Skeletal maturation status is more strongly associated with academy selection than birth quarter

Premier League academy soccer players’ experiences of competing in a tournament bio-banded for biological maturation

“…This argument only holds, however, if the challenge faced by the late developers is surmountable and if they no longer compete in age group competitions. As noted, late maturing boys, regardless of technical and psychological ability, are markedly less likely to be retained and/or progress within the academy system (Johnson, et al, 2017;Zuber, et al, 2016). This suggests that the challenge of competing against their physically more mature peers is, for the majority late developers, simply too much.…”

“…Conversely, late maturing boys are more likely to be overlooked, excluded, or denied developmental opportunities, regardless of ability (Cobley, 2016). A recent study of English and Qatari Academy soccer players found that those advanced in maturation were up to 20 times more likely to be retained within the academy system, with selection biases most evident in the oldest age groups (Johnson, et al, 2017). Similarly, a recent longitudinal study of elite junior Swiss soccer players aged 12 to 15 years found that late maturing boys, though more skilled and motivated, consistently failed to progress to the highest performance levels (Zuber, Zibung, & Conzelmann, 2016).…”

“…Maturation refers to progress towards the adult stature and can be considered in terms of stage, tempo (i.e., rate of maturation), and timing. It should not be confused with relative age which represents chronological age relative to the individual birth record and competition cut off dates, and is, at most, a weak-to-moderate proxy of maturation, especially in samples of elite junior athletes (Johnson, Farooq, & Whiteley, 2017;Malina, Ribeiro, Aroso, & Cumming, 2007). A selection gradient towards early maturing males is evident from 12-13 years and increases with age and competitive level (Coelho e Silva et al, 2010;Figueiredo, Goncalves, Silva, & Malina, 2009;Johnson et al, 2017;Malina, 2011).…”

“…It should not be confused with relative age which represents chronological age relative to the individual birth record and competition cut off dates, and is, at most, a weak-to-moderate proxy of maturation, especially in samples of elite junior athletes (Johnson, Farooq, & Whiteley, 2017;Malina, Ribeiro, Aroso, & Cumming, 2007). A selection gradient towards early maturing males is evident from 12-13 years and increases with age and competitive level (Coelho e Silva et al, 2010;Figueiredo, Goncalves, Silva, & Malina, 2009;Johnson et al, 2017;Malina, 2011). Players advanced in biological maturation perform better in tests of strength and power, and, to a lesser extent, skills (Figueiredo, et al, 2009;Malina, Eisenmann, Cumming, Ribeiro, & Aroso, 2004;Malina, Ribeiro, et al, 2007;Meylan, et al, 2010).…”

Reliability and validity of field‐based fitness tests in youth soccer players

“…Anthropometric differences (height and mass) of players, particularly in the younger age groups, have been identified as playing an important role in performance and selection with physically bigger players chosen over the smaller players (Johnson, Farooq, & Whiteley, 2017). Having a birth date immediately after the classification cut-off for age-based junior sport provides a developmental advantage over those born immediately before this date up to one year.…”