At the primary school level, size can often be a significant advantage in sports. Larger children typically have a natural edge in strength, speed, and overall athletic performance compared to their smaller peers.
“However, while size plays an important role in early success, it is by no means the defining factor of long-term athletic performance.”
Whether it’s athletics, netball, rugby, or cricket, those who are physically bigger often dominate the game and this can be encouraging for the bigger children, as they receive praise and recognition for their performances.
However, this can create an illusion of long-term success based on size alone, which often leads to neglecting crucial skill development.
For smaller athletes, focusing on skill development during these formative years can set the stage for future success, especially when they experience growth spurts later on.
5 Reasons why Size Matters at the Primary Level
1. Physical Presence and Strength
At the primary school level, where children are still developing physically, a larger body size can provide an immediate edge in sports that require strength, speed, or endurance. Larger children often have a physical advantage, especially in contact or team sports. This advantage isn’t just about size alone—larger children often have more muscle mass, which can translate to more powerful throws, kicks, or shots. Their size enables them to cover more ground, exert more force, and shield themselves better against opponents, making it easier for them to succeed in strength-based activities.
This physical presence often leads to more playing time and confidence, which can result in faster development due to increased experience. Coaches at the primary school level may unconsciously favor larger children, associating size with ability, strength, and leadership qualities. As a result, larger children may be more likely to be chosen for competitive teams, given more playing time, or placed in key positions on the field.
2. Confidence and Early Success
Due to their larger build, these children may experience early success in sports, leading to more opportunities such as team selection and increased playing time. Coaches often perceive bigger kids as being more capable, which can foster confidence and enjoyment of the game for those with the size advantage.
In sports like Rugby or netball, height and longer limbs provide an inherent advantage. Taller athletes have greater reach for catching, blocking, or shooting. Similarly, in sprint races, a longer stride can result in faster times. This often means that bigger, stronger children tend to dominate early competitions.
3. Psychological Impact
Smaller children may face confidence issues when competing against larger peers. They may feel disadvantaged, leading to frustration or reluctance to participate. On the other hand, larger children may gain a psychological boost from their dominance, even if it’s due more to size than skill.
4. Increased Risk of Injury
In contact sports, there is a greater risk of injury when smaller athletes compete against larger, heavier opponents. Size disparities can make collisions more dangerous for smaller children, as they are more likely to get hurt in physical confrontations due to the difference in mass and strength.
5. Differentiated Skill Development
While larger kids may rely on their size for success early on, smaller athletes are often forced to develop superior technique and agility to keep up. This can benefit them in the long run, especially as their physical growth catches up during adolescence. However, at the primary level, size often overshadows skill, making it difficult for smaller players to showcase their true potential.
“By acknowledging these factors, coaches and parents can help create environments that nurture skill development for all children, regardless of their size.”
Skills Development Creates long-term advantage for Smaller Athletes
Despite the initial physical disadvantages, smaller athletes can still develop into top performers by focusing on fundamental skills that, in the long run, outweigh early size advantages. These skills include agility, technique, mental toughness, and game intelligence, which become critical as players mature and their bodies catch up in size.
5 Advantages of early skill development
1. Agility and Speed
Smaller athletes tend to be more agile and quicker on their feet. By emphasizing agility drills, footwork, and quick reflexes, they can compensate for a lack of size by outmaneuvering larger opponents. Speed training, especially in short bursts, can also help them excel in sports requiring fast decision-making and rapid directional changes, like hockey or tennis.
2. Technical Mastery
Many sports are as much about technique as they are about physicality. Smaller athletes should focus on honing their skills in ball control, dribbling, passing, and shooting. In sports like cricket, hockey, netball or rugby, where precision is key, technical proficiency often trumps raw power. Coaches should focus on teaching the correct mechanics of movements, ensuring smaller athletes can execute with finesse and accuracy.
3. Game Intelligence
Understanding the flow of the game, positioning, and tactics can give smaller athletes an edge over their bigger peers. Players who develop strong decision-making skills can anticipate their opponents’ movements, positioning themselves effectively to outplay even physically stronger competitors. Early exposure to strategic thinking enhances their ability to “read” the game, setting them apart as they progress in their athletic journey.
4. Mental Toughness and Resilience
Smaller athletes often face more challenges and setbacks due to their size. These challenges, however, can build mental toughness, resilience, and a stronger work ethic. Children who learn to persevere despite physical disadvantages often develop a “never give up” attitude, which becomes crucial as they grow older and face more competitive environments.
“Mental toughness, in the long run, is often more valuable than early physical dominance.”
Developing Mental Toughness and Game IQ in smaller athletes can shift their early disadvantage as motivation to build resilience. Training them to think strategically and develop strong decision-making skills on the field can often outmatch sheer physical prowess.
“The ability to “read the game” becomes invaluable as the playing field levels with age.”
5. Growth and Late Physical Development
One of the most significant aspects of child development is that growth spurts happen at different times for different children. Many smaller athletes experience a late physical development surge during or after puberty. When they finally catch up in size, their well-developed skills, agility, and game intelligence give them a tremendous advantage over those who relied primarily on size alone.
It’s important to remember that early bloomers who thrived on their size advantage may struggle if they haven’t developed the necessary skills to compete when others catch up.
On the other hand, athletes who’ve focused on skill development early on will have the tools to excel once they reach a more level playing field.
Conclusion: Size Isn’t Everything
While size may seem like the defining factor in primary school sports, it’s important not to overlook the value of skill development, agility, and mental toughness, especially for smaller athletes. Fostering these aspects of athletic performance can ensure that children have the tools they need to succeed once they physically mature.
Coaches, teachers, and parents should encourage all athletes—regardless of size—to focus on long-term growth and development, emphasizing skills that will serve them well throughout their sporting careers.
Training programs should be designed to build core athletic skills, regardless of a child’s physical stature.
“Size may matter early on, but skill, intelligence, and determination will carry athletes further in the long run.”
Article compiled by Bennie Louw
Life and Executive Coach, Speaker, High Performance Team Developer and Sport Mind Coach.
Training Your Mind for Sports Performance – Providing individual and group training for coaches, managers, parents, high level performers and keen amateurs who wish to learn the techniques to improve their mental approach to sport.
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