afraid they won't maximize their softball potential that is silly too. So at the end of the day don't make your kid do anything (sports-related) I guess is my point...lol

I think you nailed it - "make" is the key word here. Personally, I don't feel any parent (or coach) should make their ~<16 y/o kid play or not play any sport if the kid really wants to play that sport. Football might be the one exception. Now, I have no issues with a parent making the kid narrow the list if it's a causing grade issues or is creating too many conflicts. I've seen far too many 10U travel coaches making players/parents sign contracts stating their DD will only play softball and no other sports. I think that is just wrong at that age.

Injuries are going to happen, regardless of how many sports are being played. I can see both sides of the argument though. Jammed fingers in basketball? Definitely. I haven't seen that so much in volleyball, but ankle and knee injuries are common in both. But I've seen just as many injuries on the softball field.

Basketball/Volleyball = seasonal jammed/broken fingers.
Just something i've noticed.
________________


How does serving in vollyball help throwing a softball?
Or
Can it actually (mechanics wise) work against each other?

You're thinking of it from a softball perspective. The overhand throwing motion of throwing a softball improves a volleyball player's overhand serve.

As has been mentioned several times in this thread, a lot of multiple sport athletes don't favor one over the other and haven't decided which one they will be most successful at for the long term. ALL sports require some degree of hand-eye coordination, deception (mental), balance and footwork. Most sport-specific skills will not directly translate to another sport, but the similarities can be very beneficial.

 

[chinamigarden]

I can see that I guess. I do know that ACL tears seem to be pretty prevalent in basketball but I only have anecdotal evidence about that.

Females are more prone to ACL tears then Males. Lots of biology and anatomy reasons.

 

[_MIA_]

Females are more prone to ACL tears then Males. Lots of biology and anatomy reasons.

Yeah I knew that. What I meant about anecdotal was the amount in bball compared to other sports.

 

[schwabach]

Bit of a tangent here, but I believe I heard the Women's National Soccer Team regulated time of menstruation to reduce the risk of sports injuries. And there is some research to support this apparently. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9784805/

 

[radness]

You're thinking of it from a softball perspective. The overhand throwing motion of throwing a softball improves a volleyball player's overhand serve.






As has been mentioned several times in this thread, a lot of multiple sport athletes don't favor one over the other and haven't decided which one they will be most successful at for the long term. ALL sports require some degree of hand-eye coordination, deception (mental), balance and footwork. Most sport-specific skills will not directly translate to another sport, but the similarities can be very beneficial.

i am specifically not thinking of it from one direction!

The comparison is a technical aspect of one sport
may cause muscle confussion to the other.
Like causing an unwanted carry over from the other sport

Think there is a difference in the two mechanics over hand volley ball serve and even spiking vs. Throwing.

That the specific difference may or may not help the other sport.

Like golf swing to hitting.
Or hitting to golf swing.

 

[_MIA_]

Bit of a tangent here, but I believe I heard the Women's National Soccer Team regulated time of menstruation to reduce the risk of sports injuries. And there is some research to support this apparently. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9784805/

Also gave any male coaches a head's up for when they needed to call in sick...j/k

 

[radness]

Bit of a tangent here, but I believe I heard the Women's National Soccer Team regulated time of menstruation to reduce the risk of sports injuries. And there is some research to support this apparently. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9784805/

Why they were beating each other up out of crankyness?
Just hand out snickers

 

[chinamigarden]

Yeah I knew that. What I meant about anecdotal was the amount in bball compared to other sports.

It’s the cutting, jumping and landing along with leg angles. So soccer, volleyball and basketball are common sports with acl concerns.

 

[_MIA_]

It’s the cutting, jumping and landing along with leg angles. So soccer, volleyball and basketball are common sports with acl concerns.

My neighbor's kid tore an ACL 3 times in basketball..after the third she finally said enough is enough.