11-08-2012, 07:11 PM
Angus,
No - when I stressed 'slightly' I was stressing that the general perceived wisdom is that it more productive to compete against players that are only slightly better than you than to compete against players significantly better. Are you seriously suggesting that all we need do to raise standards is to tell juniors they are talented, that grades mean nothing and get them to play in Opens all year?
When Ian Thorpe was asked about the performance of the Australian team he said that to be critical of the system and organisation did not imply any disrespect for the individual swimmers themselves: all of whom have trained very hard and many of who have done personal bests and achieved other goals. Someone else made the point that athletes had be both optimists but also realists: and having people telling you you are great is good but doesn't make it so and can be counter-productive if they really believe it.
No - when I stressed 'slightly' I was stressing that the general perceived wisdom is that it more productive to compete against players that are only slightly better than you than to compete against players significantly better. Are you seriously suggesting that all we need do to raise standards is to tell juniors they are talented, that grades mean nothing and get them to play in Opens all year?
Quote:which were clearly not courtious to the Scottish Juniors going to the EuroyouthAs far as I am aware most of the debate is not specific to any event or any particular group of juniors.
When Ian Thorpe was asked about the performance of the Australian team he said that to be critical of the system and organisation did not imply any disrespect for the individual swimmers themselves: all of whom have trained very hard and many of who have done personal bests and achieved other goals. Someone else made the point that athletes had be both optimists but also realists: and having people telling you you are great is good but doesn't make it so and can be counter-productive if they really believe it.