January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
David Thomas deserves junior elite money
Sports are expensive. There are coaching fees, equipment costs, traveling expenses, and even medical bills to pay for.
It is fantastic that the Government have recently given out some $45,000 to up and coming Bermuda athletes to help further develop their sporting careers. I do not know how certain athletes were nominated, but I would guess that the various governing sports bodies would have nominated junior athletes.
Ashley Brooks was awarded this year for the tennis money. While Ashley is very deserving, she was awarded this grant a few years ago. David Thomas, who has won every junior tournament for the last few years, was snubbed.
Ashley has had the opportunity to attended a tennis academy for the last three years in South Carolina.
At her disposal she has had world class training facilities and expert advice. David has been doing the best he can with what is around. Nobody in the juniors locally is even competitive with David.
David is making a final push to get noticed by an American University. Next year might be too late.
I can’t speak for other sports, but when looking at past tennis beneficiaries of the Government’s National Junior Elite fund I see an alarming trend. Danielle Paynter was awarded the first grant in 1994. Other recipients were Daniel Miller, Jovan Whitter and Ryan Swan.
None of these tennis players currently even play the game.
Predicting athletic success is difficult. Having tracked the careers of former Bermudian tennis players who received the government grant most of them didn’t become successful adult players. When determining who receives the money I believe that a more systematic approach to the measurement of who is “good” should be in place.
Committee folk in Bermuda tend to predict future athletic success based on present achievement. This is better than nothing, but far from ideal.
From my experience from coaching young athletes I believe that drive is the most important predictor of sporting success. You have to be obsessed with succeeding.
After drive, I would say that coachability is next on the list. Some athletes “get it” faster than others.
Some of the former winners of the Government's money didn’t “get it.” The better tennis players observe a shot, visualize themselves making that shot, and then execute the shot.
Most young tennis players in Bermuda and around the world are becoming less coachable. They want to do it their way or no way. A coachable athlete is a rare athlete.
Devotion, motivation, passion and opportunity can’t be predicted, but can be spotted by an expert’s eye.
Sooner or later talent does show up.
The Government’s National Junior Elite fund is an extremely positive initiative, but the money should not go to young athletes that play for fun or fitness (even though these are honorable reasons).
The money should go to those juniors (like Dave Thomas) who display outstanding talent, as well as the potential to be successful at the higher levels of competition.
Bermuda still needs to develop a better system so that no one falls through the cracks.
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