Expert Performance: The 10, 000 Hr, 10 year Rule.

Academics from leading universities have recently investigated professionals in various  fields such as music, sport, the law and financial sectors that revel a number of interesting and co-dependent factors . The focus of the studies is on how to achieve expertise.

Erickson et. al (1993) reported that expertise emerges as a result of intense and specific practise for a minimum of 10 ooo hr or 10 years. Although the length is relevant, a more important and co-dependent factor is the specific type of practice a person needs to achieve expertise and is relevant to their field. The specific type of practice is defined by deliberate practice.

Deliberate Practice refers to ”individualised training tasks especially designed by a coach and or teacher to improve specific aspects of an individuals performance (Erickson & Lehman 1996). During this type of practice, the person receives optimal instructions, as well as engaging in intense specific practice that has a distinct purpose and intended outcome to it. Literally millions of trials and re-trials and years of competitive experience are needed to attain expertise. Where this rule really comes alive is in the book authored by Malcom Galdwell.

Outliers ” The Story of Success”. As Gladwell describes; ” Outliers is a scientific term that describes things that lay outside normal experiences”. Gladwell in essence, dispels the myth that innate talent alone is good enough to get you where you want to go and that deliberate preparation and provided opportunity (training and competition) is the key to world-class expertise. As we are aware practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It is the thing you do that makes you good.  If you get a chance to read this book please do so it is worth the read.

The key coaching points to take away from the above,

1. Analyse and re-direct your coaching program to utilise the deliberate practice principles.
2. Train your athletes under intense, game like conditions to better prepare your athletes for competition.
3. Innate talent is a key ingredient, however, not the essential one.

All the best.