If a child is good at sport at 14

[MarathonFan]

How much is down to talent and how much is because he's more mature than his peers physically?

A friend's DS is exceptionally good at his sport - was playing 3 years' up for the school team from yr7, and plays up one year for England. It's a bit of a niche sport, not widely played/supported in UK. It's popular enough that his state comp (quite unusually) has a team but he has to travel to the next team for a club. He has always looked a couple of years older than he is - tall and broad shouldered from 12yo.

Understandably, they're very proud of him and I'm very pleased for him too - they're a lovely family. I've known him since a baby and it's lovely to see him enjoying his success. Without sounding rude (if that's possible!) they're not an educated family and very "working man" in their background. I am worried that the boy has been lead to believe his future is rosier than it is and that his parents are beginning to believe he will make a (very good) living from the sport.

It is undoubtedly true that the top players and coaches in countries where the sport is more widely played make very good money indeed but not in UK. Perhaps I'm wrong but I think being good at it as a niche sport in UK is entirely different to being good enough to make it in a country where everyone plays from childhood? I'm also worried that a lot of his success is down to the fact that he's bigger and stronger than other boys his age but his parents aren't exceptionally big, so it's likely that other boys will catch up in the coming years.

Anyway, he's about to go off to a specialist school to develop his talent. He's a bright lad, bright enough for University if that's what he/they want but everyone seems to have decided it's not necessary for him because he's going to get rich from sport. I'm worried it's not in the boy's best interests but also aware it's none of my business, there's very little I could do anyway and I'm being cynical.

I'm not going to voice my fears to my friend - they're all very excited but does anyone have anything positive for me?

I suspect lots will disagree with me- but I think it sounds like he might have a chance and if he doesn't take it he will always regret it. I assume he will not be allowed to give up on dedication altogether and should keep going with it, but he can always go back to University/ education- with sport he has one chance

If he plays for England then presumeably he's getting good support and training and talent/practice is what has got him so far. Now he is going off to get a good package why wouldn't it keep him out front? The specialist school may also be quite strong academically so it may not be a decision between sport or univ has been taken already?

Sport success, like most things, is largely based on inclination, practice and support so if he wants to play, is willing to work hard and can get excellent training it sounds like he has every chance of doing well.

I felt it was a shame that sport depended on ability regardless and of course the biggest got picked for the teams and then training.

Late developers missed out totally on the training so once they did grow it was too late.

The big lad in my son's rugby team at age 12 (early developer, muscly and hairy at that age) was the star player but it was pretty obvious others would outgrow him in the future which they did.

The intensive training your friend's son is getting might mean he can move into another sport or training later on if he doesn't have the right build.

What are you aiming to achieve by saying something. You will just appear jealous. He's 14 not 8 he would not be in a national team if he didn't have a lot of potential.

sixlive? I've said i have no intention of saying anything

It really depends how niche the sport is and if there's a professional pathway - the guy who won kayaking gold at Beijing certainly didn't make any money from his sporting success and had to keep up his day job, but a lot of the cyclists by contrast have made a decent living (though v few would be rich from their sport)

It also depends on how much his sport depends on size and strength for success. In ds's sport hardly anyone who's successful as a child/young teen makes it as an adult. One of his friends was spectacularly successful between the ages of 11 and 14 as he had an early growth spurt and towered head and shoulders above most of his competitors - now at 15/16 he's doing ok but is no longer picked for talent camps etc and lots of boys have caught up and overtaken him

Your friend's ds may be one of the lucky/especially talented individuals who succeed but he'd be well-advised to have a back-up plan as well

I have had several pupils taken away to have outstanding musical or sporting ability developed. Maybe a quarter eventually make it their career, sometimes they just chose not to, sometimes they never quite make the grade. Being taken into a specialist training school just means you are given the opportunity to develop you potential with your gift, alongside your general education. Pragmatically, staff and students consider other careers to and everyone is taught to have a plan b, and a plan c, etc.

Interest in sport comes and goes, what might be a niche sport now could become wildly popular in 5 years time, just as your friends child reaches his peak! he could make millions! Or he could become a sports teacher, coach, physiotherapist, etc.

Last year I taught an unrelated vocational subject to young girl who was attending school part time only, to allow her to be coached in singing. She has since released an album and is already earning more than me, but if it hadn't worked out, she would still have had her vocational qualification. Similarly, I once had a boy in my tutor group who attended mainstream school only part time, and stage school three days a week. He is now doing very well on TV, but the stage school would not have let him drop his GCSEs, he has those too. Also once taught a footballer, who is earning his living in the sport, but not at a high level. Other "supremely gifted" have fallen off my radar, and I don't know how they are doing with their special gift, but they certainly all have academic qualifications too!

Hopefully, the education offered to your friend's child will be a very high standard, and a valuable experience in itself, even if he never makes top grade in his sport.

If it is something played in the States like basketball then he could access a scholarship to a college there and so from his talent also get the benefit of a good higher education.

Personally, I'd support the sport as far as he could take it. If it doesn't work out he can go back to education.