Dated Apr 29, 2014;
last modified on Mon, 05 Sep 2022
Nature vs. Nurture? Well, a bit of both, But as a scientific pursuit, asking how
each might be at work and its relative contribution is important.
The Human Genome Project (started 1990, completed 2003) has been valuable, but
there have been challenges applying it to sports. Single genes have effects too
tiny to be detectable in small studies.
The Sports Gene: Inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance.
Epstein, David.
2014.
Reaction Times are Overrated Elite athletes do not display superior reaction times to those of average people; most hover at 200ms.
However, games are played at speeds where 200ms is too slow, e.g. 100-mph baseballs, 130-mph tennis serves, etc.
A reaction time of less than 100ms is deemed a false start in track and field sprints.
Superior Perception Athletes outperformed novices when asked if there was a ball in a rapidly flashed slide....
10,000 Hours, YMMV 10,000 hours introduced here 10,000 hours has been lauded by popular authors, e.g. Malcolm Gladwel’s Outliers, and Geoff Colvin’s Talent is Overrated. Notably, Ericsson has dismissed the “10,000 hours rule” as misconstruing his positions: genetics play a role; 10,000-hours of deliberate practice is not all that counts.
Most data in support of the 10,000-hours rule has been cross-sectional and retrospective.
A cross-sectional study is a type of observational study that analyzes data from a population (or a representative subset) at a specific point in time....