Talent in athletics??

[mla2177]

Do you know if talent in the athletic field is something that is inherited or something that is learned?

 

[doxdogy]

I think it has to do with a natural ability to learn the sport.

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

its a mix....and youre want to learn it


im a very good runner and my dad, aunts and uncles are and could have done track, but it runs the same time as spring musical.....and thats my love.

so its inherited, learned, and a want!

 

[christineann]

I think it is a combination of perserverance, natural ability and self discipline.

 

[PrincessTiff]

I think it is a combination of perserverance, natural ability and self discipline.

Very true.

I believe it's a combination of both. I played basketball for 10 years but I never would've started playing if it weren't for my father. He played basketball in college so I do believe that talent was inherited. I even ended up playing through high school.

On the other hand, I fell in love with gymnastics but noone in my family had ever participated or had any interest in it before. I had to learn that sport and like basketball, ended up being a gymnast throughout all 4 years of high school.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I think its both. My dh comes from a family who didnt know what the word sports meant. I used to be a very good bowler and enjoyed swimming alot. Now the ds are bowlers, bowling coaches,basketball player, basketball coach, baseball player and lifeguard. Mostly its oldest ds, he is willing to try lots of sports, he got the coaches award for baseball player because he never even played baseball on a team till last year and he got the most improved for basketball because he went from jv to varsity after the lst season. Didnt hurt that he was a senior and one of the tallest players in his small school either. I never pushed my kids to do sports, join teams etc. There are sports they really dont particularly care for such as golf and soccer. They like to watch them, but not participate etc. So I think its both learned and natural talent.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

i think a lot of the times it just comes naturally.

 

[castleview]

A little bit of both. If you're active and involved in sports early on, other sports can come easier to you. As far as being an elite athlete - that's mostly God-given talent and luck (luck that you don't burn out or get injured).

 

[janette]

I think it is a combination of perserverance, natural ability and self discipline.

My 15yo DD has been in dance classes since she was 3yo. She's a very good dancer because she enjoys it but she doesn't have the natural talent we see in other dancers. She works just as hard but will never be at the same level as some of them. You can be good at anything you want to be but you can't necessarily be great at it.

 

[kellyg403]

I think natural talent is a plus but good old fashioned heart and love of the sport makes a "gifted" athlete better.

Kelly

 

[Cool-Beans]

By its very definition, "talent" comes from within. Good coaching and practice make a talented person better, though.

Some people just suck at sports and no manner of coaching will make them any good. They might get better, but they'll never be good. Like me.

 

[TheGoofster]

Two examples:
Michael Jordan, I think the guy was born jumping three feet in the air. Natural ability like that just can't be learned.
Larry Bird. He was told by many coaches when he was younger that he would never amount to anything. So what did he do? He worked harder than probably any other player in the history of the game to become one of the best players in Basketball history.

There are some sports where natural ability is the most important thing - such as running, and there are other sports where hard work and dedication can actually outdo natural ability. So I guess you would have to say, like so many have already said, that both are very important.

 

[kellyg403]

Two examples:
Michael Jordan, I think the guy was born jumping three feet in the air. QUOTE]


Yes, but remember Michael Jordan also got cut the first year he tried out for HS ball. He still needed work according to his coaches! They may have given a talented athlete the will and drive to succeed!

Kelly

 

[mla2177]

I posed the question because my father was very athletic. He was the high school athletic director, football coach and a very good golfer. My oldest brother, nieces and nephews are very athletic also. My hubby on the other hand, not an athletic bone in his body. In fact, I don't think any of his family members ever played a sport! I have a 2 yr old and was wondering if he would have any athletic ability? He can shoot a basket pretty well for 2! I was wondering if maybe he took after my side?

 

[golfgal]

A lot of athletic ability comes from genetics, mainly muscle structure and the make up of your muscles, fast twitch vs slow twitch. I have seen a lot of kids with minimal athletic ability work very hard and become good players/athletes but not great. I have seen a lot of VERY talented athletes that could be great players spend their career on the sidelines because they don't work. You have to have some amount of natural ability to really excel in a sport but you still have to work hard.

Minnesota had their state cross country meet yesterday. The girl's champion is a perfect example of this. She ran in middle school, switched to soccer in high school. She was a good soccer player but this, her senior year, switched back to cross country. Her natural ability allowed her to go from an anonymous runner to one of the top runners in the state. Her hard work claimed the state title for her.