Predicting Future Success Of A Youth Athlete

I was reading through some older threads on the TrackShark forum last night when I stumbled across this one. I couldn’t believe what I read. Read for yourself and let me know what you think.

“  WD, Oakland California, 6 years old (d.o.b Sep , 02)– pr 100 meters 17.23 (w:+1.6), also believed to be an age group world record, pending verification. He already has a local Gymboree endorsement, and hopes that a national deal will follow. Reputedly, his parents are withdrawing him from the second grade (which starts August 25) in order to devote full time to training, in hopes that “WD” can become the youngest Olympic Champion in history by 2020 (when he will be 17 years old). He reminds me alot of a young Char Foster, and we all remember how it turned out for her. ”

This is a really interesting post.These parents in my humble opinion need to do a little more research on the develpoment of the youth track athlete before they sign him up for something he may not even be willing or able to do…2020 Olympics??? 17.23 isn’t exceptionally fast for a 6 year old. ( I personally know more than a few 6 year olds that have run a 15.48 or better) where are they getting this information? How about work on the 2011 Junior Olympics for starters..that will be a big challenge in and of itself.

Some responses  to the thread were:

Wow…refer to the Victoria Jordan thread. School should be a priority. It’s almost impossible to determine future performance based on the physiological development of a six year old. Putting ones eggs all into one basket has more chances of doing more harm than good. Whether the child started track at age 6 or 12, the natural speed of the athlete will be the same. Starting any earlier opens up more avenues to injury and psychological burnout.”

Remember Todd Marinovich, who’s father trained him from birth and controled every thing he did from eating to sleeping, and he was pushed to the limit. And with All of Todds gifts and success, Todd rather throw it away because all he wanted to do was “Get High” and not on life, but on Drugs.”

 

 

 “When speaking of the “Best” upcoming Talent, it’s just hard for me to phantom talking about a 6, 7, 8 or 9 year older. These kids just got their coordination and motor skills @ a earlier stage. It doesn’t mean much as the kids venture into High School and above. Many kids are late bloomers due to many different reasons, and many times these late bloomers surpass the kids with early development.Size is the #1 hold back of late bloomers, they must catch up to their inward growth, which in many times deems them to be very uncoordinated when they are younger. But when they do, they mature @ such a rapid pace, it drawfs the early developed kid.

 

You can begin to see kids separate themselves as real deals @ about 12-13. And that’s when you can start predicting future success if these kids want to pursue the goal. And even then, it’s a looooong shot, because you have kids that develop even later than that, @ probaly 14-15.”

We as parents all want the absolute best for our youth  athletes but time(age and development) and desire(the child’s not the parents) rule supreme not a playground run or well meaning but  uninformed people promoting 2020 Olympics? What are they even basing his rocket to the2020 Olympics on his time of 17.23 He’s just turning 7 this month Hum….. FYI the current 100m  World Record for a 7 year old boy is  14.24  Steffin McCarter  2004  .

I think my point is clear we parents can’t put the cart before the horse. As I always say one year at a time builds the foundation to a great track career. Lots can happen between now and 2020.

Until Next Time

 

Related posts:

1. Angela Williams A Youth Track & Field Icon
2. How Fast Can Your Youth Athlete Run?
3. Youth Athletes And Injuries, Is Your Youth Athlete Next?
4. Keeping Your Youth Athlete Safe
5. AAU Junior Olympic Games …. Why Would You Take Your Youth Athlete There?

Written by trackmom · Filed Under Elite Youth, FYI, Parent Encouragement