Me too. But getting this across to parents who see another Olympic champion in their 8-year-old prodigy is hard. Sure, they understand it theoretically, but their son might just be the exception. 🤓
That change makes sense for schools, I think. The 1 JAN date meant that school team rosters could be disrupted throughout the year. Using a school year age cut-off (or is it a grade cut-off?) will prevent this. It won't do much to alleviate the RAE though; it will just change which athletes are affected.
Although, are we dealing with 2 separate important elements here?
RAE... perhaps relevent for ages up to 9 or 10 (crudely)?
And then also, most importantly... Biological Age Effect (BAE)?
Referring to attaining early or late puberty/physical development?
I feel BAE is more crucial and impactful, and devastating.
I've seen plenty of kids (boys) born very late in their year excel and dominate in sports (after the age of 10/12) given early puberty and the size, speed, strength advantages.
And vice versa.
A 4 year difference in BAE is not uncommon between early and very late kids I.e. puberty at 12 Vs 16.
I've seen little 'star' performers all of a sudden struggling and relegated at 14 because of significant BAE.
The impact is devastating, especially emotionally/ psychologically.
My kid is in this position.
A very sporty kid and handy athlete, rugby, tennis, swimming and field hockey player (UK national level) until the age of 14. Now, struggling and relegated.
The lights have literally gone out.
Help - How do these kids come back?
I don't think they do.
It was a shock to me, and something I don't think parents are aware of or prepared for.
This is, in my opinion, more impactful and much more complex than simply RAE.
It's funny you should mention this. When I started writing this article the BAE (haven't heard it called that before, but it sounds right) was in the back of my mind. I realized that that's what I was writing about (late- and early-maturers, etc.). Luckily I reread what I had originally drafted and realized that the RAE deals with birth dates and not so much with actual growth. They address almost the same things so I think that's what I was thinking about at first.
But you're right, they are two different things and I agree, the BAE is probably more important because it's harder to see. The RAE is something we can easily see on paper, the BAE is a different matter. I wrote about it here: https://sportkid.substack.com/p/introducing-the-maturity-index
Unfortunately, the "maturity offset calculator" I mention in the article was deleted and I haven't had time to recreate it.
The advice to coaches is the same as with the RAE and that is mostly to be aware that the differences exist. However, extreme differences in maturity are hard to deal with no matter how aware we are of them. Bio-banding is something some football clubs have tried although I don't know whether they have been successful of not. It involves grouping athletes for training and competition based on maturity rather than age. While this makes sense in terms of maturity, I wonder about the psychological issues it might create if an older athlete is placed with younger ones, and is this actually sustainable in our current youth sport environment.
Thanks for your comment. It's nice to know that someone who knows their way around these ideas is reading the articles.
Have observed in my school days that a number of the early “stars” were not stars in their later high school days.
Good points Bill
Me too. But getting this across to parents who see another Olympic champion in their 8-year-old prodigy is hard. Sure, they understand it theoretically, but their son might just be the exception. 🤓
Good stuff. I'm excited to see how U.S. Soccer re-shifts once it reverts to school year vs. birth year in 2026.
That change makes sense for schools, I think. The 1 JAN date meant that school team rosters could be disrupted throughout the year. Using a school year age cut-off (or is it a grade cut-off?) will prevent this. It won't do much to alleviate the RAE though; it will just change which athletes are affected.
Good article Bill, thanks.
Although, are we dealing with 2 separate important elements here?
RAE... perhaps relevent for ages up to 9 or 10 (crudely)?
And then also, most importantly... Biological Age Effect (BAE)?
Referring to attaining early or late puberty/physical development?
I feel BAE is more crucial and impactful, and devastating.
I've seen plenty of kids (boys) born very late in their year excel and dominate in sports (after the age of 10/12) given early puberty and the size, speed, strength advantages.
And vice versa.
A 4 year difference in BAE is not uncommon between early and very late kids I.e. puberty at 12 Vs 16.
I've seen little 'star' performers all of a sudden struggling and relegated at 14 because of significant BAE.
The impact is devastating, especially emotionally/ psychologically.
My kid is in this position.
A very sporty kid and handy athlete, rugby, tennis, swimming and field hockey player (UK national level) until the age of 14. Now, struggling and relegated.
The lights have literally gone out.
Help - How do these kids come back?
I don't think they do.
It was a shock to me, and something I don't think parents are aware of or prepared for.
This is, in my opinion, more impactful and much more complex than simply RAE.
Be intered in your thoughts?
It's funny you should mention this. When I started writing this article the BAE (haven't heard it called that before, but it sounds right) was in the back of my mind. I realized that that's what I was writing about (late- and early-maturers, etc.). Luckily I reread what I had originally drafted and realized that the RAE deals with birth dates and not so much with actual growth. They address almost the same things so I think that's what I was thinking about at first.
But you're right, they are two different things and I agree, the BAE is probably more important because it's harder to see. The RAE is something we can easily see on paper, the BAE is a different matter. I wrote about it here: https://sportkid.substack.com/p/introducing-the-maturity-index
Unfortunately, the "maturity offset calculator" I mention in the article was deleted and I haven't had time to recreate it.
The advice to coaches is the same as with the RAE and that is mostly to be aware that the differences exist. However, extreme differences in maturity are hard to deal with no matter how aware we are of them. Bio-banding is something some football clubs have tried although I don't know whether they have been successful of not. It involves grouping athletes for training and competition based on maturity rather than age. While this makes sense in terms of maturity, I wonder about the psychological issues it might create if an older athlete is placed with younger ones, and is this actually sustainable in our current youth sport environment.
Thanks for your comment. It's nice to know that someone who knows their way around these ideas is reading the articles.