And Its Smith Posted January 16, 2022 Report Share Posted January 16, 2022 Looking for some help for a kids coaching project I’m involved in. Does anyone know any good examples of sportspeople who weren’t amazing at their sport when they were kids? Tried googling but getting nowhere and can’t think of any. Preferably looking for pros who could barely get selected for their club teams when they were in their early teens but I will take any examples! Not looking for late developers like Ian Wright as I’m sure he was banging the goals in for his under 14s team! Any help much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Shadow Posted January 16, 2022 Report Share Posted January 16, 2022 1 hour ago, And Its Smith said: Looking for some help for a kids coaching project I’m involved in. Does anyone know any good examples of sportspeople who weren’t amazing at their sport when they were kids? Tried googling but getting nowhere and can’t think of any. Preferably looking for pros who could barely get selected for their club teams when they were in their early teens but I will take any examples! Not looking for late developers like Ian Wright as I’m sure he was banging the goals in for his under 14s team! Any help much appreciated Gareth Chilcott? Due to his, er, physical abilities whilst following the City it was suggested he might benefit from joining a rugby club. So he joined Old Red's, and blossomed into an England and British Lions player. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grifty Posted January 16, 2022 Report Share Posted January 16, 2022 2 hours ago, And Its Smith said: Looking for some help for a kids coaching project I’m involved in. Does anyone know any good examples of sportspeople who weren’t amazing at their sport when they were kids? Tried googling but getting nowhere and can’t think of any. Preferably looking for pros who could barely get selected for their club teams when they were in their early teens but I will take any examples! Not looking for late developers like Ian Wright as I’m sure he was banging the goals in for his under 14s team! Any help much appreciated Not sure if it's quite what you're after but Chad 'Ochocinco" Johnson form the NFL. While I think he was talented player, his attitude and getting involved in gang/crime stopped him progressing his younger career as he could have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richwwtk Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 Dider Drogba apparently barely played football until he was 15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS2 Red Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 Ian Wright might be a good example. A good player but was rejected by professional clubs and just played non-league until finally spotted and signed in his 20s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selred Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 Bobby Reid? What about Olympians who played multiple sports? Victoria Pendleton recently took up horse riding I believe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
And Its Smith Posted January 17, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) That’s for the suggestions all. The Drogba one is particularly good. Basically the ages of the kids I work with is one where they are going for trials to get into various teams/academies and naturally a fair few will miss out so looking to run a class on looking at sports people who might have been through similar disappointing times but bounced back. Edited January 17, 2022 by And Its Smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 2 hours ago, TomF said: Could possibly say same for Vardy? Someone with more time than me could probably make up a killer list of players who are on the books of big teams as kids, were released, but went on to prove themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordy62 Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 Shane Warne mate? More through poor life choices - making and drinking and the fact he preferred Aussie rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Said Red Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 20 hours ago, Red Shadow said: Gareth Chilcott? Due to his, er, physical abilities whilst following the City it was suggested he might benefit from joining a rugby club. So he joined Old Red's, and blossomed into an England and British Lions player. That was the first example I thought of. We played rugby at Ashton Park, but it was very much the second winter game and I don't remember him as a stand out player at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Said Red Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 7 minutes ago, Fordy62 said: Shane Warne mate? More through poor life choices - making and drinking and the fact he preferred Aussie rules. The 2nd one I thought of. A friend of mine kept wicket to him for Knowle 2nds and he was sleeping in the scorebox! He reckoned he was very average in those days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordy62 Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 minute ago, Port Said Red said: The 2nd one I thought of. A friend of mine kept wicket to him for Knowle 2nds and he was sleeping in the scorebox! He reckoned he was very average in those days. He’s my hero. Genuinely the best cricketer of all time in my book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Said Red Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 2 hours ago, And Its Smith said: That’s for the suggestions all. The Drogba one is particularly good. Basically the ages of the kids I work with is one where they are going for trials to get into various teams/academies and naturally a fair few will miss out so looking to run a class on looking at sports people who might have been through similar disappointing times but bounced back. I found these sites if it helps? https://sportscroll.com/30-sports-stars-who-peaked-late/ https://www.thesportster.com/entertainment/top-15-late-bloomers-in-sports/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILINFRANCE Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 33 minutes ago, Fordy62 said: He’s my hero. Genuinely the best cricketer of all time in my book. Apparently, I watched him play at Downend many years ago; I am told he both bowled and batted. I really don’t remember seeing him - and, whilst I am well aware that Downend CC had a very welcoming bar, the two are not connected. I am also informed that he improved quite a bit in the next few years. Still on the subject of Shane Warne, I remember him bowling out Mike Gatting - a major cricket event that I watched live on the BBC. I have met many people over the years who claim to have been there and seen it live , but I genuinely wonder whether, live experience and atmosphere notwithstanding, whether that was any better than watching the endless close up action replays on the BBC, at the close of play as well. Did they actually have large pitch side screens back then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Said Red Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 Not a kid but I think this is incredible. Bobby George was playing in a professional darts tournament 10 weeks after picking up a dart for the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richwwtk Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 2 hours ago, PHILINFRANCE said: Apparently, I watched him play at Downend many years ago; I am told he both bowled and batted. I really don’t remember seeing him - and, whilst I am well aware that Downend CC had a very welcoming bar, the two are not connected. I am also informed that he improved quite a bit in the next few years. Still on the subject of Shane Warne, I remember him bowling out Mike Gatting - a major cricket event that I watched live on the BBC. I have met many people over the years who claim to have been there and seen it live , but I genuinely wonder whether, live experience and atmosphere notwithstanding, whether that was any better than watching the endless close up action replays on the BBC, at the close of play as well. Did they actually have large pitch side screens back then? No idea but there's always the song about it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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