“At 16, my little brother was taller than me, but during the summer, when I turned 17 I grew 18 cms! I struggled to run normally. My knee was a little unstable. I had problems with my groin. I needed rehabilitation work and was out for six weeks. It was like living in another body.” – Virgil Van Dijk
Talent development and understanding performance versus potential is a complex topic.
The progression from childhood, through adolescence to adulthood is characterised by an individual experiencing growth, maturation, and development.
This process is unique to each child, it can be slow and steady or be full of huge growth spurts and challenging injuries. These influences can affect how children both learn and perform, making it difficult for coaches to assess potential.
In this live PDP Webinar, we are joined by Growth and Maturation Researcher from the University of Bath, Megan Hill to unpick this challenging area of player development. Megan will share some of her research from academy football in the UK. Hosted by Dan Wright and Dave Wright, we will cover:
- What is growth, what is maturation, and what’s the difference?
- What is the impact of being early, on time or later maturing player?
- What is a growth spurt and how can it impact players in training and games?
- How good are coaches at identifying potential during these key age groups?
This webinar will clarify some of the key considerations for understanding the growth and maturity of young footballers. Book your place now for an opportunity to ask questions live to Dave, Dan and Meg.
