Dual Threat in Dual Sports

To all the athletes out there: remember the days when you were a jack of all trades? When the words "off season" were not a part of your vocabulary. When you were not the star of one team, but played on multiple teams in multiple sports? Nowadays, athlete specialization is occurring at younger ages, with children as young as the 6th grade beginning to specialize in one sport. According to the study, specialization at such a young age can lead to greater possibilities of injury, stress, and burnout. Young athletes strive to develop elite level skills so quickly that they often neglect the development inherent in participating in a variety of activities and engaging with different personalities. It's a race to be the best, even if it means making sacrifices.

At what age should he give up the diamond to focus on the court?

Does this mean that multi-sport athletes are a dying breed? According to Jameis Winston, this may not be the case. Just months after leading the Florida State Semionles to a BCS National Championship in football, Winston has announced that he plans on playing baseball this spring for the university. For Winston, baseball has always been a love of his and he is not willing to give up on that love quite yet. Playing both outfield and pitching, Winston must not only find time to work on his pitching mechanics, but also work on his throwing motion on the football field during spring practices. Right now, Winston says that be balance has not been too difficult, as he has been able to participate actively in both sports without too much overlap. It definitely helps that head football coach Jimbo Fisher fully supports Winston in his decision to be a dual sport athlete, as long as he keeps his arm healthy. Until he is forced to choose one sport, Winston hopes to continue playing both sports throughout his time as FSU.

Jameis Winston is not the first dual-sport athlete. Sport legends such as Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson, and Michael Jordon have all played professionally in two sports. Hell, even Russell Wilson, just days after winning a Superbowl, reported to Rangers camp to participate in Spring Training. Jameis Winston is just the newest addition to a list a high profile athletes who love playing sports and can't choose just one. Is Winston the best dual sport athlete we have ever seen? I doubt it, especially given his recent outing in an exhibition with the New York Yankees. However, it will certainly be fun to watch a young athlete do what he loves without sacrifice. I applaud Jameis Winston and hope more collegiate athletes follow his lead.

Just hope he brings the right gear to the right practice