Sports: It's All B.S.

This is from Elite FTS Newsletter.

The following is the first in a series of excerpts from Sports: Is It All B.S.? by Dr. Michael Yessis. According to Dr. Yessis, they are examples of the many myths and misconceptions that guide sports in the US. These examples of what he calls "B.S." are presented for your information, discussion, and dissemination.

Why does a country with more athletes, better facilities, more coaches, and more money tied into sports than any other country have to travel the world over to find the best athletes? The answer is simple. The country has no system of developing athletic talent. Yet every team will tell you it does have a system of player development. This is bull though because to have a winning team, these professional sports teams have to buy their players and collegiate teams must recruit the best athletes available.

Athletes are born, not made.
For years, coaches have stated that good athletes are born, they're naturals. As a result, they believe you can't make someone into an athlete if he or she isn't born with this ability. This implies that you must already possess the technical skills and physical abilities (athleticism) to play the game. This is bull. Coaches see their role as motivators and strategists to blend the team into a functional unit. They often say that they teach the basics of the game, but this generally means basic strategy, not skills. When skills are taught, the teaching is superficial and short-lived. (See #13, Coaches teach game skills)

If you believe the B.S. that athletes are born, not made, there should be no need to play the game for years before you become great. If you're born with the abilities or are a natural athlete, why not wait until you're in your late teens and then start playing the sport? You would probably laugh at this recommendation, but this is how it is if you're born a great athlete. I hope you realize that this statement is obviously bull. It is the environment or what you do in practices and playing the sport that determines whether you will be an athlete and how great you will become.

For more information, check out Sports: Is It All B.S.?