combating the relative age effect in youth football
0%
of players at premier league & category 1 academies are born between September and November…
...But just 10% are born between june and august
(Elite player performance plan research, 2013)
'relative age effect' (RAE)
A bias, particularly evident in elite youth sport, where participation is far higher among those born early in the academic year.
The Late Birthday Project (LBP) counters the significant Relative Age Effect in youth football, by offering a ground-breaking programme of professional academy coaching and opportunities to boys and girls born between January and August.
Sept to Dec born players can still join LBP, but play/train a year up, encouraging them to find clever ways to succeed, rather than just relying on their speed or size.