I’m a fan of TED Talks and am happy to present this video which many of you may have already seen. Although it doesn’t mention it directly it discusses the problem with the professionalism of youth sport programs. John O’Sullivan describes how youth sport parents and coaches seem more interested in the outcomes of some… Read More »
The concept of flow is used to describe optimal performance. Characteristics of flow include time dilation (or contraction), using psychic energy to concentrate only on the task at hand, loss of focus on self, and a feeling of oneness between the athlete, the action, and the environment in which the action occurs. In athletic events… Read More »
Large athlete talent identification projects undertaken by national sport governing bodies are ill-conceived and wrongly based on the premise that sport officials can somehow predict who will become a great athlete sometime in the future. Young, “talented” athletes are identified based on current ability, physical attributes, sometimes results of sport specific testing, and the skill… Read More »
On 11 October I had the opportunity to speak at a TEDx event organized by the International School of Kuala Lumpur. The theme of the event was “The Creative Spark” and I spoke about the sport coach’s role in developing athletic talent. This was the first time I gave a TED talk and I learned… Read More »