Why do some kids stop improving?

[ConcernedBoutCOVID]

We've seen and played with quite a number of kids who were very good when they were younger and showed immense promise, but basically stopped improving around 12-14.  I.e. their tournament scoring differential didn't improve much from 13 to 16.  This despite the fact that they are hitting the ball a lot longer (lots of them really into fitness).  And these kids love the game - it's not like their parents were forcing them to compete and practice when younger, and they stopped once they became teenagers.  

 

Why does this happen?

 

[leezer99]

Girls 

[Socrates]

It's called talent and not every has the same ceiling.  Same reason not everyone makes it to the NBA or NHL.  At some point they reach the highest level that they can and no amount of practice or training will get them to the next level.  More talented that the average Joe, but not destined for the Bigs.  Golf is no different.

 

And yes, then there is "Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll."

[tiger1873]

Some don’t practice  while others lose interest and other were cheating.

 

The best kids work their butts off and  take every defeat and learn from it. Very few people will admit their mistakes.

[NCDuffer]

Short game and putting.  Most don’t put in the time on the short game and their putting.  No one hits 18 greens a round, you need both.

[goaliedad30]

We saw this in spades in hockey, and it had to do with development of their bodies and athletic talent as they reached puberty. Kids who were dominant at age 12 all of a sudden were invisible at 14. They didn't mature as quickly, or their "mini adult" bodies weren't capable of the same athletic differential relative to their peers.

 

Some lost interest, some didn't work as hard, and some just didn't have the talent level.

 

Not at all unusual, in any sport. If they are dominant and improving from 14-16, then they're the real deal ...

[heavy_hitter]

Variety of reasons.

 

Girl's and Cars for sure.  Injuries.  Some don't have the mindset to compete. 

 

I think the NUMBER 1 factor is Pressure and Expectations by their own selves and outside influences (parents/family members/friends).  When people expect you to perform that is a huge burden on the kids shoulders.  Ranking talk, AJGA star talk, getting to do this and getting to do that.

 

Some kids will just hit their ceiling of success whether it is physical or mental

ability.  

 

Wrong coaching and advice specifically when they are young.

 

Not being able to keep up with distance off the tee.

 

Not being able to sink putts.

 

 

Edited January 18, 2021 by heavy_hitter

[BFD3]

The game is hard.

[Noles]

It is like this in all sports.  Especially with boys as their bodies change so much during high school.  It's interesting looking at local high school sports and seeing which kids have gotten to that level and which ones haven't.  There was a kid who is the same age as my son who was such a good basketball player growing up.  So skilled, such a smart player.  Made plays that were way above his age.  Now he is a junior in HS that doesn't even play on his school's team.  He plays in the same rec league as my son, the D! commit in golf.  

[heavy_hitter]

21 minutes ago, Noles said:

It is like this in all sports.  Especially with boys as their bodies change so much during high school.  It's interesting looking at local high school sports and seeing which kids have gotten to that level and which ones haven't.  There was a kid who is the same age as my son who was such a good basketball player growing up.  So skilled, such a smart player.  Made plays that were way above his age.  Now he is a junior in HS that doesn't even play on his school's team.  He plays in the same rec league as my son, the D! commit in golf.  

 

It is the little league player that through a No Hitter with 15 strikeouts while hitting 2 home runs in a game.  At 12 he was bigger than every other kid in the league.  He turns 15 and now is the smallest kid on the HS Team.

 

In our town we have a US Kids 12 year old World Champion.  Never got any better after 12 because of expectations.  As a senior last year carried driver over 300 yards.  Struggled to shoot below a 78.  Now is just a student in college and doesn't play golf.

 

I think expectations are the number 1 killer of players in a sport like golf.  Was watching a Junior Tournament yesterday.  My kid was playing in the second to last group so I got a chance to watch the leaders playing in front.  One of the kids after every missed putt looked directly at his dad as his dad stared with disappointment.  Kid has no chance at success because of that expectation.  What are the thoughts in the back of their mind and how do they handle it?

[Noles]

1 hour ago, heavy_hitter said:

 

It is the little league player that through a No Hitter with 15 strikeouts while hitting 2 home runs in a game.  At 12 he was bigger than every other kid in the league.  He turns 15 and now is the smallest kid on the HS Team.

 

In our town we have a US Kids 12 year old World Champion.  Never got any better after 12 because of expectations.  As a senior last year carried driver over 300 yards.  Struggled to shoot below a 78.  Now is just a student in college and doesn't play golf.

 

I think expectations are the number 1 killer of players in a sport like golf.  Was watching a Junior Tournament yesterday.  My kid was playing in the second to last group so I got a chance to watch the leaders playing in front.  One of the kids after every missed putt looked directly at his dad as his dad stared with disappointment.  Kid has no chance at success because of that expectation.  What are the thoughts in the back of their mind and how do they handle it?

Some of my most difficult conversations during my coaching career were with parents of boys who were really good players in middle school but became role players or in some cases got cut from the HS team.  It was never an issue on the girls side but that was unique to my school/situation.  What made it most difficult was that it was almost always a kid that I really liked but I was in a position of having to lay out a list of their child's shortcomings to the parents.  That isn't fun but honesty is necessary.  Some parents were able to accept it when it was laid out to them.  A few were enraged by it.   

[Abh159]

I think it's such a mixed bag of different things that it's impossible to contribute it to one thing. A few of these have already been mentioned, but the ones I've seen first hand I've listed below.

 

1) Burn out - They just get burnt out and don't enjoy or want to play/practice as much as they used to. This is usually the result of overbearing parents forcing them to play, but it can also be because that kid's interests naturally change over time.

2) Physical limitations - They could be big for a 12 yo and hit it miles past their competitors, but perhaps they don't grow all that much during puberty and end up being a "short hitter" once they reach their later teens.

3) Mental limitations - Winning a lot when you are 11 or 12 is great, but sometimes kids just don't have the mental game to win once they reach 15, 16, and 17 and start playing bigger tournaments with more competition.

4) Talent - Not everyone is born with the gifts to become a professional athlete regardless of the sport, and no amount of work ethic or practice can change that. Thus is the harsh reality of life.

[ncalgolf]

When I was a kid it was lack of parental support - probably not much of that here on this forum

[wildcatden]

1. Talent/athletic ability

2. Mental game

3. Burnout

 

 

[heavy_hitter]

3 hours ago, ncalgolf said:

When I was a kid it was lack of parental support - probably not much of that here on this forum

Not on these forums, but for golf it takes a ton of parental support.  I know plenty of parents that don't want to spend weekends at the golf course for a variety of reasons.

[leezer99]

24 minutes ago, heavy_hitter said:

Not on these forums, but for golf it takes a ton of parental support.  I know plenty of parents that don't want to spend weekends at the golf course for a variety of reasons.

Last weekend the course my son played at didn’t allow spectators. Since it was only 15 minutes away each day I went home, took a nap, watched some football and ate lunch. It was freakin’ glorious. 

[kekoa]

Not sure, but if it happens to my son I want every penny spent on him back!!! 

[heavy_hitter]

14 hours ago, leezer99 said:

Last weekend the course my son played at didn’t allow spectators. Since it was only 15 minutes away each day I went home, took a nap, watched some football and ate lunch. It was freakin’ glorious. 

 

Oh I understand those.  As mine has gotten older I have enjoyed not having to cart him to practice.  There are still those times where you have a 3 hour trip across the state and 2-3 night hotel stay.