tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471715415336520791.post5195128276382148307..comments2024-03-11T07:56:33.422-04:00Comments on Nicole Forrester - The Olympian Blog: World Youth Championship and the Long-Term Athlete Development - ACHTUNG Series!Nicole Wendy Forresterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128458546036981790noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471715415336520791.post-8180868150767011992011-07-15T00:45:25.736-04:002011-07-15T00:45:25.736-04:00I love what Alexa said. I think she captured it b...I love what Alexa said. I think she captured it best. By participating in various sports, it gives way to become excellent in one. Sure you may start off in track and field, soccer, gymnastics or hockey, but you might end up becoming the best in the world in anothe sport like say tennis. There is a transfer of skills between sports, and that is one of the benefits of delayed specialization. <br /><br />Common practice needs to be distinguished from what creates excellence. While it may be common for an athlete to swim from the time they are a fetus, perhaps they may peak at 30 instead of 18? It is fine to be involved in sports from a young age, in fact I would encourage it. The problem is when the element of competition is emphasized more than fun...Nicole Wendy Forresterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128458546036981790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471715415336520791.post-69349257663368401012011-07-13T22:46:51.345-04:002011-07-13T22:46:51.345-04:00I agree with you Nicole!
My parents came to my tra...I agree with you Nicole!<br />My parents came to my track meets and watched other kids (who were actually good).<br />But when they came to the Olympics, they watched me (although not in track or field) snowboard!Alexa Loonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471715415336520791.post-55436151952201956402011-07-12T18:06:09.763-04:002011-07-12T18:06:09.763-04:00I have been coaching for 25 years and see parents ...I have been coaching for 25 years and see parents of 6 year olds that really do think the kid is the next great one! Let them start organized team sports at 8 and have fun for a long time. Not this 3,4, 5 nonsense. I have seen so many Canadian and PanAm champs who totally burned out at age 18!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471715415336520791.post-52048117032575233162011-07-12T10:11:25.381-04:002011-07-12T10:11:25.381-04:00I am down with the long term development... but sw...I am down with the long term development... but swimmers start on average at like 6-10 years old. <br /><br />Worlds best soccer players start early too.<br /><br />Thoughts?Rich's bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07182149187895596578noreply@blogger.com