Early sport specialization may not be the safest nor most effective approach for reaching the highest level of competition as an adult athlete and achieving long-term athlete development. The amount and type of suggested training to accomplish expertise in a chosen sport has largely remained an issue of contention among parents, coaches and researchers with many questioning whether children should specialise early (12 years old or before) in a single sport or diversify in a range of activities/sports before specialising at a later age (13 years old or above). The review examined the effects of early specialisation on athlete development, in particular examining physical and cognitive development. Ultimately, answering the question `does being too specific at or before the age of 12 years old produce good youth athletes but poor adult athletes?`. The Ovid Database, Edith Cowan Database, Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning and Google Scholar were searched using key words. A total of 10 articles were included in the review, with 3 long-term studies tracking junior athletes through to adulthood. It was reported that specialising after 12 years old was more beneficial for athlete development and the child`s ability to reach elite/national competition level. Additionally, athletes that specialised before 12 years old may have limited their long term development or dropped out of the sport before achieving their physiological peak. In conclusion, parents, coaches and health practitioners must be educated on the best practices for youth athlete development. A training approach that follows the long-term athletic development (LTAD) framework may be encouraged for incorporating a careful structure of practice and play throughout various stages of child development.
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