Deep Thought #4: Is Your Kid Too Small?

Joel Anderson

I had a good debate with a coach buddy recently. The kind where both of us walked away shaking our heads—but I’m still right.

It started when I said the A team kids weren’t actually better basketball players than the B team kids. They were just bigger. He disagreed, said I was forgetting what’s “between the ears”—the confidence and mental edge those bigger kids carry. Fair. But let’s rewind.

About a month ago, I measured every 8th grader in our program. Heights. Weights. Wingspans. Vertical jump. Grip strength. The whole nine. And wouldn’t you know it—the A team kids, nearly across the board, were several inches taller, up to 50 pounds heavier, and tested stronger in every physical category.

But here’s the kicker: they don’t really shoot better. They don’t protect the ball better. They don’t make better decisions. They’re not executing game plans at a higher level. Their shooting percentages, assist-to-turnover ratios, and ball control looked awfully similar to the B team’s. Outside of a couple outliers who are simply behind in basketball, when you put them in a controlled matchup, against players of equal size and strength, the gap evaporates. What they are doing is winning matchups against developmentally younger kids—and we’re mistaking that for being “better.”

So, are the A team kids “better”? Or are they just early bloomers?

Developmental Age > Chronological Age

Let’s talk science. Research consistently shows that in youth sports—particularly pre-puberty and even into mid-adolescence—developmental age (how physically and biologically mature a kid is) often matters more than chronological age.

The term you’re looking for? Relative Age Effect (RAE)—and it’s been studied for decades.

RAE is the phenomenon where kids born earlier in the age group cutoff, or those who mature earlier, get identified as “more talented” simply because they’re bigger, faster, stronger—at that moment. That early advantage leads to more playing time, better coaching, more reps, and eventually, yes, often better performance. But not because they were better—because the system fed them more.

We see this a lot in hockey, soccer, baseball, and basketball. In fact, one Canadian study found that 70% of players in elite youth hockey programs had birthdays in the first half of the selection year. Coincidence? Hardly.

Confidence vs. Competence

My friend’s point about confidence? He’s not wrong. Confidence is massive in youth sports. And there’s a name for it when it’s fueled by early physical advantage:

The Pygmalion Effect—when higher expectations lead to improved performance. If a kid is treated like a star early on—because they’re taller, faster, or stronger—they’re likely to rise to that level. But here’s the rub: it’s not based on actual skill.

What they’ve gained is environmental confidence—not competence. And it’s often fragile. Because when the playing field levels out (and it always does), that confidence can crack if it wasn’t built on strong fundamentals, habits, or character.

And if your child is in the A team—this article is for you, too. Don’t mistake early physical advantage for permanent dominance. Ask the hard questions: Is your kid still hungry? Are they developing real skill? Do they love the process? Being ahead at 13 doesn’t mean you’ll stay ahead at 17. If their success is built on Relative Age Effect—on being bigger, faster, stronger for now—then it’s time to double down on work ethic, character, and fundamentals. The top of the mountain in 8th grade isn’t the peak. It’s the first ledge—and the climb only gets steeper from here.

The B Team Curse… or Blessing?

So back to our B team kids. Are they too small to be good?

No. They’re just not “there” yet.

Most of them haven’t hit peak height velocity. Their growth plates are still open. They haven’t gone through puberty. And they sure as heck haven’t maxed out their skill capacity.

If anything, being on the B team might be the greatest gift—they’re forced to work, to hustle, to think, and to develop real skill to survive. They don’t get by on brute strength. They learn to be efficient. They learn how to get open, shoot off-ball, fight for every rebound. They build grit.

And the research backs it: late bloomers, when they stick with it, often surpass early developers in high school and beyond.

But—and here’s the catch—only if they stay in the game. That’s the true danger of the system. When size becomes the shortcut to opportunity, smaller kids quit. They internalize the lie that they’re not “good enough.” That’s the real loss.

So, height doesn’t matter?

Let’s be clear — size does matter. When we talk about long-term development and fairness, it’s not to pretend height and strength don’t impact outcomes — especially in basketball. Once everyone’s done growing, those inches matter more than ever. David Epstein’s The Sports Gene notes that in the U.S., a man who stands 7 feet tall has roughly a 1 in 6 chance of being in the NBA, right now. That’s staggering. So yes, if your kid ends up 6’10” and coordinated, he’ll have doors open that others won’t — plain and simple. But that’s the long game. And while height might eventually create opportunity, only habits, work ethic, and skill will convert that opportunity into success.

Is Your Kid Too Small?

Not at all. And definitely not right now if they’re still developing.

Size and strength come. Confidence can be built. Habits, work ethic, and mental toughness? That’s the stuff that lasts.

If you’re a parent, coach, or athlete wondering if your kid has “what it takes” because they’re smaller than others—look deeper. Are they curious? Do they love to play? Are they learning and growing? Then they’re right on track.

Forget the stat sheets. Play the long game.

Let’s redefine “better” in youth sports. Not bigger. Not louder. Not picked first.

But consistent. Focused. Getting better every day. These are the characteristics we hope to instill in our children for success in life anyway. Which is the point of this youth sports journey, right?

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