Opportunities Come to Those Who Are Coachable and Patient

There has been plenty of discussion recently about the recognition some of our outstanding student athletes are now receiving. Daniel Williams, a World Junior Championships silver medallist; Amaia Wain, drafted into the AFLW; and most recently Charlotte Bunny, selected in the Australian All Schools Football Team.

These are wonderful achievements, but perhaps the most important part of their stories is not the final selection, medal or opportunity. It is how they got there.

All three have something very important in common: they were coachable, they were patient, and they stayed the course.

In junior sport, patience can be difficult. Every young athlete who dreams of competing at an elite or professional level wants recognition — and understandably, the earlier it comes, the more exciting it feels.

Along the way, talented young athletes and their families will often be presented with opportunities from outside schools, clubs and academies. Sometimes it can feel like what we might call “love bombing” in sport — constant attention, promises of greater exposure, better opportunities, better coaching or a supposedly faster pathway to success.

For a young athlete, that can be incredibly appealing.

But families need to ask an important question: at what cost?

The cost is not always simply financial. It can mean hours of additional travel each week, time away from family, changes to schooling, additional training loads, new living arrangements and significant pressure on both the athlete and those around them.

Bigger clubs, schools and academies understandably cast their nets far and wide looking for talented athletes. They can present an exciting story about what their program may provide. What is sometimes less visible, however, is the reality that not every athlete recruited into these environments will progress. Sometimes, despite the sacrifices a family makes, an athlete can simply become another number in a very large system.

That doesn't mean these opportunities should be avoided. Many are outstanding and can be exactly the right next step for an athlete. It simply means families should tread carefully, ask questions and seek advice before making major decisions.

Consider the age of your child. What stage of development are they currently in? Are they physically, emotionally and socially ready for the next step? What will changing schools, clubs, coaches or environments mean for them? How much travel will be involved? What impact will it have on the family? And perhaps most importantly — what happens if everything is placed into one sporting basket and the pathway doesn't work out as planned?

There is rarely one single road to becoming an elite athlete.

Sometimes the best decision is not to chase the biggest opportunity immediately, but to remain in an environment where an athlete is happy, supported, challenged and continuing to develop.

Daniel, Amaia and Charlotte are great reminders of this. Their journeys have not been about chasing every opportunity placed in front of them. They have continued to work, listen, learn and improve. They trusted the people around them, remained patient when recognition did not always come immediately, and were ready when the right opportunities arrived.

Being coachable matters. Patience matters. Consistency matters.

Talent may open doors, but there is enormous value in staying the course long enough to become truly prepared to walk through them.

For our young athletes and their families, my advice is simple: don't be afraid to have the conversations. Speak with coaches, teachers, other parents, athletes who have travelled the pathway and people who have no vested interest in the decision.

Ask questions. Look beyond the sales pitch. Consider the whole child — not simply the athlete.

The goal should never be to get there first.

The goal is to make sure that when the right opportunity comes, you are ready for it.

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