Nature Vs Nurture in Sport: Enhancing Performance and Youth Development

Introduction

Enhancing sport performance and the status of sport is part of the development of youth and how they are mentored by current athletes in increasing the status of the sport. Sport is and can be very controversial at times causing debate, however, this can be looked at as a positive in the fact that it is being talked about by millions of people and so, as a matter of fact, the status of sport is being increased. An example of this is the controversy which is surrounding VAR where a video analyst referee oversees the game pointing out any clear and obvious errors, which is supposed to be removing all error, however, it is still being debated by ex pros and fans as to its inability to do this. Additionally, the ongoing discussion of nature vs nurture in sport further contributes to the constant debate surrounding sports and their development.

Another example of this is racket smashing which is seen often on the tennis tour. This is deemed as a violent conduct and tennis players who are watched by millions globally may play a significant factor in showing younger people that it is ok to behave in this manner. A positive impact is someone like Eddie Hearn who is a Boxing promoter who often does talks at universities taking boxers educating athletes about the discipline of boxing , which is raising the status of sport. As well as this, he recently did a boxing event of 2 youtubers sticking world champions on the undercard of this to bring in a casual audience of fans as well to showcase his fighters and this show did record PPV numbers in the US in 2019 showing that he is constantly adapting and enhancing the status of boxing to new fans to make sure the legacy of boxing remains forever.

The idea of enhancing the status of sport means that by doing certain PRs or giving back to the community you are able to have an idea of what is required in order to have what is called an impact and especially a positive one if it is to enhance the status of the particular sport. This can also have gain publicity for the athlete as well as exposure and in doing so it can raise the profile to another level meaning they are seen in a better light and have more fans.

Encouragement of Young Sport Athletes

Picturing successful future performances can help young athletes prepare and perform more effectively as well as seeing current athletes do it consistently which can help the younger athlete hope to emulate. This can be worked upon and a method of this is to take part in a pre-performance routine and can help give you a sense of certainty over the situation knowing that there is a set routine always to approach this. For example in football a freekick technique can be a set routine by the way you approach the ball and the technique used in a high pressure situation. The sense of certainty that the athlete can do the same thing can help improve confidence and is a great technique as it can be applied to any situation where athletes may feel nervous or stressed. Elite athletes often use pressure to their advantage and this would need to be educated on how they can also use pressure to their advantage and realising the reward is greater as a result. This pressure can therefore aid their focus. Another factor could be to be able to recognise and eliminate distractions realising if young athletes want to reach the top of their sports, sacrifices must be made, although this is easier said and done, but it is an important one for athletes to come to. Athletes and the generation coming through should work on what they can control, and to concentrate on that. Failing will be part of the way to the top however choosing to blame others can provide a short term relief by helping you maintain your self-concept. But long term, this is not a good formula to help you develop as they are not realising their own mistakes and so they are building a superstition that they are immune to mistakes. Coaches, teachers and parents can also help by creating a culture and an environment that helps facilitate and nurture commitment creating discipline and helping them realise the bigger picture.

Man Utd legend Eric Cantona once said ‘Preparation is everything’ therefore it’s easy to battle it out on the pitch and then say ‘I gave it my all’. The concept of this is that if you had prepared carefully and to the best of your ability, they would have had more to give and to not leave anything on the field knowing they have played best they could and not that they could have played better. This is a reason why Man Utd fans adored legends such as Eric Cantona and Roy Keane who were not the complete role models however on the sporting field they demonstrated what it meant to play for the football shirt and made sure they consistently left everything on the pitch.

To become the best, it requires a lot of dedication and motivation. In one respect, match day is the easy part, as the public performance lends itself to an increase in adrenaline and effort and is worked on throughout the weeks months or years of training put into making sure the performance and ability is all there. Having the self-discipline to prepare yourself during the week takes planning and organisation, be it sticking to a training regime, eating well and studying your previous performance or even using imagery to put yourself in a well state of mind. Goal setting has been used extensively over the years to help athletes stay motivated and on the right path to success and to remain at the top. If done right, it can help develop skills, confidence and concentration. It’s not just working hard, but working smart that counts. There is a big difference between just turning up for training and really dedicating yourself once you are there and this is what makes athletes motivated to get up every morning and train.

Increasing Participation for All in Sport

Increasing participation for all means that participation rates in the UK should be sky high and as a result of this people are having a bigger influence in factors such as recent national success or schemes which are granting people a chance to try a new sport. A positive role model helps increase participation as does seasonal sports such as tennis where during the Wimbledon Tennis

Championships, participation goes up by 400% during the 2 weeks of the championships. This may due to Andy Murray’s recent success in the sport as well as being a positive role model enhancing equal prize fund between men and women tennis players on top of this, he represents Britain.

Top middleweight boxer and role model to many in the United States, Danny Jacobs once saw a doctor after experiencing chronic pain in his lower body. The initial diagnosis was that of a mere pinched nerve. However, the pain worsened to the point that Jacobs was no longer able to walk and was in a wheelchair. Fortunately, treatment for Jacobs’ condition was successful, but he was told that he would never be able to walk properly again, much less return to the sport of boxing which he loved. Jacobs, however, would persevere, never give up, and continue chasing his dreams, proving that hard work and dedication can get anyone through seemingly impossible situations. Not only was Jacob’s able to walk again, he was also able to continue his boxing career, coming back to the ring to knock out his opponent in the very first round in his first fight back. He showed resilience and wanted to prove to people he could come back with such a serious diagnosis, he then went on to open his own boxing gym where young children are able to come and train and he also in his spare time offers his services to oversee the next generation. His values installed inside himself appear to rub off on other people when fans approach him as he has now been nicknamed ‘miracle man’. By opening a boxing gym, he has offered chances for underprivileged children to try boxing and follow their passion.  

Conclusion

In conclusion, enhancing the status of sport and encouraging young athletes is crucial for the development and success of the sports industry. Controversies and debates surrounding various aspects of sports, such as VAR in football and racket smashing in tennis, contribute to the constant discussion and increasing popularity of the sports. Athletes and sports organizations can play a significant role in raising the status of their respective sports by engaging in PR activities, giving back to the community, and being positive role models.  

Works Cited

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