The Impact of Youth Sports: Early Specialization vs. Diversification Eight-year-old Myzel Miller looks like a football phenom as he runs down the field displaying speed and elusiveness that is far superior to his teammates. Unlike the hive mind of most of his peers, Myzel seems to have a greater understanding of the nuances of the sport as he makes cuts and finds holes instead of only running mindlessly with the football down the field. Myzel deftly receives a handoff to the inside from the quarterback