Why Multi-Sport Athletes Win Long-Term
The data is clear: kids who play multiple sports develop into better athletes, stay healthier, and compete longer. Our seasonal approach makes it possible.
The research is clear: kids who play multiple sports develop better, stay healthier, and compete longer.
Research shows that playing multiple sports through adolescence builds better athletes through broad athletic literacy, including coordination, agility, and decision-making that transfers across sports. Multi-sport athletes experience fewer overuse injuries and less mental burnout compared to kids who specialize early. Most importantly, athletes who play multiple sports through high school tend to stay in sport longer and keep developing well into their teenage years and beyond.
A landmark study led by Dr. Arne Güllich analyzed over 34,000 elite performers across sports, chess, music, and academics. The findings challenge everything we thought we knew: ~90% of adult superstars were not superstars as kids, and only about 10% of top youth performers became exceptional adults. Elite athletes develop their dominance later, after years of multi-sport participation.
Traditionally, most youth sports organizations force families to choose one sport or the other. Overlapping schedules, constant conflicts, and year-round commitments make it nearly impossible for kids to play more than one sport at a competitive level. We built a different model that changes this. Our seasonal schedules across hockey, soccer, and lacrosse are designed to work together, not compete with each other. Kids can play all three sports in a calendar year with minimal conflicts, and families get complete visibility into commitments from the start of each season. Our model saves you time, allows your child to play more than one sport, and helps them develop into a strong, competitive athlete.
Multi-Sport Influence At The Highest Levels
Hockey (NHL)
The NHL/NHLPA data is overwhelming: multi-sport participation is essentially universal among professional hockey players. Nearly 100% of NHL players played another sport during adolescence, while ~80% continued another sport through ages 15-18.
Source: NHL/NHLPA Survey via USA Hockey
NCAA Division 1 Athletes
A survey of 303 NCAA Division I athletes across 19 sports found that 94.7% played multiple sports during adolescence, and nearly 50% of those who eventually specialized played another competitive sport through high school.
Source: Swindell et al., 2019 (PMC)
Lacrosse
Research shows that 90-95% of elite lacrosse players participated in two or more sports growing up, and 70-80% played three or more before specializing. Most did not fully specialize until their mid-teens, after building a broad athletic foundation.
Source: USA Lacrosse (athlete development research)
Soccer
In a study of MLS professionals, 81% played at least one other sport before specializing in soccer (specialization commonly occurring around early adolescence). NCAA research also reports that many Division I soccer athletes played multiple sports in youth.
Source: Kapnick et al., 2020 (PMC)
Football (NFL)
Multi-sport high school athletes show better durability metrics in football research. Additional studies highlight multi-sport backgrounds among NFL quarterbacks and their career outcomes.
Sources: FootballScoop; Allahabadi et al., 2023; Chundi et al., 2026
Basketball (NBA)
NBA first-round picks who played multiple sports in high school experienced fewer major injuries and had longer careers compared to single-sport specialists.
Sources: Rugg et al., 2018 (PubMed); UCSF
Why multi-sport participation creates better long-term outcomes.
Search & Match
Playing multiple sports allows kids to explore different activities and find the best fit for their abilities, interests, and body type before committing to one path.
Enhanced Learning
Diverse athletic experiences build broader motor skills and cognitive flexibility, leading to faster improvement when athletes do choose to focus.
Reduced Burnout Risk
Variety keeps kids healthier (fewer overuse injuries) and mentally motivated. Athletes who enjoy their experience stay in sport longer.
Framework based on research by Dr. Arne Güllich, as summarized in The Economist (Jan 2026)
Even the G.O.A.T's were multi-sport athletes
The exceptions prove the rule: Early specializers like Tiger Woods and Novak Djokovic are famous because they are rare. Research shows that nearly 90% of world-class adults were not early specialists, and only about 10% of elite youth athletes ever reach elite adult status. Trying to copy the Tiger or Novak pathway is statistically one of the least reliable ways to develop a world-class athlete.
Better Long-Term Development
Multi-sport participation builds coordination, agility, and decision-making skills that transfer across sports and create well-rounded athletes.
Fewer Injuries, Less Burnout
Rotating sports throughout the year reduces overuse injuries and keeps kids mentally fresh and engaged season after season.
Kids Stay in Sport Longer
Athletes who play multiple sports through high school remain in sport longer and continue progressing into their teenage years and beyond.
How We Support Multi-Sport Athletes
- Seasonal schedules with minimal conflicts: Our hockey, soccer, and lacrosse seasons are designed to work together, not compete with each other.
- Complete visibility from day one: We provide the full season schedule before the season begins, so you can plan without constant changes.
- Long-term development over early specialization: We prioritize building well-rounded athletes and fundamental skills that will serve them for years.
- Predictability wins: Our consistent schedules leave room for family time and enjoying your weekends.
"My three kids have attended TOP programming... I cannot recommend the team more highly... Sports is a great opportunity to build character and the coaches have nailed the intangibles... 10/10 recommend."
"We've been fortunate to be part of TOP Hockey since the beginning. Their approach focuses on development while keeping things fun... they understand the importance of a multi-sport environment and encourage kids to participate year-round."
"TOP Sports is a step above any other program... coaches connect with each participant and the kids vastly improve while having huge smiles... they continue to evolve and provide top-notch activities year after year."
TOP Hockey
A refreshingly positive hockey model built around a full-season, set schedule with professional coaches and a high practice-to-game ratio.
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TOP Soccer
Competitive soccer with a complete pathway focused on age-appropriate development, quality coaching, and multi-sport-friendly scheduling.
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TOP Lacrosse
Grassroots field lacrosse programs from Junior Lax to Academy teams built on fundamental skill development and small-area games.
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TOP Sports Camps
Summer and holiday camps where kids build skills, make friends, and grow their confidence in a supportive environment.
Learn More- The Economist (Jan 14, 2026): Summary of Dr. Arne Güllich's Science research on 34,000+ elite performers
- NHL/NHLPA Survey via USA Hockey: Multi-sport participation data (ages 5-14 and 15-18)
- Swindell et al. (2019), PMC: NCAA Division I athlete survey (multi-sport participation)
- Kapnick et al. (2020), PMC: MLS professional pathways and multi-sport participation
- NFHS / TrackingFootball: Super Bowl roster multi-sport participation analysis
- FootballScoop + supporting studies: NFL draft multi-sport participation reporting
- Rugg et al. (2018), PubMed: NBA first-round picks (injury and career durability outcomes)