- Jan 23, 2011
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This applies to a lot of elite athletes - in particular in team sports. Basketball, Ice Hockey, American Football (depending on the position you play), field hockey, etc.Very good points, and exactly this, the head on a swivel, is a big part of why Messi is on another level (a part from being something other than human). He as well is constantly scanning the areas around him.
And then we have someone like Moura, who for all his ability and spirit usually just ran the ball into opposition players eventually, as per your example.
What is Michael Jordan considered one of the best in NBA history? Skill-wise, he wasn't that different from many kids who played at the highest level in college sports. But he outworked everyone. And had incredible court awareness. And that is typically what separates those who make the grade versus those that can't. Unfortunately, while it is something that can be coached, it only goes so far. It's an innate psychological skillset that combines pattern recognition, accelerated assessment processing, solution refinement, decisive decision making and above all mental perseverance. The last one is perhaps the most important. As it's the mind's ability to accept failure as a part of learning. Sounds so easy on paper, but our brains are absolute bastards sometimes - and refuse to abide by the rules. Therefore, lots find failure as too hard of an impasse to overcome. Resultingly, their progression falters.
(What I also just described - along with elite physical durability under stress, physical perseverance, motivation, determination, leadership, and communication is how a person in the military gets separated from the rest of the pack and make it in SF with the Navy and Army.)