|
Post by josimar on Dec 20, 2016 17:25:55 GMT 10
Is someone out there able to offer some advice. I'm sure there quite a few who have had experience dealing with the pros and cons of the relative age effect. There has probably even been a few threads from past years but I couldn't find anything. My 9yo was born late in the year so is sometimes giving away 10-11 months to other kids in his age group. He is better than average and perhaps on the cusp of elite (biased dad, aren't we all?) but I think is unlikely to break through the very top level given his relative age. Is it better to keep him in the older age group and battle it out to become a better player or push for a relative age position with one of the bigger clubs???
|
|
|
Post by alpha on Dec 21, 2016 11:59:52 GMT 10
Is someone out there able to offer some advice. I'm sure there quite a few who have had experience dealing with the pros and cons of the relative age effect. There has probably even been a few threads from past years but I couldn't find anything. My 9yo was born late in the year so is sometimes giving away 10-11 months to other kids in his age group. He is better than average and perhaps on the cusp of elite (biased dad, aren't we all?) but I think is unlikely to break through the very top level given his relative age. Is it better to keep him in the older age group and battle it out to become a better player or push for a relative age position with one of the bigger clubs???
Its a long road. I wouldnt be worrying about this until after SAP. Size is not a real consideration until then.
|
|
|
Post by directfk on Dec 21, 2016 15:25:23 GMT 10
josomar,
You are thinking too much. Try and get your 9yr old into a decent team in his age group and don't worry about it. If he sticks it out things will even up. Good team mates and a good coach will be his best support. My opinion anyway. My son's birthday is late in the year too but his mate's birthday is New Years Eve and his father always argued about age group criteria but what can be done ? There has to be a cut off somewhere and someone will always have a complaint.
|
|
|
Post by josimar on Dec 21, 2016 22:33:03 GMT 10
thanks. Good advice. I just want to give him the best chance possible but I think you're right. good team mates and coach are very important. Its hard when everyone tells you about junior programs in Europe and how far behind we are here. Not really something I can control I suppose.
|
|
|
Post by hellothere on Dec 22, 2016 8:55:40 GMT 10
Don't worry about what happens at that young age, find a good coach/club, make sure technique is sound
When they get to 17-18, size and age differences even out & those with good technical skills stand out.
|
|
|
Post by enmorecat on Dec 22, 2016 20:22:07 GMT 10
thanks. Good advice. I just want to give him the best chance possible but I think you're right. good team mates and coach are very important. Its hard when everyone tells you about junior programs in Europe and how far behind we are here. Not really something I can control I suppose. I've suggested previously that the best thing to do is to go and watch games and trainings if you are able. You won't just see coaches in action, but also see the parents and that can be just as important! I think there is a place for RAE, but the current format has lent itself to abuse, that doesn't however mean it's a bad idea. The irony is of course that when it comes to school, the average year group will have a wide range of ages and it's rare to see students drop down year groups because they can't cope (please correct me if I am wrong Sherlock) and kids do adjust. I think it's a similar thing with football, smaller boys may find the going tough initially, but my best guess is that with a supportive coach, that that adjustment process can be managed. Given that the two HAL teams were keen this year to push players up, it's clear that they see value in pushing boys out of their comfort zone and having seen Institute players before that, I can see definite benefit in boys learning to handle the physicality of older age groups, because once they catch up in size, they are better placed to shine, rather than just rely on size to get by. I think the same thing applies to smaller boys in their own age group. As for worrying about junior programmes in Europe, if that is a concern, then the best thing would be to move there now. It's regularly observed in here that many countries have much stronger football "cultures" than ours. I'm not sure I really care, the reality is that we live in a country where four codes compete for boys, something not many other countries have to deal with. My daughter is at a performing arts high school for music, I am not going to be devastated if she doesn't eventually play for the NY Philharmonic Orchestra (although if you know someone who can get her an audition, please PM me!).
|
|
|
Post by sherlock on Dec 23, 2016 11:26:56 GMT 10
RAE - the epitomy of club's utilising this 'proactive' initiative is having a late 2001 born play with the 2002 borns but at the end of the season nominate the player to trial for the NTC Challenge; wasn't considered to be strong enough to compete with the 2001's at the start of the season but was at the end(?).
There is tremendous research evidence to show that there is a Relative Age Effect (RAE) in that a high percentage of players that are talent SELECTED are born in the first quartile of the year. This percentage tapers off through each of the next two quartiles until the last quartile whereby there are very few players who have been talent SELECTED.
But it should be noted that those that were talent SELECTED and were born in the last quartile, many have gone on to be some of the highest paid players and the most successful players in the World Game. (Source: Dr Rick Lovell, Western Sydney University).
Now SELECTED has been written to stand out because this is what happens. Kids turn up to trials and 'stand out' and are SELECTED. However, what we need to be is become more proficient in talent IDENTIFICATION. We need to utilise objective testing in-line with subjective opinion in order to maximise the talent IDENTIFICATION process. Then, the key component of TiD, is PATIENCE. Talent development is a long term process. However, winning premierships and hence keeping your position as a TD/Coach is dependent on winning; a short-term process. Talent development is INDEPENDENT of winning. Kids need to learn how to win but they need to also know how to respond to losing. It's not the team that is going to get the kid to where he want's to be; it's the kid! Professional clubs aren't interested in who you play for or how many premierships you've won or if you've played in a state team or even you're mum; all they're interested in is can you play (Here's a bib and away you go...).
So after coaching a lad for this past season who is a July 2006 born playing in the 2004 born association level competition, the following observations were made:
Lad was smaller so quickly worked out that he had to move the ball quickly as he wasn't strong enough to retain possession. Therefore, he needed to be able to make decisions quicker. He needed to perform his technique under pressure as he often was time-poor. To solve this problem he identified space which created more time for him. Defensively he worked out that the opponent would more often than not give the ball back to you as their dribbling ability allowed for the ball to be stolen on a poor touch. So he developed patience.
If the opponent was good at dribbling/running with the ball then he made the play predictable and pushed the opponent into areas that we had dominant numbers; the lad learnt to get his head on a swivel and count quickly. Moreso he pushed the opponent into smaller areas of the park.
At the end of the season the lad who was born in the 3rd quartile was a key player as he always knew what he was going to do with the ball before he received it and often took the 'receive' out of the game and just played the ball first time.
The lad is driven to be successful and has no dreams of being a professional player; just wants to be the best that he can be! He is results driven and not money motivated. (Doesn't have an interest in being paid a bucket load of money to play...just wants the perfect game where all his passes are successful and his shots on target and he doesn't get beaten in 1v1 - was a hard but rewarding players to coach...was able to let go of the game also at the conclusion...)
So where would this lad be if he was given the opportunity to play as an RAE player?
RAE is real but does it have a role in development? For mine, only if winning is the primary objective of the club and the coach.
Bring back the Zone Development Program and introduce a rewards points system for clubs that have developed their own into higher clubs or within the club like they do in France and we will be on the right track. Current system is NOT conducive to long-term development of all stakeholders!
|
|
|
Post by tarzan on Dec 23, 2016 15:32:21 GMT 10
There is a Zone Development Program already operating in a few areas of Sydney....and 3 of them just happen to be on the northside. No rewards granted by governing bodies for doing this though. Purely operating off the back of whats considered to be "doing the right thing".
|
|