We all are surprised at some point or another looking at someone expert in sports, wondering whether the talent came in naturally, is it the hard work and endurance behind it, or is it the duping effect. Well, science says that in many cases the sportspersons are born with a natural ability towards sports, genetically or physiologically. When it pertains to genetics, it surely is passed down by generations, with a natural flair towards sports.

Physiologically speaking when a child has adapted to good eating and drinking habits backed by disciplinary behaviour right from childhood, it is highly probable that (s)he is going to carve out a career into sports. Irrespective of genetics or physiology, this surely means that sports do often come naturally, not denying the fact that in most other cases it is the commitment and dedication shaping an ordinary person into sportsperson.

What it means by “natural athleticism”?

Defining “natural athleticism”, it is a perfect combination of routine habits reflected in food, drinks, discipline, and behaviour, coupled with the tendency of mind and body to undergo hardcore endurance and training. Sometimes having the genes enough can do the trick, but in other cases it is a combination of genes and efforts towards pursuing passion towards sports, coming into play. For one set of people, a little bit push can be just about enough to set records, but for another set of people it is the rigorous practice, training, and investment of time that is required to perform as per expectations.

Is ‘10,000 hours’ rule applicable for natural athletes?

There is no shortcut to success even if having a natural flair and ability towards sports. Without gruelling efforts, the steps towards success can’t be climbed and hence the 10,000 hours rule is applicable to all. The idea behind this rule is that giving 10000 hours of practice into pursuing a passion can surely make you world class in that profession for achieving excellence based on a top-notch performance. Hence, even natural athletes have to invest as much time and effort as possible (if not 10000 hours), to outperform the competition.

The key mantra to ‘athleticism’

Practice always makes a man perfect and this is applicable for all, since performance is not solely about only genes, or only practice, but is a combination of both working in perfect balance. It is the trainability from a capable coach that can be a difference maker to shape a person’s career with or without natural sports abilities. Not just that, but it is also about the grasping abilities of people undergoing training with tremendous endurance, to walk through the entire training process with hardcore passion. Again genetic science playscience plays a key role here since people with natural tendencies towards sports are able to imbibe the training with ease as compared to the ones who do not have that in-born advantage. Ability to respond towards training can differ, since for those who tend to treat sports as something they do it normally are able to respond in a better way, as compared to those finding it hard to strive through the training since sports is not their forte and yet they want to achieve something great.

Is there a difference between natural and unnatural athletes?

If some athletes have that natural in-born flair towards sports, or have genetical roots in sports, than where can you draw a line bifurcating them from the rest?

More importantly if they have so much in them already, do they really require coaching, just like the ones who do not have it naturally?

Where can you draw a divider line between natural and unnatural talent?

These are the questions that surely might hover your mind timely over and over again with no answers in reality.

As we discussed, playing sports can come naturally in most cases, genetically or physiologically. However, in other cases, it is being passionate towards sports and chasing the dreams that play an instrumental role in shaping a sportsperson. This also means coaching and training to be equally imparted to both natural and unnatural athletes since any of them can emerge out to be a world class sportsperson irrespective of the roots they belong to. Having said that it is also important to understand that it is a combination of soft skills and core values playing a critical role in deciding the performance of a player during short span or long span phase of a career.

Some final thoughts to wind up

No matter where do you belong or where do you hail from, whether you do have sports history or not, it is the commitment and dedication towards sports backed by passion, hard work, endurance, and training that would decide your future in sports.