The Talent Equation Podcast

“You Can’t Develop a Child That Doesn’t Come Back” - a conversation on the Real Science of Sport podcast

The Talent Equation Podcast

Show Notes

I joined Mike Finch and Professor Ross Tucker on the Real Science of Sport podcast for my third visit, this time to talk about talent development and what parents can do to help young people grow. We cover why sport has had a reckoning, why early selection catches so many people out, and what the numbers say about the odds of making it. I also get personal about the choices I made as a parent with my own son.

Three key takeaways:

1. Engagement matters, and early specialisation is something quite different. In a Spanish athletics study, only 3.8% of the best under-14s reached a similar elite level as adults.

2. Keep the door open. A talent system works best as a revolving door. A bit of turbulence helps young people grow, but they never need trauma.

3. Go in with your eyes open. Know the odds, and make sure your child never feels their worth depends on their performance. A goal without a reality is just a dream.

Check out the Science of Sport podcast here: https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A2RSKEVdNdZq9wIAHn0M34lQ;_ylu=Y29sbwNldS13ZXN0LTEEcG9zAzMEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1793632862/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fopen.spotify.com%2fshow%2f3g71AuFYy6FnYHEI1GO9A0/RK=2/RS=YDZOTpJEXrudCMo.7COS6mE6xTQ-

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