While the notion that elite players practise more
than their sub-elite counterparts is not altogether
surprising, the amount of accumulated practice
provides an astonishing portrayal of the immense
commitment required to become an elite performer.
This commitment fosters a clear ‘‘rage to master’’ in
players at an early age (Winner, 1996); an almost
obsessive desire to achieve excellence within the
domain. It is this commitment and motivation to
practise that may well be the most important
precursors to expertise; players at Premier League
Academies in England considered that the motivation
to succeed allied with the commitment to
practise were more important in achieving success
than their initial skill level or talent