Due to the growth of the Performance Department in the Federation, this has come about to better support player development. At the forefront will be a quartet of Boy's and Girl's DA Clubs in Biologically-Banded games. These select clubs will put out a pair of teams set by Biologial Maturity. This is to accure Jan. 11-12 from the Silverlakes Sports Complex, Norco Ca.
2018 saw the start of this revolutionary bio-banding of US Soccer, and now it increases the teams two fold with a trio for the MLS academy programs. All told, 16 teams set by biological age, half of each gender will go at it in a pair of 80 minute games folowing DA standards.
Real SO Cal along with San Diego will have boy's and girl's team present, LAFC & Pateadores will be on the boy's end as LA Galaxy and Son Jose Earthquakes fill out the girls side.
What bio-banding does is it places players on their individual and matiruity age, not just their chronlogical age in and of itself. It takes out the large variances in maturity that exist in typical age goups of youth sports. Having them together by maturity has removed the physical advantages of the faster maturing athletes removed in facing the later maturing ones.
Tom Hicks, US Soccer High Performance Sr. Mgr. explained "We're excited to continue to be a leader in this important, often miunderstood area of player development. We're especially excited about our impact in the Girl's Development Academy, where no research existed prior to our 2018 event."
The pair of teams supplied from each club will be grouped by similar maturity status made up of players from the U-14 through U-17 teams. US Soccer Sports Scientists saw each of the teams over the fall season taking measurements and givng data to the teams to select their teams. This is the largest such event in the world and only the 2nd of its sort in the states. International experts in the research and application of growth and maturation will be present at this event to see it in action, as those from EPL team Bournemouth and Southampton FCs are there to lean more of it in the USA and share such information back home.
Hicks continued "All coaches and parents recognize that young soccer players develop their physical attributes at different rates. With bio-banding, there is a scientifically accurate, applicable and assessable way to support all clubs, coaches and players in creating an optimal environment to thrive and develoop regardless of maturity level.