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While the test may give some indicators, I think this practice of trying to specialize kids for certain sports is just baloney. There are so many examples of a
by kirse 18y ago
While the test may give some indicators, I think this practice of trying to specialize kids for certain sports is just baloney. There are so many examples of athletes who are / were the best in their arena that certainly were not the ideal "type" for their sport. Just look at Wayne Gretzky - 6'/180lb. Barry Sanders - 5'8...
For athletes like a football quarterback, it's not even about being good at a single thing (fast-twitch sprinting). It's such a multi-dimensional position that just having fast-twitch speed is not going to guarantee you're the next Joe Montana or Tom Brady.
And finally, so many people have the talent but don't have the work ethic and drive to make the most of it. The people who are out there every single day for hours - throwing, kicking, sprinting, etc. That first 10% might be genetics, but the rest of it is blood, sweat, and working so hard some days you come home and puke.
- JoelSutherland 18y agoIn Malcolm Gladwell's latest book Outliers he uses hockey players as an example of how genetics (or talent) isn't necessarily a deciding factor. Top-level Canadian hockey players are disproportionally born in the early months of a year. This is because the cutoff for deciding which league to play in is January 1st. Kids born in the first half of the year are older and bigger than the other kids. They make it onto the best teams in the best leagues and get more practices. Ultimately this advantage allows them to play professionally at a higher rate.