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Parents Avoiding Specialization Even When Coach Demands It

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Brad Frost is the Head Coach for the University of Minnesota Women's Ice Hockey (@GopherWHockey) team. The Bethel University graduate has guided the Gophers to four NCAA national championships, six NCAA Frozen Four appearances, five WCHA regular season titles and three WCHA Final Face-Off championships. Frost concluded the 2015-16 season with a career record of 293-45-22 (.844) and has not had a team finish lower than second in the WCHA.

Frost talks about the importance parents should place on avoiding child specialization in one sport. While it is becoming increasingly harder for kids to avoid playing one sport year round, he says that playing multiple sports makes kids better athletes. It allows them to develop skills that they would not necessarily pick up by playing just one sport. These skills translate to better performances in all sports they play. Avoiding specialization may be difficult, but it is definitely worth it for youth sports.