I definitely agree that there are several areas that can be improved - by looking at the needs of the athlete, whether it be a child or an elite athlete. Doing something as simple as asking the kid whether he or she enjoys the sport and then asking why - what makes it fun or not fun - and LISTENING to the answer. Maybe it's the skills involved, maybe it's the people.

But - the article is just a voice sticking up for all the athletes that have to deal with media, public commentators, fans and just people generally, who think they know the whole story, and are across all the reasons why the athlete is winning or losing.

A football player might feel he had a great game, but he scored no tries so he has to listen to the average punter asking "what happened mate, why are you playing so badly?". Put yourself in his shoes - what answer do you give? How do you feel? What's harder - contemplating your own performance yourself, or answering questions from people who have a limited knowledge of the game? Keep in mind every answer you give will be commented on, possibly misquoted and reported out of context, and you'll never hear the end of it if you say what you really think.

The article is acknowledging that even professional athletes are human, and have feelings and experience self-doubt, and so it's saying hey punters and media, be careful with the power you have over the feelings - and thus performance of the athletes. Realise you don't know the full story, you're being told only a part of it, and realise that NO - elite athletes aren't generally trained to cope with something that can be very demoralising.