Sport Specialization Is Associated with Impaired Sleep and Well-Being in Female Adolescent Athletes

Background: Sport specialization has been found to be associated with increased injury risk in youth athletes. Sleep and well-being have also been shown to be modifiable risk factors for injury in this population, but the relationship between specialization, sleep and well-being is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sport specialization, sleep and subjective well-being in female youth soccer players. Methods: Forty-nine female youth soccer players (ages 13-18) underwent pre-season evaluation to determine age, soccer experience, and sport participation. During a subsequent 4-month …