Casey Smith is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Phoenix Christian High School for AZPreps365.com.

It seems there has never been a more serious time in youth sports. Everyone has a camera to post video clips of children playing in games, and heavily criticizing kids' performances on social media. 

From the time many children enter kindergarten, athletes are expected to perform at a high level for their club, school, or travel team in one sport. It has become commonplace that youth sports are dominated by athletes developing their specialized craft year round. 

However, smaller schools like Phoenix Christian are at odds with this influx of single-sport athletes. The culture of being a multi-sport athlete is not only the majority at Phoenix Christian, but the standard. 

“Competing in multiple sports just challenges my body to go with little rest time in between seasons,” Phoenix Christian junior student-athlete Z'yeon Royden said. “I just take care of my body to the best of my abilities and that gives me all the advantages I need to be healthy.”

The obvious first challenge with playing multiple sports is the toll it takes on one's body. Oftentimes student athletes are forced to attend multiple practices on top of their schoolwork and whatever else they can hope to fit into their day. Juniors Cashis Grimwade and Royden have found this to be true in their time at Phoenix Christian.

“Being a multi-sport athlete comes with ups and downs,” Grimwade said. “I’m always having to take care of my body. I never have any free time because I have school and then sports, where I always like to put in extra hours.”

Grimwade and Royden are in their third years of being athletes in both football and basketball. The overlap can be especially difficult as the later fall months come around and the sports converge. It isn't uncommon for them to have to play a full football game on a Friday night and then go into a early basketball season tournament on Saturday morning.

However, the life of a multi-sport athlete isn't all bad, in fact many feel that the skills they gain from one sport can be used in another. 

“Honestly being a multi-sport athlete helps my performance on the field and the court,” Senior Reuben Guerrero said.” There are some things that translate from the field to the court, or the court to the field and I believe it’s an advantage for me.”

Guerrero’s words are backed up by his play. During his first year in football, he  helped the Cougars attain a 8-1 record playing both tight end and kicker. As the boy’s basketball season begins, he looks to make it to his fourth straight 2A conference semifinal appearance. He will be backed by a Phoenix Christian boy’s basketball team that has not lost a regional game since Guerrero’s freshman year. 

Junior Kevin Palafox also believes that his work on the baseball and football fields have had positive effects for skill sets in both sports. Palafox was part of a Cougars baseball team that went all the way to the 2A state championship, but fell to Bisbee, 7-2, in May. Palafox doesn't just see benefits in his physical performance but also in his mentality.

“I think playing multiple sports is something good, just for the simple fact that it is hard,” Palafox said. “To get out of your comfort zone and learn something new and have to compete on a certain level that you didn’t imagine. That’s how you get better as an athlete and as a person.”

With players scattered across their various sports, the Cougars will look to push towards athletic success as fall sports come to a close.