VIII Sports The Ultimate Multi-Sport Test

While it’s statistically proven that being a multi-sport participant in youth sports is much better for you physically, emotionally and from a mental health standpoint, the fact of the matter is it really doesn’t guarantee you a much more significant chance of becoming a professional athlete. 

Yes, it is a slightly better option than by following a sport specialization path from a young age. Still, barely one percent of all youth sport participants will ever realize the dream of playing sports for a living.

However, there’s a new path opening up that a multi-sport lifestyle is offering a much better chance of participation. The VIII Sports Games (pronounced Vy Sports) is a new competition that began last year across the United States. 

This event requires you to complete tasks in eight different sports as your race against the clock and its three-minute timer. The eight sports are golf, tennis, softball, basketball, football, soccer, strength training and sprinting. 

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Competitors complete an obstacle course that requires them to sink baskets, score goals with a soccer ball, hit a tennis ball into a net, throw a football through a hoop, hit a softball beyond a target, hit a golf ball closest to the pin, throw a medicine ball for distance and finish with a wind sprint as a test of speed.

All sports (except speed) have three balls in play in a defined area, and a target some distance away. Successfully getting a ball in the target gives the competitor one, two, or three points - depending on the distance and difficulty. There are 50 points possible, six for each of the eight sports, plus two bonus points for speed.

It’s the ultimate test of multi-sport competence. The slogan of VIII Sports is anyone can compete, anyone can win. The only requirements are that you love sports and are at least 18 years of age. Regional competitions are held across the USA, with registration done through the YMCA. The championship event is televised by ESPN.