Talented kids – the myth

Why Your Best Kid Probably Won’t Make It

Early dominance usually just means early development
Character beats natural ability over the long haul
Talent ID programs keep picking the wrong kids

We all know/remember that child…
The 10-year-old star. Bigger, faster, stronger. Winning everything. Parents whisper: “They’re going all the way.”

Most of those kids quit before 16.
Why? Because we got talent all wrong.

The Big Mistake

We confuse early success with long-term potential.

That dominant 10-year-old?
They likely just hit puberty first. Their edge is biological—not magical.

Meanwhile, the smaller kid grinding every day? Ignored.
The late bloomer with heart and hustle? Cut.
The average athlete with elite character? Overlooked.

What Real Talent Looks Like

Showing up when no one’s watching
Improving when it’s hard
Bouncing back after failure
Loving the process, not just the podium

The CPI Problem

Most talent programs don’t find talent.
They find Current Performance Indicators.

They pick kids who are winning now, not the ones who will win later.

And when the early edge fades, so do the “stars.”

A fellow coach commented…

“My Olympic athlete was the kid no one noticed at 12.
They just never stopped working. The ‘talented’ one quit at 15.”

Stop asking:

“Who’s the best right now?”

Start asking:

“Who’s got the habits, heart, and hunger to keep going?”

Parents & Coaches

1. Stop chasing early results.
They don’t predict the future. Effort does.

2. Praise character, not just outcomes.
Highlight resilience, work ethic, teamwork.

3. Protect the late bloomers.
Give them time. Keep them in the game.

4. Shift the focus.
Ask kids:

“What did you learn?”
“How did you respond to challenges?”
“What do you want to get better at?”

Character outlasts talent. Every time.

The kid who loves the game the longest usually wins.

Ideas from here

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