08/28/2026
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Are we developing young players, or simply rewarding the ones who develop first?
Going back through some of the themes TSR has explored over the years, this is one that still feels worth questioning.
Young players of the same age can be at very different stages.
One may have years of playing experience behind them, while another is still finding their confidence. Physical development can vary enormously, as can the amount of time and opportunity each child has had with a ball.
What a child can do today tells us something about where they are now.
It tells us much less about where they might eventually get to.
That doesn’t mean performance doesn’t matter, it means we should be careful about the conclusions we draw from it.
So perhaps the bigger question is: How much should what a child can do today influence the opportunities we give them tomorrow?
Interested to hear how you see this in grassroots football.
📷 Image: Diamond Football
