College athletes overestimate their chances of going pro | Coach and Athletic Director

Illusory Superiority or the Lake Wobegon effect writ large. This isn't the kids fault BTW. They should dream big dreams by their very nature. The people responsible for their future should sprinkle in occasional doses of reality from time to time. It's the difficult part of parenting, coaching and leading, that whole reality, being objective and truthful thing.



Eventually you encounter life, which bares no resemblance whatsoever to Candy-Land. If that fantasy vs. reality thing smacks you in the face like a two-by-four at some point in your life, by all means, blame your parents. Just don't smack them in the face with a two by four.



from Coach and Athletic Director:
College athletes overestimate their chances of going pro | Coach and Athletic Director:

Here’s a look at the disparity in those who go pro versus those who believe they’ll go pro (via Inside Higher Ed): 

• Men’s hockey: 63% believe they will play professionally — reality is 0.8%

•  Men’s basketball: 76% believe they will play professionally — reality is 1.2%

•  Women’s basketball: 44% believe they will play professionally — reality is 1.9%

•  Baseball: 60% believe they will play professionally — reality is 9.4%

• Football: 52% believe they will play professionally — reality is 1.6%

It’s OK to dream, but a lot of times that fantasy leads student-athletes to neglect their studies and what should be their real priority: earning a degree.

'via Blog this'



from wikipedia:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Wobegon#The_Lake_Wobegon_effect

The Lake Wobegon effect[edit]

Main article: Illusory superiority

The Lake Wobegon effect, a natural human tendency to overestimate one's capabilities, is named after the town. The characterization of the fictional location, where "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average," has been used to describe a real and pervasive human tendency to overestimate one's achievements and capabilities in relation to others. The Lake Wobegon effect, where all or nearly all of a group claim to be above average, has been observed in high school students' appraisal of their leadership,^[8] drivers' assessments of their driving skill,^[9] and cancer patients' expectations of survival.^[10]