Great video! Have to add in mental development as well. For kids born at the end of a calendar year they are also mentally behind those born in Q1 of the same year.
💯 and also true in the US. Boys between the ages of 10 - 14 grow differently. One kid might have a size advantage for a period of time, but they all eventually catch up. The bigger kids also have a disadvantage as they end up relying on their size rather than their ball handling skills
I agree that if you track the score and the record and put it on a table/ranking, that makes everyone want to "win" at the expense of development focus. But then again, there is an element of fun in seeing scores. I think in typical club soccer setting, there should be a mix. League matches, with table. Tournaments. AND.... and this is what is missing, lots of pickup games with no result that is recorded. This is where the kids will be most free to experiment.
@@CatalanSoccer But there is no money in pickup games, I'm guessing that is why clubs do not do them. Kids used to initiate them on their own. But for whatever reason is seems more rare these days. I wish the clubs would let kids play pickup (when the fields are free) and have a parent volunteer just chaperone. No ref or coach is needed.
I totally agree and thwnx for the content. My son is short for his age and is born in late December and is playing against kids up to +/-22 months older than him, as the football league only has U6/U8/U10. Because of his height and size difference he hides in the game as he is afraid of getting hurt and it is sometimes a struggle to encourage him to play on match days. If he was allowed to play U6, he would enjoy the game so much more.
My little boy is 9, and you'd think size wise he is 7, as is another boy in his team. Both boys around 125cm tall in shoes. We've played in our 3rd tournament today and lost all 8 games we played in. What I did notice again is, some teams have children who would make under 11s look small, so to put size against size, we were throughout all positions 1 of the smaller teams in attendance. The physical nature of the game, pace, and developement of smaller against larger children on the ball is extremely vast! So what's the answer? Play children according to size not age? You could have a year 6 against a year 3, but the way they both read the game would be different dependant on game time and experience
My son is an August kid and he’s been playing in the academy against kids nearly twice his size that are nearly 11 months older than him. I agree things need to change
This is so true. I have 2 players born in August. 1 is like a battering ram and is as physical as our biggest player born 11 months before them and another that's born 1 day before the cut off and would be more suited to the year below and would then be way ahead of that year group
Hi, I text you from Spain. I watched your video and I partially agree with you but not absolutely. From my point of view, the key point here is the time of competition. Players with a higher physiological maturation are taller, heavier and stronger.... coaches want to win... so they let these players play most of the time while lighter players rotate in the bench. Day by day, month by month and year by year this situation makes that lighter players have less competitive time, less learning and less progression. In five years, the difference between groups it will be insurmountable. Great video and great content. Mis mejores deseos, espero que sigas creando contenido de calidad que ayude a que hagamos el fútbol entre todos cada día un poco mejor y a que los niños puedan disfrutar de este deporte. Un saludo.
A really interesting perspective and difficult to argue against. Playing by age group makes it easy and people are put off by change and complexity unfortunately. Let's hope the FA take notice 🙏
Here is the states. I was just having this conversation with my wife last night. I come from a 20+ year background in coaching kids in cycling and BMX. Our kids have had no interest in bikes so we tried soccer this year. I am coaching both their teams. My daughter is days from 5 and my son almost 10. Both are very small and both have never really played soccer let alone kicked a ball much. They enjoy it but yes can’t get in the mix, aren’t fast enough and their skills are behind. So yes I’m already seeing them discouraged on game 4 and have no real opportunities to succeed and yes they will probably not want to push through another season of it. It breaks my heart because even at almost 43 and I haven’t played soccer since Highschool I can remember the love and joy I had for the game. So yes I only can hope that they would let them both stay back one age level but even still with 7 or 8 games and 15ish practices it’s not likely that they will even have the time to improve. In BMX beginners for the most part never race kids that are more experienced but wow there are kids on both my kids teams that are outstanding players. It is sad to see for sure.
Great description of a similar problem in USA. Messi would never have made it in the US soccer system since his endurance and speed would not meet the minimum requirements, and his impossible vision and deadly passing would be viewed as secondary skills. Only his full field shalom dribbling would be respected which he hasn't done for years. My thought though is that the Ux age system is currently the only practical system that cannot be taken advantage of. I feel style of play is the best way to address the age issue. Some clubs know the problem exists and will say they will rotate positions and not focus on kick and run. But watch most youth games and practice and it is mostly one dimensional kick and run forward to one or two dominant players with everyone else watching. Playing team offense and defense, passing in all directions, dribbling in all directions, and rotating positions will give more chances for players to develop different skills, including soccer IQ, appropriate to their age and physical development other than kick and run.
Depending on the league, you can register your kid with any birthdate you want without proof of date of birth. Shouldn’t ever be an issue unless they are dominating and someone wants you to produce a birth certificate.
This was a great video. I have two kids in my squad who are tiny but great players but where they do struggle is in making good strong passes or shots if their body isn't in perfect position to do so. But other than that, they've flourished against bigger kids. Perhaps using height at the beginning of a season to determine teams would be better. A "U48in." instead of "U9", for example, and go up every 6" or so until they reach 11 or 12 years old...
The parents =) at U7 level, the coaches are volunteers and havent kept up with changes in society and carry the "old school" ways of soccer, some still see football as survival of the fittest and "beating" the other team, rather than the long term view and building skill and confidence over the long term. They dont even know it. If you were presiding over the football club, would you rather have a strong club that has a tough reputation about it, or a club that caters to the whim of a few for emotional damage?
Think the FA need to get a grip of grassroots in my opinion. Parents do an online course that allows them to facilitate football but for some take it that they are the next pep and only want the best kids on their team (probably because they don't know how to coach) ?? Totally agree it should be about ability and physicality at such a young age. You don't throw a non swimmer in the deep end nor an Olympic swimmer in the splash pool so why in football. Granted parents have a massive roll and also the clubs involved.
So where do you draw the line then as there will always be bigger and smaller kids its called DNA. Kids grow at differwnt rates and a kid thats smaller at the beginning of yhe season could end up one of the tallest by the end of it. Youve identified a so called problem come up with a solution what do you want to do make it like boxing and have the players all weigh in before a game ??? My 9 year old nephew is the same height as 13 year old daughter who is 5'3" so does that mean he should uave to play U14 because of his size ???
No, we’re not saying that you HAVE to do anything. But allowing flexibility, making it easier for smaller kids to play at a reasonable level and give all kids more chance for success is the point. Your nephew should play at a level that allows them challenge, success and creativity. We’re not saying to force all tall kids to play above their year age.
Great video! Have to add in mental development as well. For kids born at the end of a calendar year they are also mentally behind those born in Q1 of the same year.
💯 and also true in the US. Boys between the ages of 10 - 14 grow differently. One kid might have a size advantage for a period of time, but they all eventually catch up. The bigger kids also have a disadvantage as they end up relying on their size rather than their ball handling skills
I agree that if you track the score and the record and put it on a table/ranking, that makes everyone want to "win" at the expense of development focus.
But then again, there is an element of fun in seeing scores.
I think in typical club soccer setting, there should be a mix.
League matches, with table.
Tournaments.
AND.... and this is what is missing, lots of pickup games with no result that is recorded. This is where the kids will be most free to experiment.
I love that idea. A mix of all of them would be great. The either/or results system means it’s an all or nothing game 🤔
@@CatalanSoccer But there is no money in pickup games, I'm guessing that is why clubs do not do them. Kids used to initiate them on their own. But for whatever reason is seems more rare these days.
I wish the clubs would let kids play pickup (when the fields are free) and have a parent volunteer just chaperone. No ref or coach is needed.
I totally agree and thwnx for the content. My son is short for his age and is born in late December and is playing against kids up to +/-22 months older than him, as the football league only has U6/U8/U10. Because of his height and size difference he hides in the game as he is afraid of getting hurt and it is sometimes a struggle to encourage him to play on match days.
If he was allowed to play U6, he would enjoy the game so much more.
My little boy is 9, and you'd think size wise he is 7, as is another boy in his team. Both boys around 125cm tall in shoes.
We've played in our 3rd tournament today and lost all 8 games we played in. What I did notice again is, some teams have children who would make under 11s look small, so to put size against size, we were throughout all positions 1 of the smaller teams in attendance. The physical nature of the game, pace, and developement of smaller against larger children on the ball is extremely vast!
So what's the answer? Play children according to size not age? You could have a year 6 against a year 3, but the way they both read the game would be different dependant on game time and experience
My son is an August kid and he’s been playing in the academy against kids nearly twice his size that are nearly 11 months older than him. I agree things need to change
Change or at least be more flexible! It’s so black and white but doesn’t need to be!
This is so true. I have 2 players born in August. 1 is like a battering ram and is as physical as our biggest player born 11 months before them and another that's born 1 day before the cut off and would be more suited to the year below and would then be way ahead of that year group
Hi, I text you from Spain. I watched your video and I partially agree with you but not absolutely. From my point of view, the key point here is the time of competition. Players with a higher physiological maturation are taller, heavier and stronger.... coaches want to win... so they let these players play most of the time while lighter players rotate in the bench. Day by day, month by month and year by year this situation makes that lighter players have less competitive time, less learning and less progression. In five years, the difference between groups it will be insurmountable. Great video and great content. Mis mejores deseos, espero que sigas creando contenido de calidad que ayude a que hagamos el fútbol entre todos cada día un poco mejor y a que los niños puedan disfrutar de este deporte. Un saludo.
A really interesting perspective and difficult to argue against. Playing by age group makes it easy and people are put off by change and complexity unfortunately. Let's hope the FA take notice 🙏
Here is the states. I was just having this conversation with my wife last night. I come from a 20+ year background in coaching kids in cycling and BMX. Our kids have had no interest in bikes so we tried soccer this year. I am coaching both their teams. My daughter is days from 5 and my son almost 10. Both are very small and both have never really played soccer let alone kicked a ball much. They enjoy it but yes can’t get in the mix, aren’t fast enough and their skills are behind. So yes I’m already seeing them discouraged on game 4 and have no real opportunities to succeed and yes they will probably not want to push through another season of it. It breaks my heart because even at almost 43 and I haven’t played soccer since Highschool I can remember the love and joy I had for the game. So yes I only can hope that they would let them both stay back one age level but even still with 7 or 8 games and 15ish practices it’s not likely that they will even have the time to improve. In BMX beginners for the most part never race kids that are more experienced but wow there are kids on both my kids teams that are outstanding players. It is sad to see for sure.
That’s a real shame, no matter what sport they choose to pursue I hope they find something that captures that joy for them! There is nothing like it!
Great description of a similar problem in USA. Messi would never have made it in the US soccer system since his endurance and speed would not meet the minimum requirements, and his impossible vision and deadly passing would be viewed as secondary skills. Only his full field shalom dribbling would be respected which he hasn't done for years. My thought though is that the Ux age system is currently the only practical system that cannot be taken advantage of. I feel style of play is the best way to address the age issue. Some clubs know the problem exists and will say they will rotate positions and not focus on kick and run. But watch most youth games and practice and it is mostly one dimensional kick and run forward to one or two dominant players with everyone else watching. Playing team offense and defense, passing in all directions, dribbling in all directions, and rotating positions will give more chances for players to develop different skills, including soccer IQ, appropriate to their age and physical development other than kick and run.
Depending on the league, you can register your kid with any birthdate you want without proof of date of birth. Shouldn’t ever be an issue unless they are dominating and someone wants you to produce a birth certificate.
This was a great video. I have two kids in my squad who are tiny but great players but where they do struggle is in making good strong passes or shots if their body isn't in perfect position to do so. But other than that, they've flourished against bigger kids. Perhaps using height at the beginning of a season to determine teams would be better. A "U48in." instead of "U9", for example, and go up every 6" or so until they reach 11 or 12 years old...
Love that idea!
I see this in every practices and games, completly agree.
I really agree with you on this Ben. Well Said
Thank you! Really appreciate the support!
The parents =) at U7 level, the coaches are volunteers and havent kept up with changes in society and carry the "old school" ways of soccer, some still see football as survival of the fittest and "beating" the other team, rather than the long term view and building skill and confidence over the long term. They dont even know it. If you were presiding over the football club, would you rather have a strong club that has a tough reputation about it, or a club that caters to the whim of a few for emotional damage?
There needs to be a buffer zone…..born in June/July/August they can play down.
Great idea!
My son bday is in July and it’s tough. He think for his confidence he need U8 but he has to compete U9 this fall.
This is so true. ❤
In Austria a U14 born after September can play U13 as well. But only after U14
Think the FA need to get a grip of grassroots in my opinion.
Parents do an online course that allows them to facilitate football but for some take it that they are the next pep and only want the best kids on their team (probably because they don't know how to coach) ??
Totally agree it should be about ability and physicality at such a young age. You don't throw a non swimmer in the deep end nor an Olympic swimmer in the splash pool so why in football.
Granted parents have a massive roll and also the clubs involved.
Thanks Andrew, some great points you make! Unfortunately the FA has been letting down grassroots in a lot of ways for a long time!
@@CatalanSoccer totally agree 👍
So where do you draw the line then as there will always be bigger and smaller kids its called DNA. Kids grow at differwnt rates and a kid thats smaller at the beginning of yhe season could end up one of the tallest by the end of it.
Youve identified a so called problem come up with a solution what do you want to do make it like boxing and have the players all weigh in before a game ??? My 9 year old nephew is the same height as 13 year old daughter who is 5'3" so does that mean he should uave to play U14 because of his size ???
No, we’re not saying that you HAVE to do anything. But allowing flexibility, making it easier for smaller kids to play at a reasonable level and give all kids more chance for success is the point. Your nephew should play at a level that allows them challenge, success and creativity. We’re not saying to force all tall kids to play above their year age.