bio-banding
n. The grouping of young athletes into teams or leagues based on physical maturity rather than age.
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2015
“Early maturing boys appreciate bio-banding as well,” Cumming explained. “In a bio-banded competition, they can’t boss the game physically; they have to play a technical game and are forced to think faster, play as a team rather than doing it all themselves.”
—Jamie Doward, “Bio-banding: How scientists can help late developers become sporting superstars,” The Guardian (London), December 19, 2015
2015
One solution has been to use “bio-banding”, which involves using a formula, in part based on parental height, to determine how tall a player will be when fully grown. Players are then grouped together based on what percentage of that adult height they have achieved.
—Glenn Moore, “How bio-banding aims to stop bigger children running the show,” The Independent (London), November 13, 2015
2012
Just refreshing for FA mod 3, bio banding, great idea, but unless the FA or FL enforce this at GR level pointless! @GRFootball thoughts?
—Neil Owen, “Just refreshing…,” Twitter, January 08, 2012
2007
Bio-Banding
Matching formula for opposed situations — height x weight divided by 1000 = group
e.g. 160 cm x 50 kg divided by 1000 = 8.0 = Group 8
1999 (earliest)
Height, weight, and body composition testing should be carried out weekly on all Academy players that are in the club on a full-time basis. The Under 9 to Under 16's should be tested monthly This data will allow the determination of growth potential prediction, bio banding and growth velocity.