[Mental Side of Table Tennis] Should You Praise “Talent” or “Effort”?

The more someone is said to be talented and skillful, the more they can do anything — but they won’t reach the top

　When I talk with coaches, some say, “That kid has talent,” or “That kid lacks a bit of talent...” Likewise, some coaches explain, “This kid will grow and become stronger in the future,” but those are abstract words — words that seem understandable, yet are actually hard to grasp in practice.

　For example, some children learn anything right away and pick things up quickly. At first glance, they seem talented. However, because they learn so fast, they tend not to repeat the same thing and work it thoroughly; instead, they quickly move on to something new. As a result, they may become good at many things on average, but end up as players without any truly outstanding strength.

　A long time ago, I coached students in the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Physical Education at university. The Faculty of Education students could handle a variety of sports skillfully. But in exchange, although they could do almost anything, there was nothing that reached an amazing level.