Moving players up: key considerations

Sometimes, a young player can appear too good for their opponents - and team-mates - and it can be very tempting, where local rules allow, to move them up a year. 

There are many potential benefits but there are also some hidden pitfalls, too. 

Here’s six things you need to consider before making the big decision...

01. Are they good enough?

At clubs with not enough players at certain age groups, others are occasionally encouraged to play up a year to help make up the numbers. 

While this may protect the rest of the team, given their survival may depend on being able to send out a full complement every week, it is important to resist this temptation if there are any doubts about the player’s ability to make the step up. 

If they find themselves out of their depth, it could put them off the game for good.

02. Are they strong enough?

A player may seemingly have all the skills required to cut it in an older group - but if they aren’t physically up to the task, these skills might not have a chance to shine. 

Make sure the player you are considering moving up is physically robust enough to deal with what faces them – not so much foul play or overly physical challenges, but the more general rough and tumble that comes with the game.

03. Can they cope mentally?

It’s not easy being the youngest in a team, particularly if it is by a distance. Players moving up may suddenly lose the confidence they require to express themselves. 

A born leader in one age group might not be able to cope with the fact they arrived in a new team at the bottom of the pecking order. 

Then there is the question of whether they have the mental maturity to deal with the social side of the team, which inevitably moves on as kids develop.