SUPERIOR ATHLETES HAVE GOD-GIVEN TALENT. BUT IS THE DRIVE TO COMPETE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TAUGHT?

Here’s a question I’ve been debating for a long time: Are top athletes born with some sort of inner drive  that pushes them to compete in their DNA?

The very best of the best all have great talent…BUT they all feel compelled and driven to win. Think of some of the biggest names in sports:

Michael Jordan…Tom Brady….Gordie Howe….Tom Seaver….Bob Gibson…Billie Jean King….Serena Williams…and there are many others….they all have great physical talent…but also had that desire to win all the time…they hated losing.

I even remember the NBA Hall of Famer Bob Pettit once wrote a book entitled “The Drive Within Me” about his personal competitive nature.

What do you think? Does such a genetic trait exist? Or can this drive be developed within a youngster by their parents or by a coach?

This question goes to the very heart of developing young athletes who have athletic ability and who clearly are drawn to sports. The question then becomes whether they have the inner desire to push themselves to want to put in the long hours (10,000 hours) to become a top flight athlete and reach their God-given potential.

The callers on my WFAN radio show were terrific. I urge you to take a moment to listen in: https://www.audacy.com/wfan/podcasts/rick-wolff-the-sports-edge-209/the-sports-edge-with-rick-wolff-1102448206