Vols assistant Tim Banks sends message that every kid playing youth sports needs to hear
The Tennessee Vols started spring practice earlier this week which means assistant coaches and players are giving interviews to reporters. On Tuesday, Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with the media. And he shared a message that every kid playing youth sports needs to hear. Banks was asked about his recruiting philosophy and what traits […]
The Tennessee Vols started spring practice earlier this week which means assistant coaches and players are giving interviews to reporters.
On Tuesday, Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks met with the media.
And he shared a message that every kid playing youth sports needs to hear.
Banks was asked about his recruiting philosophy and what traits he looks for in a player.
Tennessee's defensive coordinator made it clear that he likes to recruit players who play multiple sports, something that we seem to be seeing less of these days as kids are specializing in sports at earlier ages.
"I think a lot of it is by position, specific sometimes, but I think overall makeup," said Banks on Tuesday. "You obviously want guys that are tough, guys that are athletic. When I say tough, it is not just physically, but mentally. How much of a competitor are they? I personally like guys that play multiple sports. Guys that love to compete. Those things are, to me, it seems to be a dying art. Any time you can have a guy that maybe runs track, wrestles, basketball, things of that nature, they're just used to competing no matter what the arena is. To me, that competition piece and being able to compete is a big one. But obviously size, toughness and athleticism are things that we cherish as well."
It seems the youth sports culture has kids (and parents…mostly parents) believing they have to dedicate all of their time to one sport by the time they're nine or ten years old, which is just absolute craziness.
Just look at some of the top athletes in pro sports. Patrick Mahomes played baseball, Joe Burrow was a star basketball player, Mookie Betts played basketball as well. Most pro athletes played multiple sports growing up. Eventually, they had to choose (typically, the opportunity that an athlete receives does the choosing, but not at ten years old.
There's no reason for kids to be specializing in one sport at such an early age. Not only does it stunt development, but it can lead to serious burnout.
Parents need to worry less about a scholarship offer that may never come and more about allowing their kids to fall in love with whichever sport(s) they choose.
