Expert in a year ?

I have read Sam Priestley and Ben Larcombe's book 'Expert in a Year: The Ultimate Table Tennis Challenge', (2015).

The idea here was to give Sam quality coaching in a year and see if he can penetrate the 250th ranking in the UK with his expertise.

He cannot. But the process did lift him into a quality adult player but the level of 250th ranked player is very high, indeed and the pair recognise this.

At the end of the book the process of growth is the success. It shows how repetition and practice feed into success - realistic success that can be mimicked. At the end of the book he has about 25 core findings. His 22nd point is 'Practice, Learn, Reflect, Repeat'.

The reflection idea is for us to be our own coach.

Another comment he makes is 25 Don't compare yourself to others, as that sets you up for unrealistic benchmarks and a feeling of inadequacy.

1 Turn it into a thing.

This means make the activity a part of your life pattern. It is like a new arm, no a collectable toy.
He said if he was not part of the challenge - which had set the goal of being an expert in a year then this would not have progressed at all.

The pair had posted youtube videos which can be looked back upon to show growth.

A by-product of the challenge was it inspired others to progress too and mimic this idea. Sam has gone onto accept other challenges - such as be a Brazilian expert in a year. Be aware however, Sam has time and money to travel off to training camps for coaching and competitions, too, which we wont all have but if you take point 25, above, that is not an issue really, it just shows he is doing what he can to achieve his goals within his means.