Cosmos starting right-back, Ryan Richter, grew up playing multiple sports and is fully aware of the significance of being exposed to more than one sport in the world of athletics.

 

After seeing what he does on the field, it’s no surprise that our very own Ryan Richter was an all-star athlete growing up. Ryan not only played soccer, but also basketball and football throughout high school. He chose, however, to pursue the beautiful game once he began his college career at La Salle University.

 

“There’s a lot of different things you can take away and learn from playing different sports,” admits the talented defender. “I think it’s vital to be exposed to so many sports because then you can go picking and choosing your favorite or what you’re best at. I was fortunate enough to play basketball, for example, until I was 18 years old and I was able to learn a lot of things, athletically speaking.”

 

One of the oldest arguments in the universe of sports is that between the benefits of playing multiple sports or specializing in a single one. More and more we seem to be seeing professional athletes that have pursued and excelled in more than one sport, such as Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. The Cosmos #2 defender believes that there is a lot that one can learn by playing and watching more than one sport.

 

“I think it’s changing nowadays since kids are starting to specialize in one sport starting at a young age,” mentions Richter. “I think it’s good because kids are starting to realize what their sport is and that makes them spend more time concentrating on that. But I think it’s bad that they aren’t exposed to these other sports because there are components of other sports that can really compliment your skillset.”

 

Several online articles and specialized publications stress the benefits of playing multiple sports, whether those are problem solving, socializing, exposure to different roles, etc. Richter, having played as a starter on his high school basketball team and a kicker on the football team, has learned that it’s important to take away certain aspects of each game in order to help him on the soccer pitch.

 

“From basketball, I was able to take away the quick cuts and turns which are extremely helpful and vital as a defender in soccer. Meanwhile, from kicking in football, I was able to improve my kicking strength which helps for switching the field or long passing in a match.”

 

Richter has a son, Theo, and hopes that he too will try out several sports and decide for himself which he would like to pursue in the long run, should he wish to pursue any at all.

 

“I’m not going to push him [his son] to play one sport, even though I hope he chooses soccer (laughs). He could play the violin or hockey, as long as he’s happy,” says Richter. “Would I have been better at soccer had I not played other sports growing up? Maybe. But I do think it’s very important to appreciate what other sports offer because I was able to take away a lot from those other experiences.”

 

Richter and the Cosmos are heading out to Canada to face FC Edmonton on Friday, August 11 at 9:00 pm, ET.

 

The team will return to MCU Park to face Indy Eleven on Saturday, August 19 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, click here.