Long-term athletic development: It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish.
27/10/2024
The game of life is not a level playing field. Everyone starts at a different point from a competency standpoint and has access to a different level of resource that will allow them to progress. The same applies for youth sports.
Your genetic capability, paired with the amount of quality training that you engage in will play a big factor in your success. Some young people will be given a head start, and others will need to work harder and smarter to bridge the gap.
For example, a genetically gifted athlete will likely excel in the early stages of their career where they are far superior. This will land them a place at the top training centre allowing them to further develop their skills.
But remember, it is a marathon not a sprint. The best 10-year-old isn’t always the best 14-year-old, and the best 14-year-old isn’t always the best adult. Quite often, the young people that people say ‘aren’t so good’ become the best athletes and people. This is because they learn early on that they will need to work hard to achieve things, and this is the most important skill for reaching your full potential
As the popular quote says: "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard". At the elite level, all the athletes will be blessed with talent, so it is important to develop a well-rounded skillset in order to stand out. This hyper competitiveness is common in football, with studies on Premier League academies showing that just one per cent of under-nine players make their debut.
Talent development is a dynamic process, so it is important to be patient with your young ones. This is true for sport and life. There are many factors at play, and I look forward to diving into some of these in the coming weeks.
The key message is this: success can come from anywhere at any time, and there are steps you can take to give young person the best opportunity to reach their maximum potential. Just take Jamie vardy, who didn’t become professional until he was 25. Focus on the long-term process by instilling the important of hard work.
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Have a great week,
Thomas