Dear Academy Club,
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy is focused on supporting clubs to create the best environments for individual player development. Some players mature and develop on different timelines than other players of the same age and we want to provide these players with the appropriate individual player-specific training and playing environments. Therefore, an age exception will be made for a maximum of four late maturing players (no more than two each, per identified age group). This applies to both the U-15 (2004) and U-16 (2003) age groups for the boys’ DA. This allows those players to play games with the age group one year younger than their birth year to enhance their long-term soccer development. Each club may identify and submit up to two players from within their club to be designated as late maturing players at the U-15 and U-16 age groups for approval.
For example, in the 2018-19 season:
- 2 boys players born in 2003 (U-16) may be eligible to play with 2004 (U-15 age group) birth year
- 2 boys players born in 2004 (U-15) may be eligible to play with 2005 (U-14 age group) birth year
Scientific research shows females mature at an accelerated rate compared to males. Therefore, based on the age groups of the girl’s Academy, the late maturing policy does not apply for girls in the Academy.
What is a late maturing player?
All players go through physical development at different times and rates despite sharing the same birth year. These development stages are often defined as early, on-time or late maturing. A late maturing player is someone who has a delayed growth in size, shape and muscle compared to the normal expectations within their birth year.
What are the characteristics of a late maturing boys player?
- Smaller in childhood & adolescence, enter puberty at about 13-14 years old (early maturing players enter puberty at 10-11)
- Slower gains in height, weight, absolute/relative muscle mass during puberty
- Higher rates of anxiousness
- Potentially socially awkward, submissive and immature in behavior
Why is it important to identify and support late maturing players in soccer?
Late maturing players can often be overlooked in soccer and other sports because they may struggle physically to compete within their age group. Due to late maturing players being smaller in size and having less muscle mass, they are often physically less impressive than other players within youth sports. However, these players may be potentially your best players and thus we want to ensure the environment allows them to thrive and develop without being suppressed by early maturing, big and strong players. It is proven that once all players reach adulthood, all physical advantage or disadvantage from maturity are removed.
How can we assess a player’s maturity status?
- Skeletal hand X-Ray – Completed by medically trained professionals
- Anthropometric (body) measurements – Khamis-Roche method and/or Maturity offset method
- Observational player characteristics – small in comparable size & stature, lack of muscle size & definition and Pubertal characteristics – lack of facial hair for boys and/or voice not dropped
What do clubs need to do?
Clubs are not required to submit any late developers, but if a club would like to designate late developing players, the club must send a letter to
academy@ussoccer.org with the subject: “Late Developers – (CLUB NAME)” no later than 5:00pm CT on Wednesday, August 15th. The email should include both a physical and a technical explanation why the club wants to give the player(s) the opportunity to play down. Please note that these players will still count as a roster spot on their true-age team and may also play with their true-age team at any point throughout the season. This option should be part of a long-term individual player development plan. Therefore, following the August 15th deadline, clubs may not make any changes, additions or replacements to these identified players through the rest of the 2018-19 season for any reason.
We expect clubs to create a well thought out plan for this opportunity and believe with this initiative will provide late developing players a better chance to develop to their full potential.
If you have questions about the initiative, player selection, or individual player development planning please contact
academy@ussoccer.org
Thank you,
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U.S. Soccer Development Academy
