Kids Need 3-Month Sport Breaks to Avoid Injury, Burnout

Young athletes pushing toward professional dreams might need to take a step back to move forward, according to a sports medicine expert who treats some of the country's top pros.

Dr. Charles Bush-Joseph, who works with the Chicago Bulls and White Sox at Rush University Medical Center, says kids under 15 should take at least three months off each year from their primary sport. The break isn't about being lazy. It's about protecting growing bodies and keeping the fun in the game.

The problem started in the late 1990s when youth sports shifted from participation leagues to club-level competition. What used to be a three-month season became a year-round pursuit, and kids who once played multiple sports started focusing on just one.

The results have been painful. Young baseball players now face an epidemic of "Little League elbow," where repetitive throwing damages tendons and ligaments so severely it can cause bone deformities. Gymnasts and tennis players develop shoulder injuries that can actually stunt bone growth if not caught early.

Female soccer and basketball players face higher risks of ACL tears from constant jumping and quick direction changes. These aren't minor sprains. They're serious injuries that can sideline young athletes for months or end their playing days entirely.

Why This Inspires

Dr. Bush-Joseph isn't just protecting bodies. He's protecting childhoods. He points out that some high school girls skip their school soccer teams because club competition is tougher, missing out on team bonding and school spirit. The sport becomes a job instead of joy.

His advice to parents is refreshingly simple: be a parent, not a friend. Just like you wouldn't let your child eat only candy, don't let them play only one sport year-round. Few kids become professional athletes, and those who focus solely on one pursuit may find themselves without other skills or interests if that dream doesn't pan out.

The solution gives kids something even more valuable than a scholarship or a trophy. It gives them variety, prevents burnout, and lets them discover hidden talents in other sports. A child who peaks in basketball at 13 might become a star swimmer at 16, but only if they get the chance to try.

Taking breaks doesn't mean giving up on excellence. It means building well-rounded young people who love what they do and can keep doing it safely for years to come.