Raggamufin
BRONZE
I heard this wasn't happening last Friday as I directly asked
Dear Academy Club,
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy is focused on individual player development within the Academy Clubs. Our staff believes that boys players mature and develop on different timelines and 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 boys players (no more than two each, per identified age group). This applies to both the boys U-15 (2003) and U-16 (2002) age groups to allow 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 will be responsible for identifying up to two players each at the U-15 and U-16 age groups during the preseason, informing the Development Academy of these late maturing players.
For example, in the 2017-18 season:
- 2 players born in 2002 (U-16) may be eligible to play with 2003 (U-15 age group) birth year; and
- 2 players born in 2003 (U-15) may be eligible to play with 2004 (U-14 age group) birth year
What is a late maturing player?
All boys 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 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, socially awkward, submissive and immature in behavior
Why is it important to identify and support late maturing players in soccer?
Late maturing boys 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.