Recently, I heard Matthew Syed being interviewed about his new book which is called “Bounce” and in which he explores the part natural talent plays in sport as opposed to hard work and practice. Matthew is a journalist on The Times newspaper but of more relevance to us is the fact that he was a Commonwealth table-tennis champion.
Matthew acknowledges that certain of us are born with genes that enable us to run faster or show more agility than others. However, there are many sports in which hard work and practice are far more important than pure talent. Does Roger Federer return the ball in tennis so well because he has faster reflexes than other mortals or is it because he has played and practised so intensely over the years that he knows where the ball is likely to come almost before it has left his opponent’s racquet? I side with Matthew in that over the many years I have been involved in our sport it is the players who are dedicated to improve who reach the top and that whilst natural ability is never a disadvantage it is often the less talented who make the grade instead.This month we will be offering you places in our club’s teams. We are deciding those teams on your present levels of ability and some of you may find that past team-mates are now being offered a higher standard than you. If that is so it is probably because they are ready for it whilst you might need to build your confidence and practise your skills. It will not be because we think you will never be as good as them. Following a sport is a long journey. I learnt to play table-tennis at the age of 17 in a garage with three friends. I was easily the least gifted when we started and
when we later played in the League I was playing in teams far below the sides they represented. Yet 10 years later I was the only one who went on to play first division table-tennis. I was obviously not the most naturally talented of the four but I believe I had far more determination to succeed in table-tennis than my friends, some of whom were good at other sports and did not give the necessary time to a sport where practice is so essential.
Although I can no longer play the sport I love, I do at least have the privilege to watch the many quality coaching sessions that take place each week. Every one of our members is valued and our excellent coaches are dedicated to making each one of you a better player than you are. If you are prepared to listen and practise there is nothing to stop every one of you reaching a high level in our sport. It is up to you.
I would like to pass on some other thoughts. When you lose a match are you the sort who goes in to a corner and cries or do you possess the determination to say I will learn from that defeat. I will ask my coaches and team-mates to tell me what I need to improve and I will practise those skills in club coaching. When you lose are you the sort who throws a bat across the room and says “I am no good” or do you acknowledge that your opponent was probably better on the day, sometimes mentally as well as in terms of ability, and determine to bounce back and aim to beat that opponent in the future, no matter how long it takes. I know which sort of players I want in my teams!
One final point. I was recently talking to one of our juniors and complimenting him on his very good average in the League. He turned to me and said that one of his team-mates is, “far more talented than me but hasn’t done nearly so well. That’s because I know how to beat people.” Tactics are as important as skills and they come from experience. Is Wayne Rooney the most skilful footballer in our country or has he the mental toughness to perform when it matters, has he the perception to know which of his many skills to use when it counts.
At club we have put in place a culture which allows each one of you to work hard, to practise your skills and to pit those skills against others. Have you the determination to succeed, the mental toughness to bounce back and use your talents at the right times? Every one of you is talented. If some of your mates or opponents are a little ahead of you at the moment don’t worry. If you want it badly enough you can be better than them in the long run and we will help you to get there.
Phil
