Overage players and why you shouldn't care

[Unregistered]

The boys level there is always the question of playing down in age and some of mediteranean(sp) desent mature earlier. I have a 12 YO now who I have known for 10 years with a pretty good mustache (his twin sister has one too!) and he is about 5 10". Some better girls will play up.

I have seen some 14 yo freshmen boys be able to play varsity although it is rare and they get banged around. 10% Cujo # seems about right. Boys always seem to get better as they get older.

I have seen more 14 yo freshmen girls step right in with no problem. In a lot of cases (but not all) that may be their best year and they plateau off. Curious that girls that do winter track and then club soccer seem to keep improving while other do not, that is just a small example though.

51

[Unregistered]

just follow the boy's u14 north shore team to get a better understanding about "overage players.

u13 nefc is similar

[Unregistered]

Most accusers have no proof what so ever. They are just fingerpointing because their son/daughter lost. Funny these are the same people claiming winning is not important in youth soccer.

I don't know about most accusers pointing fingers, or who won or lost, and don't really care. But, my son's coach did this at the U12 level this fall. The boys were not from another country. He is. Our son is no longer playing on this team.
Then he plays futsal this winter on a U11/U12 team and the opponents needed to shave at half time. Ok puberty setting in...
Cheating seems to be rampant in sports as well as schools in this country; I have read that 75% of students polled admitted to serious cheating in school.
Few are taking a stand.

[Cujo]

I don't know about most accusers pointing fingers, or who won or lost, and don't really care. But, my son's coach did this at the U12 level this fall. The boys were not from another country. He is. Our son is no longer playing on this team.
Then he plays futsal this winter on a U11/U12 team and the opponents needed to shave at half time. Ok puberty setting in...
Cheating seems to be rampant in sports as well as schools in this country; I have read that 75% of students polled admitted to serious cheating in school.
Few are taking a stand.

It all comes down to one point. Does the coach have integrity. If you have integrity you don't roster or play overage players. It is as simple as that.

[Unregistered]

http://www.soccermastermind.com/2010...tain-of-youth/

Football, Passports And The Fountain Of Youth

If you listen to the rumours and the bloggers from Nigeria, don’t worry; I do not need your banking details to put millions in your bank account for a small fee, giggle, believe something fishy is happening to Nigerian Soccer.

If you had the pleasure of watching some of the African Cup, you couldn’t help but notice that Nigeria, the once power house of African Football looked slow, timid and to be honest, they looked old.

So what could be the problem?

Nigeria was labelled the sleeping giant and the next powerhouse of Soccer. Strong showings in the Olympics and the youth World Cups suggested that the Nigerians were ready for world dominations with big scalps, which included both Brazil and Argentina.

Soccer great Pele declared that Nigeria would easily win the World Cup before the turn of the century after electrifying performances in the U-17 and U-20 age groups.

So what are the whispers that have escaped Angola?


Nigerians have a bad reputation in the Internet world and are the proud owners of some of the biggest scams. But here’s something new. The whispers that have grown to international angst claim that the Nigerian players have falsified their age with fraudulent passports.

Don’t believe me?

The President of a leading Nigerian club was quoted,

“What happened in Angola is a confirmation of what has been happening in the past where most of our players falsified their age during competition. Most of the players are beyond the age they professed and this made it impossible for them to withstand the pace of teams like Zambia and Benin.”

A former national doctor Ken Anugweje said,

“Our boys are old, we are paying the price for age cheating.”

This is hilarious and very amusing. This could be the second biggest scam in the sporting world. I know what you’re thinking, second? The cake definitely has to go to the Spanish basketball team that won Gold at the Paralympics. The only problem was that the players were neither physically or mentally handicapped.

This scam was around 20 years ago when Nigeria got banned from internationals for a period of 2 years. FIFA banned Nigeria back in the 1988 Olympics for presenting falsified passports. Makes sense looking back at some of the results at youth level. Even Brazil looked second rate compared to the Nigerians.

The plot thickens even further. With the World Cup just months away, the Nigerian Federation has decided to sack their coach and discard 15 players from the squad. Mmm, a little suspicious don’t you think?

The immigration department of Nigeria can change your name, place of birth, and date of birth for around 7,000-10,000 naira. Naira is Nigerian currency and is the equivalent to $46.53 US or the hefty price of $51.79 AU.

So for $50, you can have a new passport and they will throw in a new identity and if you’re a footballer, they will dip you in the fountain of youth.

An American journalist quizzed a Nigerian player and nearly fell off his sit by the reply. The Nigerian said his real age was 34 but his Football age was 21.

If you follow the Premier league chances are you remember Jay Jay Okocha who finished his career with Bolton. How old do you think Jay Jay was when he retired? Speculation has him at the age of 42. What about Obafemi Martins who was picked up by Inter Milan as a 14 year old and played his first senior game when he was 16. His passport declares that today he is 25, but Newcastle believe its 34.

For all you American soccer fans think about this for a moment. Does the name Fredua Koranteng “Freddy” ring a bell? He was the youngest player to sign a professional contract for DC United in the 2004 Draft at the age of 14. Sorry but I don’t believe it.

Nike proudly sponsored Freddy and America fell in love with him.

Where is he now?

Freddy now plays for Aris Thessaloniki in the Greek Super League and I use the words Super League loosely. After cracking the MLS at the tender age of 14, he now plays with all the other pensioners in the Greek Divisions. Players go to Greece to prolong their careers, as they can no longer get a game in the big leagues. Freddy at the old age of 20 is playing in Greece and will inevitably fit right in, if you know what I mean.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

[Cujo]

http://www.soccermastermind.com/2010...tain-of-youth/

Football, Passports And The Fountain Of Youth

If you listen to the rumours and the bloggers from Nigeria, don’t worry; I do not need your banking details to put millions in your bank account for a small fee, giggle, believe something fishy is happening to Nigerian Soccer.

If you had the pleasure of watching some of the African Cup, you couldn’t help but notice that Nigeria, the once power house of African Football looked slow, timid and to be honest, they looked old.

So what could be the problem?

Nigeria was labelled the sleeping giant and the next powerhouse of Soccer. Strong showings in the Olympics and the youth World Cups suggested that the Nigerians were ready for world dominations with big scalps, which included both Brazil and Argentina.

Soccer great Pele declared that Nigeria would easily win the World Cup before the turn of the century after electrifying performances in the U-17 and U-20 age groups.

So what are the whispers that have escaped Angola?


Nigerians have a bad reputation in the Internet world and are the proud owners of some of the biggest scams. But here’s something new. The whispers that have grown to international angst claim that the Nigerian players have falsified their age with fraudulent passports.

Don’t believe me?

The President of a leading Nigerian club was quoted,

“What happened in Angola is a confirmation of what has been happening in the past where most of our players falsified their age during competition. Most of the players are beyond the age they professed and this made it impossible for them to withstand the pace of teams like Zambia and Benin.”

A former national doctor Ken Anugweje said,

“Our boys are old, we are paying the price for age cheating.”

This is hilarious and very amusing. This could be the second biggest scam in the sporting world. I know what you’re thinking, second? The cake definitely has to go to the Spanish basketball team that won Gold at the Paralympics. The only problem was that the players were neither physically or mentally handicapped.

This scam was around 20 years ago when Nigeria got banned from internationals for a period of 2 years. FIFA banned Nigeria back in the 1988 Olympics for presenting falsified passports. Makes sense looking back at some of the results at youth level. Even Brazil looked second rate compared to the Nigerians.

The plot thickens even further. With the World Cup just months away, the Nigerian Federation has decided to sack their coach and discard 15 players from the squad. Mmm, a little suspicious don’t you think?

The immigration department of Nigeria can change your name, place of birth, and date of birth for around 7,000-10,000 naira. Naira is Nigerian currency and is the equivalent to $46.53 US or the hefty price of $51.79 AU.

So for $50, you can have a new passport and they will throw in a new identity and if you’re a footballer, they will dip you in the fountain of youth.

An American journalist quizzed a Nigerian player and nearly fell off his sit by the reply. The Nigerian said his real age was 34 but his Football age was 21.

If you follow the Premier league chances are you remember Jay Jay Okocha who finished his career with Bolton. How old do you think Jay Jay was when he retired? Speculation has him at the age of 42. What about Obafemi Martins who was picked up by Inter Milan as a 14 year old and played his first senior game when he was 16. His passport declares that today he is 25, but Newcastle believe its 34.

For all you American soccer fans think about this for a moment. Does the name Fredua Koranteng “Freddy” ring a bell? He was the youngest player to sign a professional contract for DC United in the 2004 Draft at the age of 14. Sorry but I don’t believe it.

Nike proudly sponsored Freddy and America fell in love with him.

Where is he now?

Freddy now plays for Aris Thessaloniki in the Greek Super League and I use the words Super League loosely. After cracking the MLS at the tender age of 14, he now plays with all the other pensioners in the Greek Divisions. Players go to Greece to prolong their careers, as they can no longer get a game in the big leagues. Freddy at the old age of 20 is playing in Greece and will inevitably fit right in, if you know what I mean.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

Wouldn't it be absolutely hilarious if Adu was a 24 year old playing in a U14 league. It would be like Papelbon pitching in a little league game.

I looked at Adu once and from that first moment I assumed that he was at least 4 years older than he claimed. I may have been too generous.

[Unregistered]

This is hilarious.

Unfortunately middle age doesn't set in quite soon enough to even things out in Maple. Unless of course we have 30 year olds passing as U12. Interesting thought...

[Unregistered]

Does Age Explain Freddy Adu’s Decline?

Freddy Adu’s next stop is Aris Salonica, his sixth professional team since 2004. He joins the Greek club on an 18-month loan. Adu played only three times in a half-season at Belenenses. In his one start, he was subbed off after 45 minutes. Adu is washed up and a has-been. He’s spoken of in the past tense by most. Yet, he’s just 20, only a few months older than Jozy Altidore. At least that’s what he claims.

Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union Tribune believes we should question the authenticity of Adu’s 1989 birth certificate. He’s right. Here are a few reasons for skepticism.

Freddy Adu is listed at 5’8” 140 lbs. At 13, Adu was listed at 5’8” 140 lbs. Puberty hits people differently. But few men don’t grow between the ages of 13 and 20, especially professional athletes.

Adu was freakishly precocious. By most accounts he was a fantastic student, skipping a grade. He was offered a six-figure deal with AC Milan at 10. He won the Maryland High School State Championship at age 12, before joining U.S. Soccer’s Academy at Bradenton. He was in MLS by 14. A player being that good, that young is remarkable. If he was two or three years older, playing against 12 year-olds. It would make more sense.

Freddy has had his moments, in age restricted tournaments. He played well at U-17 and U-20 level and in the U-23 Olympics in 2008. However, in unrestricted competition he has been disappointing. He was underwhelming in MLS and has been woeful in Europe. He hasn’t played a full 90 minutes since 2007-08.

For African soccer players, it’s similar to Latin-American baseball players. Potential is everything. Younger players are far more available. Ability at 17 gets you picked up by a European club. The same ability at 21, is worthless.

African teams do very well at the U-17 World Cup. Nigeria has won three times since 1985 and Adu’s native Ghana twice. They don’t replicate the success at senior level. This is because many teams use overage payers. After FIFA introduced bone-scans this season, fifteen Nigerian players were booted from the U-17 squad, for being too old.

Not only has Freddy Adu not progressed as expected. He has not progressed at all. He remains what he was at 14, a marginal MLS level player.

Adu’s failure is a mystery. Perhaps he was shuffled around and mishandled. Perhaps he never dedicated himself. But, his career doesn’t resemble a fallen prodigy.

Freddy Adu was unusually successful at a specific time in his life. It was a time when others were developing, and he was already developed. It is time we take a tip from Occam and examine the simplest explanation.