--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not the time spent with the child…" description: "\"It is not the time spent with the child at their activity that is going to produce the highest level athlete. It is in supporting the child in an organ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/frank-shorter-12870_activity_it-is-not-the-time-spent-with-the-child_2173236.jpg" --- # It is not the time spent with the child at their activity… ![“It is not the time spent with the child at their activity that is going to produce the highest level athlete. It is in supporting the child in an organized activity - and Bill alluded to this - so the child can find what they truly like to do and let them go.” quote by Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/frank-shorter-12870_activity_it-is-not-the-time-spent-with-the-child_2173236.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/frank-shorter-12870_activity_it-is-not-the-time-spent-with-the-child_2173236.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/frank-shorter-12870_activity_it-is-not-the-time-spent-with-the-child_2173236.jpg) > “It is not the time spent with the child at their activity that is going to produce the highest level athlete. It is in supporting the child in an organized activity - and Bill alluded to this - so the child can find what they truly like to do and let them go.” [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Developing elite athletes requires letting children discover their true passions through organized activities, not just time spent together. **In simple terms:** Focus on helping kids find what they love, not just time spent. Key Takeaway Guide children to discover and pursue their genuine interests. Themes sports development passion mentorship Mood motivational strategic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - youth sports programs - school clubs - family coaching - personal development Key Concepts talent identification long‑term growth self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - What methods help children uncover their real interests? - How can mentors balance guidance with autonomy? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on time can ignore quality of engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [It is not the time spent with the child at their activity that is going to produce the highest level athlete. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/it-is-not-the-time-spent-with-the-child-at-their-activity-that-is/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [In general it's good to give children as wide a choice as possible, and there is no harm in encouraging children to play with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/in-general-it-s-good-to-give-children-as-wide-a-choice-as-possible/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Just because the state withholds money from your paycheck and calls it child support doesn't mean you are supporting the child if you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/just-because-the-state-withholds-money-from-your-paycheck-and-calls/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [I've been a high-level athlete since I was five years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-ve-been-a-high-level-athlete-since-i-was-five-years-old/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [You might be an elite-level athlete in the room, but if no one gets to see you display your craft it doesn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aljamain-sterling/you-might-be-an-elite-level-athlete-in-the-room-but-if-no-one-gets-to/) [Aljamain Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aljamain-sterling/) > [There was an interview that I actually listened to with John Cena where he says that he is an elite-level athlete - he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/there-was-an-interview-that-i-actually-listened-to-with-john-cena/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [Any top-level athlete, it's always the same. There's always that hint of arrogance there... It's hard to be humble when you're the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/any-top-level-athlete-it-s-always-the-same-there-s-always-that-hint/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [It's all about brand exposure, building your brand, building your image and just getting to that next level as an athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aljamain-sterling/it-s-all-about-brand-exposure-building-your-brand-building-your-image/) [Aljamain Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aljamain-sterling/) > [I'm a national level athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-batra/i-m-a-national-level-athlete/) [Pooja Batra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-batra/) > [I'm a competitor at the highest level. I like to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/i-m-a-competitor-at-the-highest-level-i-like-to-compete/) [Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/) > [I want to reach something with a team and go to the highest level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaap-stam/i-want-to-reach-something-with-a-team-and-go-to-the-highest-level/) [Jaap Stam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaap-stam/) > [I played at the highest level throughout my career and I'm happy about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/i-played-at-the-highest-level-throughout-my-career-and-i-m-happy/) [Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/) > [I wanted to be a soccer player; I wanted to do it at the highest level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/i-wanted-to-be-a-soccer-player-i-wanted-to-do-it-at-the-highest-level/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [If I cannot be the best or operate at the best highest level, then I need to go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-ziggler/if-i-cannot-be-the-best-or-operate-at-the-best-highest-level-then-i/) [Dolph Ziggler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-ziggler/) > [One little mistake at the highest level costs you a fight, which I've learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-manuwa/one-little-mistake-at-the-highest-level-costs-you-a-fight-which-i-ve/) [Jimi Manuwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-manuwa/) ## More by Frank Shorter > [What you did was live on very little. I think all of us that were competing - Bill is the same way - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/what-you-did-was-live-on-very-little-i-think-all-of-us-that-were/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [Again, racing for me was about energy management.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/again-racing-for-me-was-about-energy-management/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [When you first run up First Avenue in New York, if you don't get goose bumps, theres something wrong with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/when-you-first-run-up-first-avenue-in-new-york-if-you-don-t-get-goose/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [The irony of that is, what makes it kind of ironic, is when you do become successful as a professional athlete in particular, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/the-irony-of-that-is-what-makes-it-kind-of-ironic-is-when-you-do/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [When I am totally race fit, I don't worry about breathing or technique - they take care of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/when-i-am-totally-race-fit-i-don-t-worry-about-breathing-or-technique/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [When you are caring about your children perhaps you always have to remember at what point you can become over involved because of something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/when-you-are-caring-about-your-children-perhaps-you-always-have-to/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [The marathon is all about energy management. I had planned to run it like a track race with strategic surges to blow up my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/the-marathon-is-all-about-energy-management-i-had-planned-to-run-it/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [I admire runners older than I - they are now my heroes. I want to be like them as I grow older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/i-admire-runners-older-than-i-they-are-now-my-heroes-i-want-to-be/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [In other words we have marketed our way into this health crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/in-other-words-we-have-marketed-our-way-into-this-health-crisis/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [ The thing that makes \[Bob\] Kennedy so good is that he doesn't have a fear of losing. 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It's as simple as that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/my-goal-has-always-been-to-slow-down-as-slowly-as-possible-it-s-as/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [The weather is perfect. The gods are shining on us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/the-weather-is-perfect-the-gods-are-shining-on-us/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [It is not the time spent with the child at their activity that is going to produce the highest level athlete. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/it-is-not-the-time-spent-with-the-child-at-their-activity-that-is/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) [Explore all 52 Frank Shorter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) Gero Miesenbock > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not the time spent with the child at their activity that is going to produce the highest level athlete. 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