ItsCalledSoccer
SILVER
Do some research before you make silly comments, unless you're just fishing for likes. Players change bands as they mature, that's the whole point.
Another US Soccer idea...
- Thread starter timbuck
- Start date
Do some research before you make silly comments, unless you're just fishing for likes. Players change bands as they mature, that's the whole point.
El Clasico
GOLD
Can you be a little more specific? A huge success at what?
LadiesMan217
GOLD
Their big sally won't be buldozing 10 goals in U8 ball anymore - of course people are unhappy.
Please share which European academies use this model and the standards that they applied to determine that it’s implementation was a huge success.
ItsCalledSoccer
SILVER
Lol I highly doubt it would come in at U8, its usually used for 12-16 year olds who are going through puberty and growing at very different rates, but I see where you are coming from!
ItsCalledSoccer
SILVER
Well in the UK, you can start with Southampton, who are arguably the best academy in England and have produced more national team players than any of the other clubs in the past decade, plus Bale for Wales of course. They are pioneering it in England and a whole host of other clubs are following suit. If it's good enough for them, its good enough for the US. Again, for the top players, not little Jimmy and Sally at U7.
What would have been the really smart thing to do... Roll this out when they rolled out the Age Group changes. Roll it out as a "pilot" in a few regions or even offer it as a flight in a few tournaments to see how it is accepted and if it provides any developmental benefit for kids.
I know they are trying this at the Academy level. I'd like to think that at this level, there truly are the most skilled kids. And if a kid is really skilled and mature that he is moved up an age bracket (if not permanently, then at least for a game or 2).
I bet if you took Flight 1, 2 and 3 teams right now and looked at the ages and "bio-band" ages, there's a pretty good chances that the more "mature" kids are in Flight 1 (and are likely born between January and April).
How do they flight teams in the rest of the world?
I know they are trying this at the Academy level. I'd like to think that at this level, there truly are the most skilled kids. And if a kid is really skilled and mature that he is moved up an age bracket (if not permanently, then at least for a game or 2).
I bet if you took Flight 1, 2 and 3 teams right now and looked at the ages and "bio-band" ages, there's a pretty good chances that the more "mature" kids are in Flight 1 (and are likely born between January and April).
How do they flight teams in the rest of the world?
FlashDrive
BRONZE
oh I'm sorry I hurt some feelings, silly me
you win, you win, you win, and you win, everyone wins! Trophies for everyone
ItsCalledSoccer
SILVER
Yes, but I guess it depends how deeply US Soccer are going to commit to this. In England at least, this is only done in the professional academies. Obviously kids play up a year, but there is much more to bio banding than playing up.
I assume they will be trialling it with the DA program. As far as I know, its only being done with 12-16 year olds, so for all the U-Little players who are just bigger kids, there are other ways of coaching them and challenging them individually.
ItsCalledSoccer
SILVER
Lol how is this about everyone winning? So the kid who is bigger than everyone else and has matured quicker, would be placed with older players, where he/she would be challenged more and less likely to win. It's literally the opposite.
FlashDrive
BRONZE
oh I thought we called that simply playing up lol
LadiesMan217
GOLD
I won't school you in your lack of soccer knowledge. Rather than make you look bad I will let you do a bit of research on those 4 players and you will see the bio bands they were in. They did not play age group soccer.
Bio-Banding Supplements Academy Training and its not a Replacement
If we look at the English clubs that are experimenting with Bio-Banding, it has been reserved for the Academy system (top 1% of youth players) and is used purely for tournaments, simply a supplemental addition to the existing academy teams. So there is little likelihood that we would see this experiment outside the DA program because it would be a waste to use it on kids that have no reasonable shot at professional or national team play.
Soccer In the US Is Not a legitimate Revenue Sport (yet) that eliminate pay to play at the higher levels.
With regard to Pay-2-Play. Obviously, the US is a long, long, long way off from having anything close to the self-supported academy's in England due to the following:
(1) we have no legitimate professional leagues capable of playing at a high level on par with European and Latin American teams, thus, the revenue generating capabilities of the MLS lags terribly behind the rest of the world. As such, there isn't enough money to train/invest in youth soccer players by the so-called pro leagues (MLS and USL);
(2) the USSF and Players Council have so far rejected supporting FIFA's solidarity and training payments, thereby, eliminating incentives for all but the MLS and non-MLS clubs to "invest" in players. (see, https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/clu...tructuring-us-mens-youth-development_aid43811). Note, the only incentive MLS clubs have is the "home grown player" exception; and,
(3) we have no viable 3rd and below tiers (levels) that would support investment in youth programs. Compare that to England were they have over 11 tiers (levels) and more below that. To put this is perspective, the Level 7 Norther Premier League (not to be confused with the Premier League) Coalville Town Club's transfer value is $518k pounds on 13 players compares to the LA Galaxy's Academy (3rd team, comparable to a 4th level) with a value of 608k pounds on 33 players.
Pay to play is here to stay until soccer can displace baseball (which BTW is a pay to play sport).
LadiesMan217
GOLD
FlashDrive
BRONZE
finally.. play up.. the end.
FlashDrive
BRONZE
oh wait this just got interesting folks... so now you're saying Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil had bio-banding programs decades ago?
FlashDrive
BRONZE
me? sorry bud, I think you have to do the research.
long story short, US Soccer should worry about actually producing world stars first then worry about the filters
If US Soccer was actually producing world class players that had physical advantages when they were younger, sure bio-banding would make sense.. now give another 1% a chance
Soccer is the sport that has the US scratching its head for decades. The US has a ton of wealth and resources, better nutrition, better training facilities, better quality of life, and a whole lot of "betters" but no world class soccer players
In the end, that kid who just plays pickup in the street with $2 shoes and a beat up ball somewhere in a country with less wealth and resources will make it further in Soccer.
LadiesMan217
GOLD
oh wait this just got interesting folks... so now you're saying Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil had bio-banding programs decades ago?
YES! Where have you been? Ever been to the Biosphere? I took Biology in HS. My trash bags are biodegradable. And my DD now plays Bio-Band! Someday the best players will be bio-banded together and sold at auction like overseas. But actually let's take Neymar... He was brought into to the bio-banded Santos FC as a kid and trained and played with players ranging from 14-19 years old. Bio-banding! Messi was 13 when he went into the bio-banding... Even Pele was bio-banded. Whomever came up with this term needs to be fired... And we are not ready for bio-banding!
FlashDrive
BRONZE
ItsCalledSoccer
SILVER
I think at this point it is important to recognise that bio-banding doesn't just mean the bigger, more mature kids play against older players. It is very important for the smaller, later developers to be in an environment where they can still develop their technical skills. For too long, the US has lacked technical players, usually because they get over-run and struggle in a physical game, simply because they have matured later.
Harry Kane is the newest example of this in England, he was a very late developer and through concepts like this, was able to stay at his club and train with appropriate players until he finally grew to match his team mates.
Lets face it, we have all seen a 14/15 year old kid who has great technical skill, but just isn't quick or strong enough and struggles in the competitive games. Rather than cut him, this allows for those players to remain within a system until they are fully grown.
Harry Kane is the newest example of this in England, he was a very late developer and through concepts like this, was able to stay at his club and train with appropriate players until he finally grew to match his team mates.
Lets face it, we have all seen a 14/15 year old kid who has great technical skill, but just isn't quick or strong enough and struggles in the competitive games. Rather than cut him, this allows for those players to remain within a system until they are fully grown.