Genetic Testing for Sports Aptitude
Every child has their strengths and weaknesses, and as parents we all want to help our child find the activity that suits them best, but a recent article I read on genetic testing for sports aptitude made me stop in my tracks for a moment. The New York Times reports that genetic testing is available to help determine the types of sports your child may best be suited for and there are parents willing to pay for it.
Do you think this is right? Helpful? Would you pay for it?
Personally, I would not. It is very evident to me that my 6 year old who has always been on the top 5% of the growth chart is not really suited for gymnastics. That doesn’t mean she can’t try it, benefit from it, or feel good about doing it. She just so happens to get gymnastics because she is always at the gym when I am teaching it, but she really prefers other sports – like swimming, basketball, and I’m sure she will add others to her list as she grows.
Why pigeon hole kids into certain sports based on what science tells us? Why not let them experience a variety of sports and focus on the ones that they get the most enjoyment out of?
2 Comments
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I don’t think its a good idea at all to try and limit them… but where science could be better applied is in the nutritional aspect of youth sporting.
I was a 3 sport athlete in high school, and I wish, wish, wish I would’ve known more about nutrition and phisiology for all the grueling workouts I was doing. I could have been so much more advanced, and would have avoided injuries.
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Erica – I agree! I think it is cool they can help make predictions based on the science of it, but to pay to have your 2 or 3 year old tested so you put them in the right sport just doesn’t seem right.