How Denmark is addressing the relative growth effect

Teenagers who go through puberty later than their peers often find themselves at a disadvantage in youth academies. In this presentation, the Danish FA’s Rasmus Hallander Porse explains how his association is giving them a chance to shine – and to become an integral part of the national youth setup.

The relative growth effect arises because teenagers mature physically at different rates. In team sports, this discrepancy tends to lead to players who go through puberty early getting more opportunities than so-called “late developers,” which in turn makes it difficult for the latter group to break into the professional ranks. The Danish FA (DBU) has been grappling with this problem for the last ten years, and in this presentation, Rasmus Hallander Porse explains what the association is doing to make sure every player has the opportunity to demonstrate their talent.

Good practice

When assessing a young player’s potential, it is vital to look beyond temporary developmental differences and judge on talent, not size.

Set a clear definition of “late developer.” If you are setting up a Futures team, the selection criteria for it should be based on both scientific measurements and observations from the training pitch.

Incentivise clubs to invest in late-developers within their youth academies: they will reap the rewards later.

Watch presentation

Part 1: Introducing the Relative Growth Effect Project

Part 2: Future Teams

Part 3: How the DBU works with clubs

Part 4: Q&A

Read summary

Part 1: Introducing the Relative Growth Effect Project
Most people working in talent development have the same mission: to provide the best possible development opportunities for players. To do that, you need to look beyond the temporary developmental disadvantages experienced by late developers and keep them in your youth system long enough for them to show what they can do. The DBU is conscious that this is especially important for a small country like Denmark, and it has developed a three-pronged approach to tackle the problem, working simultaneously at grassroots level, with domestic clubs, and within its youth national teams.

Part 2: Future Teams
The highest-profile manifestation of the DBU’s approach is its Futures national teams programme. These squads are specifically designed to give late developers the chance to play international youth football, and effectively provide an alternative development path that can take these players all the way to the senior national side: in March 2024, Denmark took to the field against the Faroe Islands with a starting 11 featuring four Futures graduates. As Hallander Porse explains here, the selection criteria for the Futures teams combine scientific measurement with first-hand observation to identify the country’s most promising talents.

Part 3: How the DBU works with clubs
The relative growth effect is not confined to national teams – early developers get the lion’s share of game time at their clubs, too. To level the playing field, the DBU has changed the structure of its youth tournaments to create a development pathway for late developers. It also allows them to play in the age group that matches their physical development rather than their biological age. Finally, the association rewards clubs when they produce players for youth national teams and for Futures sides, giving them an incentive to get late developers off the bench and onto the pitch.

Q&A

00:32
You spoke about clubs. They have an important role. Can you talk a bit more about the importance of the strong working relationship between the DBU and the clubs?

02:28
You are an expert in this area. You want to build potential to have stronger future national side. FIFA has the same mission in mind. How do you think FIFA and the TDS could support the development of the Future Teams programme?

05:06
The TDS is both talented boys and talented girls. I would be very interested to hear a little bit about the work you have started to do with female players?