The question has come up before. The answer is an ongoing argument.

Is it better for a high school athlete with collegiate aspirations in a particular sport to focus solely on that one sport or play multiple sports during his prep years?

Many believe that in this day and age, with so much competition out there, that if a kid wants a scholarship, specialization in that sport is a must.

But one athlete — a man who enjoyed a 10-year career in the NFL — has regretted that choice for years.

Freeport graduate Jeff Christy was a three-sport athlete with the Yellowjackets — excelling in football, baseball and basketball — but only through his sophomore year. He gave up the latter two sports to concentrate on football.

“It was a mistake,” the 1987 Freeport grad and incoming WPIAL Hall of Famer said recently. “You don't get those years back and high school is the only time you can enjoy all of those different sports at a truly competitive level.”

Now a volunteer assistant football coach at Apollo-Ridge and formerly serving that role at Freeport, Christy encourages high school athletes to play multiple sports today.

For one, it keeps them in shape.

For two, it showcases athletic abilities that may not be easily distinguishable in the athlete's sport of choice.

“Showing multiple sport talent actually helps a kid in recruiting,” Christy said. “Scouts enjoy seeing just how versatile the athlete's skill set is.”

Christy's son, Mac, is a versatile sophomore football player at Knoch who plays other sports for the Knights.

Annessa Schnur Steele, a standout track athlete at Butler who went on to a solid career in the sport at the University of Michigan, also played soccer and basketball for the Golden Tornado.

She gave up soccer her senior year to run cross country, since she knew she'd be doing so at Michigan.

Some high school athletic programs — particularly smaller schools — thrive on multi-sport athletes. Many of Karns City's kids play three, sometimes even four different varsity sports during the school year.

It's sad to see any kid give up the opportunity to don his or her school colors and represent the community in any sport, for fear it will cost that athlete a scholarship opportunity in another sport.

No coach should ever force — or even encourage — a kid to make such a decision.

The time to specialize in a sport is in college.

Some athletes — Erin Ward at Geneva years ago, Christian Locher and Brian Giesler at Grove City College now — play multiple sports even then.

Having the skill and athleticism to participate and thrive in competitive high school athletics is a blessing — one that doesn't last forever.

We all grow older and such skills fade away with time. Enjoy them to their fullest while they're here.

You'll regret it otherwise.

Ask Jeff Christy.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle