Collaboration with the NBA Youth Health & Wellness Working Group: study examines early sport specialization in German basketball

The practice of early sport specialization, in which children and adolescents focus on a single sport at a very early age and neglect other activities, has many suspected and proven health consequences. Therefore, together with NBA Youth Health & Wellness Working Group, principal investigators Dr. Joachim Bachner and Philipp Hartmannsgruber aimed to investigate the prevalence of early sport specialization in talent development in German basketball.

We collaborated to develop a questionnaire and gather data on the backgrounds, attitudes, and perceptions of 13- to 18-year-old male basketball players towards early sport specialization. Additionally, we will conduct guided interviews to gain a deeper and complementary understanding of coaches and staff at German basketball academies.

To monitor the relationships between early sport specialization, sleep quality, injury prevalence, and staff/coach opinions over time, we will regularly conduct cross-sectional surveys. This study will be modeled after research already started by the NBA, which surveyed hundreds of America's top talent on their health status, training habits, injury prevalence, and specialization level.

Investigating the impact of early sport specialization in German basketball is an important step to promote the well-being of children and adolescents in sports. We are proud to work with our team of experts and in collaboration with the NBA Youth Health & Wellness Working Group on this project and look forward to the results that will help to improve talent search and development in German basketball.