Common Charactersitics of the Elite Child Athlete
Strong Mentorship: the children all have someone involved in their lives who serves as a wise advisor for them in their athletic, scholastic, social and personal life. The mentors may be parents, coaches, teachers, family friends or a combination of adult leadership who give the children the anchor in reality that they need in order to succeed. Those children who do not have strong adult leadership supporting their cause will lack the necessary foundation to lean on when things get difficult, and they will usually fall by the wayside. Superior Physical Ability: the children possess a combination of athletic strength, grace, coordination, and style of performance which enables them to master the intricacies of their sport with an ease of achievement that is not found in their peers. This talent ranges from the ability to hit, field and throw in baseball and softball to the ability to outrun peers in athletic competition. Stage
Presence: the children have the inner strength necessary to perform at the top of their game even when the spotlight is glaring down on them.
Refusal to Lose: the children possess a courage and fearlessness in the face of the strongest competition.
Comprehension of the Big Picture: the children understand, in varying degrees, that they are superior in sports to most of their peers, and that through special training and coaching, they are achieving even more success.
Next time Common Issues of the Elite Child Athlete…..
Trackmom
and, of course, connection to a good NCAA drug dealer and scott.
No child will go to the Olympics w/o a massive doping program.
No child will play football w.o drugs either.
Yes Ian Thorpe was a child athlete.
No he did not use drugs.
Yes there was an investigation into a doping test – the finding was that the levels were consistent with natural levels. This was one test out of literally hundreds taken.
Others have consistently sought to taint Ian as they cannot believe that talent + hard work is all it takes.
Let’s not make generalisations which do not stand up – we all need the good guys – like Michael Phelps – talent is talent and to be admired.
I agree wholeheartedly……