Abilities that Predict Success in Sports

June 7, 2016 | Cory Shaffer, Ph.D, CC-AASP

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According to statistician and analytics guru Nate Silver, the abilities that predict success at the Major League Baseball level are: preparedness and work ethic, concentration and focus, competitiveness and self-confidence, stress management and humility, and adaptiveness and learning ability. What you might notice about that list is that there is nothing related to physical abilities, such as strength, speed, power, endurance, or any other “measurable” statistic. Rather, the abilities listed are all mental. Still other researches, namely Angela Duckworth, have shown that grit, or passion and perseverance for long-term goals, is a better predictor of GPA in school children and graduation rates of basic training for West Point cadets than talent or IQ (for more on this research, click here: Grit Trumps Talent and IQ: A Story Every Parent (and Educator) Should Read). In sports, talent and physical abilities will undoubtedly open doors. Being physically gifted will often help young athletes cruise through junior-level sports, dominate in high school, and perhaps even get to college. Physical gifts and “measurables” will even determine to a large degree of whether or not college athletes are scouted to play professionally, but the physically abilities are not necessarily what predict success at the highest levels, which is why many first round draft picks are out of their respective professional leagues within a few years, while late round draft picks and undrafted free agents become superstars – mental abilities play an extremely important role in the equation of success as the competition level increases. Still skeptical? Consider 6th Round NFL draft choice Tom Brady (the 199th overall pick). If baseball is your forte, how about perennial MLB All Star Albert Pujuls, who was drafted in the 13th round, the 402nd pick of his draft year. Interested in the NBA? Twelve players were drafted before Kobe Bryant in the 1996 NBA draft, including names that the most die-hard basketball fans have long forgotten. The point is, physical abilities will take young athletes to great places, but it is the development of their mental abilities that will determine whether or not they tap into their full potential and get the most out of their sporting careers. Do yourself (or your children) a favor and start investing in what’s “between your ears” – because developing your mental skills is what will really help you reach your goals, both on and off the field.