Posted 2023-06-07
The title of the book suggests that it explores the process of becoming an elite athlete, offering valuable perspectives from a sociological standpoint. While natural talent and hard work are commonly associated with sporting success, this book delves deeper into the social factors that can shape an athlete's journey.
One interesting finding highlighted by sociologists is the influence of birth order. According to their research, being a younger sibling can provide a unique advantage in the pursuit of athletic excellence. The dynamics within a family, such as learning from older siblings and being driven to surpass them, may contribute to the development of exceptional athletic skills.
Additionally, the book mentions that growing up in a city of medium size can have an impact on an athlete's chances of reaching the elite level. The reasoning behind this claim could stem from factors such as access to training facilities, coaching expertise, and competition opportunities. The specific characteristics of such cities may provide a favorable environment for nurturing athletic talent.
Another intriguing revelation mentioned in the book is the birth month of athletes. According to sociologists, being born in July might pose a disadvantage when it comes to attaining elite status. While this may seem surprising, the reasoning behind it is not fully explored. It could be related to factors such as school enrollment cutoff dates, age groupings in youth sports, or even seasonal variations in physical development.
Younger siblings often face the challenge of being physically smaller and weaker than their older siblings. This circumstance compels them to exert extra effort in order to match their older siblings' abilities, fostering the development of perseverance. A notable example is basketball legend Michael Jordan, who acknowledged his 11-month-older brother Larry Jordan for inspiring him to enhance his skills as a player. Similarly, tennis superstar Serena Williams had the advantage of having her sister Venus Williams, a professional tennis player, as an older sibling, which likely contributed to her own remarkable achievements in the sport.
According to Wigmore, another aspect that benefits younger siblings is a more lenient parenting style. Research indicates that parents often grant them greater freedom to engage in informal play, such as basketball, which aids in the development of sports skills through experimentation and learning from mistakes. Wigmore suggests that this unstructured playtime can be more valuable than rigid and authoritative instructions. He draws an analogy to the character Rocky Balboa from the well-known film, highlighting the significance of a free-spirited approach in achieving success, as opposed to the rigid training methods of Ivan Drago, symbolizing the Soviet bureaucracy.
Interestingly, Wigmore himself is an only child, which he believes explains his inclination towards writing about sports rather than actively participating in them.
Wigmore argues that this phenomenon of mid-sized cities fostering elite athletes can be observed worldwide. These cities offer an optimal blend of rural and urban living, providing individuals with the advantages of open space akin to the countryside, while simultaneously offering access to high-quality sports training facilities typically associated with larger cities.
Medium-sized cities also strike a balance in terms of the supply and demand for athletes. They possess sufficient size to attract a diverse range of individuals, yet they remain small enough that there is a demand for players. In these cities, coaches have the opportunity to inspire more children to participate in sports, even if they are not initially skilled, and assist them in realizing their potential. Wigmore suggests that research on dropout rates reveals an interesting trend: children residing in cities with populations exceeding half a million are approximately three times more prone to quitting a particular sport compared to children in medium-sized cities.
Michael Jordan possessed another advantageous factor: he was not born in July. According to Williams and Wigmore, being born in July is considered the least favorable month for aspiring elite athletes. The rationale behind this is rather straightforward: July births typically mean being among the youngest within the school year, which concludes around that time. Being younger than one's peers during the teenage years can result in a potential disadvantage in terms of height and muscle mass, significantly impacting performance across various sports. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the relative age effect, which also extends its influence to academic performance. Malcolm Gladwell addressed this phenomenon in his 2008 book "Outliers: The Story of Success."
However, intriguingly, as Wigmore points out, there exists a small group of athletes for whom being born in July, coinciding with the end of the school year, can actually serve as an advantage. While these children may be less likely to pursue professional athletic careers, they have a higher likelihood of becoming superstars if they decide to embark on that path.
"Elite athlete factory"
Welcome to our blog, where we delve into fascinating reading material that covers a wide range of topics. In this article, we will discuss the book titled "The Best: How Elite Athletes Are Made." This book sheds light on the factors that contribute to the development of top-tier athletes, uncovering intriguing insights into their journey to excellence.The title of the book suggests that it explores the process of becoming an elite athlete, offering valuable perspectives from a sociological standpoint. While natural talent and hard work are commonly associated with sporting success, this book delves deeper into the social factors that can shape an athlete's journey.
One interesting finding highlighted by sociologists is the influence of birth order. According to their research, being a younger sibling can provide a unique advantage in the pursuit of athletic excellence. The dynamics within a family, such as learning from older siblings and being driven to surpass them, may contribute to the development of exceptional athletic skills.
Additionally, the book mentions that growing up in a city of medium size can have an impact on an athlete's chances of reaching the elite level. The reasoning behind this claim could stem from factors such as access to training facilities, coaching expertise, and competition opportunities. The specific characteristics of such cities may provide a favorable environment for nurturing athletic talent.
Another intriguing revelation mentioned in the book is the birth month of athletes. According to sociologists, being born in July might pose a disadvantage when it comes to attaining elite status. While this may seem surprising, the reasoning behind it is not fully explored. It could be related to factors such as school enrollment cutoff dates, age groupings in youth sports, or even seasonal variations in physical development.
"So, what the book say?"
According to the book "The Best: How Elite Athletes Are Made" by Mark Williams and Tim Wigmore, one key finding suggests that if you desire your child to become an elite athlete, it is beneficial for them to have older siblings. Wigmore, a sports columnist, highlights numerous studies that consistently demonstrate a higher likelihood of younger siblings becoming elite athletes compared to their older siblings or those who are the only child in the family.Younger siblings often face the challenge of being physically smaller and weaker than their older siblings. This circumstance compels them to exert extra effort in order to match their older siblings' abilities, fostering the development of perseverance. A notable example is basketball legend Michael Jordan, who acknowledged his 11-month-older brother Larry Jordan for inspiring him to enhance his skills as a player. Similarly, tennis superstar Serena Williams had the advantage of having her sister Venus Williams, a professional tennis player, as an older sibling, which likely contributed to her own remarkable achievements in the sport.
According to Wigmore, another aspect that benefits younger siblings is a more lenient parenting style. Research indicates that parents often grant them greater freedom to engage in informal play, such as basketball, which aids in the development of sports skills through experimentation and learning from mistakes. Wigmore suggests that this unstructured playtime can be more valuable than rigid and authoritative instructions. He draws an analogy to the character Rocky Balboa from the well-known film, highlighting the significance of a free-spirited approach in achieving success, as opposed to the rigid training methods of Ivan Drago, symbolizing the Soviet bureaucracy.
Interestingly, Wigmore himself is an only child, which he believes explains his inclination towards writing about sports rather than actively participating in them.
"Size matter?"
Another crucial element that contributes to the development of elite athletes, as highlighted by Wigmore, is growing up in a mid-sized city. Wigmore asserts that if an individual grew up in a city with a population ranging from 50,000 to 100,000, they are 15 times more likely to become an elite athlete compared to those raised in smaller or larger cities. A notable example is Michael Jordan, who grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, a city that fulfilled these requirements with slightly over 100,000 residents. Throughout the 20th century, Wilmington produced numerous exceptional athletes, including Sonny Jurgensen, an NFL Hall of Fame inductee in the position of defensive end, and Sugar Ray Leonard, an Olympic boxing champion.Wigmore argues that this phenomenon of mid-sized cities fostering elite athletes can be observed worldwide. These cities offer an optimal blend of rural and urban living, providing individuals with the advantages of open space akin to the countryside, while simultaneously offering access to high-quality sports training facilities typically associated with larger cities.
Medium-sized cities also strike a balance in terms of the supply and demand for athletes. They possess sufficient size to attract a diverse range of individuals, yet they remain small enough that there is a demand for players. In these cities, coaches have the opportunity to inspire more children to participate in sports, even if they are not initially skilled, and assist them in realizing their potential. Wigmore suggests that research on dropout rates reveals an interesting trend: children residing in cities with populations exceeding half a million are approximately three times more prone to quitting a particular sport compared to children in medium-sized cities.
"Underdog Effect"
The underdog effect, as it is known, describes the phenomenon where younger children, akin to younger siblings, must exert greater effort to compete against their older counterparts. Through this challenging process, some of these individuals acquire valuable skills, develop a strong sense of perseverance, and ultimately cultivate the physical capabilities that propel them to become superstars.Michael Jordan possessed another advantageous factor: he was not born in July. According to Williams and Wigmore, being born in July is considered the least favorable month for aspiring elite athletes. The rationale behind this is rather straightforward: July births typically mean being among the youngest within the school year, which concludes around that time. Being younger than one's peers during the teenage years can result in a potential disadvantage in terms of height and muscle mass, significantly impacting performance across various sports. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the relative age effect, which also extends its influence to academic performance. Malcolm Gladwell addressed this phenomenon in his 2008 book "Outliers: The Story of Success."
However, intriguingly, as Wigmore points out, there exists a small group of athletes for whom being born in July, coinciding with the end of the school year, can actually serve as an advantage. While these children may be less likely to pursue professional athletic careers, they have a higher likelihood of becoming superstars if they decide to embark on that path.