Answer:
Gladwell argues that late-born prodigies in Czech and Canadian sports teams are disadvantaged because they have fewer hours to practice before reaching competitive age.
Step-by-step explanation:
In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell discusses the concept of the "10,000-hour rule," which suggests that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to achieve mastery in a particular field.
Gladwell applies this concept to the phenomenon of late-born prodigies on Czech and Canadian sports teams.
He observes that there is a disproportionate number of elite athletes on these teams who were born in the first few months of the year compared to those born later in the year.
This observation seems counterintuitive, as one might expect that athletes born later in the year would have more time to develop their skills and reach their full potential.
Gladwell explains this phenomenon by arguing that the 10,000-hour rule plays a crucial role.
In sports like ice hockey and soccer, which are typically played by children, those born early in the year have a natural advantage in terms of the amount of time they have to practice before reaching the age of competition.
This early advantage allows them to accumulate more hours of deliberate practice, which, according to the 10,000-hour rule, is essential for achieving elite levels of performance.
Gladwell's explanation highlights the importance of early exposure and opportunity in developing expertise.
While natural talent may play a role, it is the consistent and deliberate practice that ultimately leads to mastery.
Late-born prodigies may face a greater challenge in overcoming this initial disadvantage, but it is not insurmountable.
With dedication and hard work, they can still achieve greatness in their chosen sport.
Thus, Gladwell argues that late-born prodigies in Czech and Canadian sports teams are disadvantaged because they have fewer hours to practice before reaching competitive age.