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American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
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Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance


Issue: October 2010

The “Logic” of  Specialization: Using Children for Adult Purposes
  Jay Coakley

Abstract: Not too long ago the best athlete was the  one who played multiple sports and had all-around skills. But definitions of  athletic excellence have changed over the years. An all-around athlete today is  often pressured to specialize in one sport, or even in one position. This  article suggests that sport specialization has emerged in connection with two  changes in the larger society: (1) the privatization and commercialization of  youth sports, and (2) the development of unique ideas about parenting,  especially the definition of what constitutes a good parent.

Article category: NASPE Symposium