Systematic Development and Outliers

Systematic development is important. Why? Because, assuming it is done well, it increases your chances of developing successful athletes. By providing good fundamentals in a range of different areas, the athletes capable of reaching the highest level will have as few limitations as possible.

Sometimes our systematic development gets distracted by outliers. By the 'special cases'. We think - aaah - she did that when she was younger therefore that is what everyone should do. But that is not the case. Athletes like Lionel Messi are outliers. They are freaks. The system needs to let them through and not get in the way.

But at the same time, we need to make sure they don't get in our way. There are 2 or 3 football players the calibre of Messi in the world. Systematic development was a key part of the rest of the elite football players in the world.

Systems need to cater for the overwhelming majority of athletes. Don't get in the way of the outliers, but also, don't let them distract you.

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