We recently celebrated a remarkable victory as our own Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen. This raises a valid question: With many talented chess players in our country, why is only one achieving global success? We possess the intellectual and logical skills for chess, so why does only one achieve peak performance and global recognition?
In our culture, we tend to emphasize the outcome over the journey itself. When a child performs well or participates in a tournament, we often create pressure for more victories rather than encouraging improvement. The issue with this fixation on winning is that it fosters an expectation of victory rather than a focus on personal growth. While we rightly celebrate victories, we sometimes overlook the recognition of skill and effort.
Let’s take an example, imagine a 10-year-old starting chess coaching, and after a couple of years, they start playing in tournaments. Maybe they do well, even win a few matches. Now, everyone, including the child, expects them to win every time. The focus changes from improving their skills to just winning. As they get older, it’s all about their ranking and how many matches they play, not how much they practice. This happens in many families.
How can we nurture more champions? It’s about prioritizing long-term athletic development over quick results. We often seek rapid coaching and instant wins, neglecting skill development. Striking a balance between practice, progress, and performance is the key to producing more champions.
How do we find this balance? Here are some key pointers to help you do just that:
1. Individuality Matters: Recognize that every child is unique. Whether it’s a coach, a parent, or the child themselves, comparing progress with others should be done with the understanding that each player develops their skills differently and at their own pace. Instead of fixating on tournament victories, focus on observing and appreciating their individual growth and progress.
2. Goal Setting and Adaptation: When a child sets a goal, it should truly be their own. Equally important is creating a well-structured plan around it. At every stage, the focus should be on reviewing and adjusting. Often, amidst a busy tournament season, we lose sight of our original goals and become fixated on winning in the moment, neglecting the skill development required for long-term success. Regular review and realignment will help the child prioritize effectively and understand that the process is clear and well-defined, making it easier to work towards their goals.
3. Tournament Purpose: When your child participates in a competition, particularly when they are young, it’s important to differentiate between a “must-win” and an “experimental” competition. In experimental competitions, the primary goal is to apply and test the skills they’ve acquired. In must-win competitions, the focus is on securing victory. While they may win in experimental competitions, the primary emphasis is on applying their learned skills effectively in a competitive setting.
In conclusion, prioritizing progress over immediate performance and focusing on long-term results, especially during a child’s growth and learning phase, is crucial. When we use performance and rankings as indicators rather than our sole focus, we encourage the child to develop the habit of continuous improvement, ultimately paving the way for them to become a champion.