Why Multi-Sport Athletes Win On and Off the Field

As parents of 11–13-year-old boys, you're at a crucial crossroads. These are the years where sports get serious. Travel teams are forming, private coaching becomes a thing, and the word “elite” starts creeping into conversations. It’s tempting to believe that specializing early—focusing on one sport year-round—is the key to success.

But here’s the truth: that’s not what most successful athletes did.

In fact, some of the biggest names in sports—from college coaches to Super Bowl champions—say the opposite. They tell young athletes to play more sports, not fewer. That message might surprise you, but it could be the key to your son’s long-term success—not just in sports, but in life.

Let’s dive into what two major voices—Tom Crean and Drew Brees—have to say about why multisport athletes are built differently.

“It’s About the Big Picture” – Tom Crean

Tom Crean has coached some of the best basketball players in the world. He helped mold future NBA stars like Dwyane Wade and Victor Oladipo, and he’s seen the impact of early sports decisions on long-term development.

In an interview, Crean delivered a message every youth sports parent should hear:

“Being a multisport athlete is about the big picture: having athleticism, competitive stamina, and coachability.”

Crean isn’t just talking about winning games. He’s talking about preparing kids to thrive as athletes and as people. At 11–13 years old, your child’s body and mind are changing rapidly. Playing multiple sports helps build agility, balance, body control, and mental resilience in a way that specializing in one sport often can’t.

He goes on to say:

“I want the kid who played baseball in the spring. I want the kid who played soccer and had to guard somebody different every play. I want the kid who was coached hard by different people.”

Why? Because those athletes are coachable. They’re adaptable. They’re used to competing in different ways, solving different problems, and being part of different teams. That diversity matters when things get tough.

“Play as Many Sports as You Can” – Drew Brees

Drew Brees didn’t just play football. He played baseball. He played basketball. He played tennis. And he’s one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history.

At a youth event, Brees spoke directly to kids:

“Play as many sports as you can for as long as you can… Don’t let anyone tell you that you have to specialize in just one.”

He’s not just offering an opinion—he’s sharing the strategy that helped him win a Super Bowl, make 13 Pro Bowls, and lead the league in passing yards multiple times. His hand-eye coordination from baseball? It helped him place pinpoint throws. His footwork from tennis? It gave him the agility to evade defenders. His leadership from basketball? It helped him run a huddle under pressure.

When someone in the crowd asked which sport helped him most, a kid shouted “Tennis!”—and Brees smiled. Every sport shaped him. Every season gave him something new.

The Science Backs It Up

Still unsure? Let’s go beyond opinions. Here’s what research says:

• Injury prevention: Kids who specialize too early are at a higher risk of repetitive-use injuries like stress fractures and tendonitis.

• Burnout risk: Playing one sport year-round can lead to emotional exhaustion. Multi-sport kids stay mentally fresh.

• Performance gains: College recruiters increasingly look for athletes who have played multiple sports. Why? Because they’re well-rounded, more durable, and mentally tougher.

Your son doesn’t need more pressure. He needs room to grow. Room to play. Room to discover who he is, on different fields and courts, with different coaches and teammates.

A Real-World Roadmap for Parents

If you’re raising a sports-loving 11–13-year-old boy in the 806, here’s how to make the most of these next few years:

1. Rotate by season.

Encourage your son to try something different each season. Football in the fall. Basketball or wrestling in the winter. Baseball or track in the spring. Even sandlot games count—unstructured play builds creativity and competitiveness.

2. Resist the pressure to specialize.

That coach who says your kid has to “choose now or fall behind”? They’re wrong. If a coach tells your son he can’t play other sports, it might be time to find a new coach.

3. Celebrate the crossover skills.

Help your son connect the dots. “Hey, that footwork from soccer helped you stay balanced on the basketball court.” Or, “That swing from baseball gave you confidence at the free-throw line.” Make the connections visible and rewarding.

4. Focus on long-term wins.

The goal isn’t to be the best 12-year-old on the team. The goal is to be healthy, passionate, and prepared when real opportunities arise in high school and beyond.

Building Boys Into Men

These years aren’t just about training athletes—they’re about raising young men. The discipline to show up, the humility to lose, the focus to improve—those traits don’t just come from drills. They come from experiences. From tough practices in a sport they’ve never tried. From learning to lead in a game they’re not the best at. From growing through competition and community.

Drew Brees puts it best:

“Champions are made when no one is watching.”

Let your son be a kid who tries new things. Let him fail. Let him discover. Let him play.

Because in the long run, multisport athletes don’t just win more games—they win at life. This is why the fall for us is about building a culture, a team, and allowing our kids to grow in whatever they choose. Focusing on not only skills, but health, fitness and more.