The Talent Code

I recently read "The Talent Code" in which Daniel Coyle argues that talent is developed through deep practice, attitude, and repetition resulting in neurons wrapped in myelin.  It turns out that myelin acts much like an insulator in that it strengthens and accelerates the signals that travel through our neurons.

Neurons get wrapped in myelein as a consequence of deep practice:

Attitude refers to the answer to the question, "how long do you think you'll ...." (play soccer, play your instrument, write essays, compose music).  Those that have a short term commitment (say u14) don't progress as effectively and quickly as those that indicate a long term commitment.

Another observation he made relates to the phrase:  What gets measured gets better.

So, this Spring season I thought that I'd try some experiments on my U14 Boys team.

First:  test all the boys once a week for the 10 weeks - let's see if "What gets measured gets better."

Second, pick a skill and try to get the boys to perform "deep practice".  I'm thinking one-touch passing, which is an essential skills in tiki taka soccer - which I think is best illustrated by Spain's Barcelona club - they're phenomenal!

Third, give each boy a player to emulate - maybe because they share a birth date or month.  The idea is similar to the "how long do you think you'll play soccer" idea.  If the player can see themselves playing for years and / or being like Messi, then they improve.