This is why I like kids to try sports that use precise measures of performance, where one can compete with oneself. I also think sports and games that encourage

This is why I like kids to try sports that use precise measures of performance, where one can compete with oneself. I also think sports and games that encourage teamwork is very important. But by having the performance exactly measured, in most cases "hard work" will pay off. When the kids see the correlation between "hard work" and results, they can apply it to other areas such as studying. Then there are "gifted" children that are very early in their maturity and will excel at everything, and will have a very easy ride until their growth curve flatten out, but will have a very hard time when the others catch up.