Sport Psychology Blog

Talented, naturally talented, skilled. These are words that we hear often when describing athletes. What do these words actually mean? I want to explain the differences between them because people often get them confused and the implications are important.

Natural talent refers to attributes or abilities that you are born with. Height is the most notable and most "pure" natural talent, meaning there isn't much you can do to influence it. Yes, diet matters, but assuming you have a normal caloric intake and have access to nutritious food, which most people do in America, you will grow close to your potential. A 7 foot tall basketball player can be said to have a lot of natural talent, at least in regards to his height, since height is very helpful in basketball.

Then there are many other traits that people are born with but need more effort to fully develop. Size is an example of one. Some people are "built" with "bigger frames" than other. It is easier f…

In my opinion, one of the greatest things on earth next to playing sports, is coaching sports. The worst part about sports is that eventually, athletes must retire due to aging or injuries. However, many of the benefits of sports can still be provided by coaching, which doesn’t necessarily require a young, healthy body. There are many reasons to coach sports, whether you are a youth coach, a high school coach, a recreational league coach, a college coach, a professional coach, or a private/individual coach. Impact: Perhaps the greatest reason to coach sports is to make an impact in kids’ lives and help your community. Coaches can be role models and heroes to their players. They can teach their players life skills and they can help them earn scholarships or professional contracts. Coaching also allows you to be a part of something greater than yourself. You can make history, change the world, and impact future generations. Achievement and esteem: Whether it is rankings or championships,…

Sports are amazing. They are great for many reasons and they can be beneficial for a variety of people.  There are reasons to play and love sports, whether you are a non-athlete, a recreational player, or an athlete playing competitive sports. Here are the benefits of playing sports: The health benefits of exercise: This is pretty self-explanatory. Obviously staying active and fit is great for health and prevents health issues in the future. Most people agree that health is one of the most important things in life.The social benefits of sports:Sports allow you to meet new people and be a part of a team. This is great for mental health and happiness. For athletes, the word ”teammates” is almost equivalent to “best friends.”Flow and enjoyment: Sports are fun. The simple acts of catching and hitting balls, running, and strategizing can put athletes in a state of flow, which is known as one of the most enjoyable states of being. Sports are called games for a reason.Self-Improvement:It feel…

We've all heard of the "10,000 hour rule," which states that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to master a complex activity such as a sport or a musical instrument. Most people assume there's a relatively positive correlation between time spent practicing and success, meaning the more you practice, the more you improve and succeed.

However, there have been recent studies that suggest the correlation between time spent practicing and success isn't as strong as we once thought. There are plenty of examples of athletes who haven't practiced as much as others and still have success. And there are plenty of examples of athletes who have trained way more than others but don't succeed. These studies point to genetics and mental game performance skills as factors that may be more important to success than practice. They argue that people with great genetics and natural talent can still succeed without practicing as much as others. And people wi…