Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates

#393 Michael Boyle - Should Young Athletes Specialize Early?

Aug 26, 2025

Michael Boyle, founder of Mike Boyle’s Strength and Conditioning, shares his vast experience in sports training. He discusses the pitfalls of early specialization in youth sports, emphasizing the importance of multi-sport participation for long-term athletic development. Boyle highlights how early specialization can lead to injuries and stresses the necessity of youth strength and conditioning. He also critiques the influence of social media on fitness trends and the responsibilities that come with being a fitness influencer, advocating for tailored training approaches.

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INSIGHT

Early Specialization Harms Long-Term Development

Early single-sport specialization in kids generally harms long-term development and reduces peak potential.
A broad athletic base builds a larger pyramid of capability than early narrow specialization.

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ADVICE

Question Coaches Who Push Year-Round Play

Beware single-sport coaches and clubs that push year-round specialization mainly for income.
Ask who benefits financially before committing your child to exclusive, year-round training.

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ANECDOTE

Late Starter Earned A Hockey Scholarship

Michael Boyle shares his daughter's late start in hockey and eventual full college scholarship by age 15.
He uses Charlotte North as another example of a world-class late specializer who started sports later and excelled.

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The Dangers of Early Specialization in Youth Sports

01:34 • 5min

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The Case Against Early Specialization in Youth Sports

07:00 • 11min

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Balancing Specialization and Versatility in Young Athletes

18:08 • 6min

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The Fitness Influencer Dilemma

24:35 • 24min

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Navigating Social Media Dynamics

48:56 • 6min

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Evolving Training Insights

55:25 • 12min

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Designing Strength Training Programs and Facilities

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Mike Boyle

I hope you will be very happy lessons from a lifetime in lacrosse

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Dom Stargea

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Advances in functional training

training techniques for coaches, personal trainers and athletes

Michael Boyle

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Michael Boyle is the founder of Mike Boyle’s Strength and Conditioning, author, and a pioneer and icon of strength and conditioning.

Mike generously guests to share his wisdom and experience about:

-Should kids specialize early in a single sport

-Who really benefits when kids specialize early

-Is there a relationship between early specialization and injury

-What does it take to become a division 1 college athlete

-How important is youth strength and conditioning to long term sport performance

-His thoughts on seeing former interns doing social media trend video

-His thoughts on the state of the fitness industry

-His thoughts on high level athletes and injuries

-Guarding your peace online

-And much more

01:33 The Problem with Early Specialization in Youth Sports

07:05 Sponsorship Message: Macros First

08:13 The Tiger Woods Narrative and Misinterpretations

11:36 The Importance of Multi-Sport Athletes

12:50 Sponsorship Message: RP Strength

21:55 Strength and Conditioning for Young Athletes

24:34 The Responsibility of Fitness Influencers

35:56 Starting Soft: Building Team Trust

36:50 Fitness Enthusiasts in Sports

37:08 Longevity in Professional Sports

40:06 The Financial Realities of Pro Athletes

49:03 Social Media and Blocking Negativity

50:48 Embracing Technology in Training

58:36 The Evolution of Functional Training

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