Natural Athlete

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see many times the term "Natural Athlete" being mentioned. What 3 traits best define this when you see one.

Strength
Power
Agility

[Anonymous]

all the above are pretty good indicators. But really, you just know 'em when you seem 'em. They're obvious within minutes of stepping onto the field for any sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Natural athletes more often than not have more LENGTH than most people. Meaning longer limbs than average athletes. Longer legs and wingspan is something that is looked at in the elite natural athletes. most people have a wingspan either equal to or 1-2 inches more than their height. The elite natural athletes tend to a plus 4" or more up to +10 in wingspan to height ratio. Its not sport specific its athletes across the board.

Boom !!!
As someone who works in the sports performance field. Most people don't realize the hidden factors that Pro teams look at.

Length
Hand size
body composition
Blood line (were parents athletes)
Various physiological exams to determine critical thinking processes
above all the simple eyeball test (watching them play)

[Anonymous]

Intuitive ... or high sports IQ

[Anonymous]

Don’t forget this important one, a coach that hands pick the natural athlete because he’s friends with mommy and daddy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Natural athletes more often than not have more LENGTH than most people. Meaning longer limbs than average athletes. Longer legs and wingspan is something that is looked at in the elite natural athletes. most people have a wingspan either equal to or 1-2 inches more than their height. The elite natural athletes tend to a plus 4" or more up to +10 in wingspan to height ratio. Its not sport specific its athletes across the board.

Boom !!!
As someone who works in the sports performance field. Most people don't realize the hidden factors that Pro teams look at.

Length
Hand size
body composition
Blood line (were parents athletes)
Various physiological exams to determine critical thinking processes
above all the simple eyeball test (watching them play)

you mean the hidden factors that are discussed ad nauseam before every NBA and NFL draft?

[Anonymous]

Just because a player is big and has long legs/arms and large hands doesn’t mean they are athletic. I’ve seen many that are uncoordinated and slow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The elephant in the room every soccer parent pretends doesn't matter is size.

Its natural and cant be taught. true not all athletes with size are natural athletes but its a natural aspect. I will take 6'2" athlete over a 5'8" athlete with th same skill set 10 out of 10 times in almost any sport.

If you aren't looking at who is actually the better player in their sport you are doing it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just because a player is big and has long legs/arms and large hands doesn’t mean they are athletic. I’ve seen many that are uncoordinated and slow.

True but these more characteristic of a natural athlete , The physical traits are there just not active. Very few are "natural athletes" in the big picture. Many have traits but if they dont click its all for nothing.

Remember hard work beats plain talent some of the time. But talent that works hard beats plain hard work almost every time.

[Anonymous]

You can literally measure strength, power, and agility

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The elephant in the room every soccer parent pretends doesn't matter is size.

Its natural and cant be taught. true not all athletes with size are natural athletes but its a natural aspect. I will take 6'2" athlete over a 5'8" athlete with th same skill set 10 out of 10 times in almost any sport.

If you aren't looking at who is actually the better player in their sport you are doing it wrong.

That makes no sense . The PP said the same skill set. So the bigger athlete is more valuable unless you're talking about horse jockeys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Natural athletes more often than not have more LENGTH than most people. Meaning longer limbs than average athletes. Longer legs and wingspan is something that is looked at in the elite natural athletes. most people have a wingspan either equal to or 1-2 inches more than their height. The elite natural athletes tend to a plus 4" or more up to +10 in wingspan to height ratio. Its not sport specific its athletes across the board.

This is hokum as a general principle. There are definitely certain extreme attributes that are beneficial for specific sports but that is the whole argument AGAINST a ideal body type. The concept of a ideal athletic body type is outdated. Sports have their own very specific range of body types that put athletes in the upper extreme that gives them the advantage of being "elite" in their chosen sport.

NBA players are not only tall but yes, have longer wing spans in relation to the rest of population that shares their same height. Michael Phelps is another example of a extreme body type that in particular excels at swimming.

Elite Marathon Runners have longer, thinner legs than most normal people. Their torsos are also shorter than average.

When athletes get so fine tuned for the most elite levels this is why the whole "but our best athletes play basketball" fails to hold water. The actual best of the best in their chosen sport are elite in their chosen sport due in part to the very specific body type differences that give them an edge in those sports. Those advantages are not transferable across all sports. The attributes that make one person a great basketball may in fact be a detriment on the soccer field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The elephant in the room every soccer parent pretends doesn't matter is size.

Its natural and cant be taught. true not all athletes with size are natural athletes but its a natural aspect. I will take 6'2" athlete over a 5'8" athlete with th same skill set 10 out of 10 times in almost any sport.

If you aren't looking at who is actually the better player in their sport you are doing it wrong.

That makes no sense . The PP said the same skill set. So the bigger athlete is more valuable unless you're talking about horse jockeys.

Skill sets are measurables. There are other intangibles that make up the complete player.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Natural athletes more often than not have more LENGTH than most people. Meaning longer limbs than average athletes. Longer legs and wingspan is something that is looked at in the elite natural athletes. most people have a wingspan either equal to or 1-2 inches more than their height. The elite natural athletes tend to a plus 4" or more up to +10 in wingspan to height ratio. Its not sport specific its athletes across the board.

This is hokum as a general principle. There are definitely certain extreme attributes that are beneficial for specific sports but that is the whole argument AGAINST a ideal body type. The concept of a ideal athletic body type is outdated. Sports have their own very specific range of body types that put athletes in the upper extreme that gives them the advantage of being "elite" in their chosen sport.

NBA players are not only tall but yes, have longer wing spans in relation to the rest of population that shares their same height. Michael Phelps is another example of a extreme body type that in particular excels at swimming.

Elite Marathon Runners have longer, thinner legs than most normal people. Their torsos are also shorter than average.

When athletes get so fine tuned for the most elite levels this is why the whole "but our best athletes play basketball" fails to hold water. The actual best of the best in their chosen sport are elite in their chosen sport due in part to the very specific body type differences that give them an edge in those sports. Those advantages are not transferable across all sports. The attributes that make one person a great basketball may in fact be a detriment on the soccer field.

True to an extent, However a 5'7" soccer player with longer legs and a natural body composition of better fast twitch muscles is genetically disposed to possibly have the advantage over the same 5'7" player with shorter legs and less dominance of fast twitch muscle.

So much comes down to the advantage of DNA. You still have to work hard, But your DNA gives you the natural advantage if you chose take advantage of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Natural athletes more often than not have more LENGTH than most people. Meaning longer limbs than average athletes. Longer legs and wingspan is something that is looked at in the elite natural athletes. most people have a wingspan either equal to or 1-2 inches more than their height. The elite natural athletes tend to a plus 4" or more up to +10 in wingspan to height ratio. Its not sport specific its athletes across the board.

This is hokum as a general principle. There are definitely certain extreme attributes that are beneficial for specific sports but that is the whole argument AGAINST a ideal body type. The concept of a ideal athletic body type is outdated. Sports have their own very specific range of body types that put athletes in the upper extreme that gives them the advantage of being "elite" in their chosen sport.

NBA players are not only tall but yes, have longer wing spans in relation to the rest of population that shares their same height. Michael Phelps is another example of a extreme body type that in particular excels at swimming.

Elite Marathon Runners have longer, thinner legs than most normal people. Their torsos are also shorter than average.

When athletes get so fine tuned for the most elite levels this is why the whole "but our best athletes play basketball" fails to hold water. The actual best of the best in their chosen sport are elite in their chosen sport due in part to the very specific body type differences that give them an edge in those sports. Those advantages are not transferable across all sports. The attributes that make one person a great basketball may in fact be a detriment on the soccer field.

True to an extent, However a 5'7" soccer player with longer legs and a natural body composition of better fast twitch muscles is genetically disposed to possibly have the advantage over the same 5'7" player with shorter legs and less dominance of fast twitch muscle.

So much comes down to the advantage of DNA. You still have to work hard, But your DNA gives you the natural advantage if you chose take advantage of it.

Like other sports have their ideal body type soccer has its ideal body type. But, overall, outside of keepers, elite soccer players fall inline with a normal height distribution among the general population than do the other sports discussed. While professional soccer players may be taller than the general population, excluding keepers, the difference is not nearly as extreme as NFL, NBA etc. And with such a wide range of size in professional soccer it is really hard to hone in on particular measurables as a baseline.