This came up a couple different places, but I feel like it deserves its own thread.
Discounting the CB and GK positions, the average height of the current USWNT is 66.6 inches. That is 2 1/2 inches taller than the average american female. The median height of the team is 5'7. There are only two players at or below average height, Dunn and Lavelle. Other than CB or GK, there are only two players 5'9 or taller. This would suggest an advantage in women's advancement to being taller than average, but not by more than 5 inches unless most males in non-CB/GK positions on the USMNT would be over 6 feet tall.
The USMNT average height for non-CB/GK position is 68.6 inches, or a half inch under 5'9. There are 9 non-CB/GK players at or below the American male average of 5'9. The median height is 5'9. only two of these players are 3 inches taller than average, with Gyasi Zardes at 6'2 as the tallest.
It makes you wonder what accounts for this difference.
Is the USWNT emphasizing a physical approach that potentially devalues skilled players? Is this a result of choices by coaches at developmental stages or some other disparity in the player pools?
Discounting the CB and GK positions, the average height of the current USWNT is 66.6 inches. That is 2 1/2 inches taller than the average american female. The median height of the team is 5'7. There are only two players at or below average height, Dunn and Lavelle. Other than CB or GK, there are only two players 5'9 or taller. This would suggest an advantage in women's advancement to being taller than average, but not by more than 5 inches unless most males in non-CB/GK positions on the USMNT would be over 6 feet tall.
The USMNT average height for non-CB/GK position is 68.6 inches, or a half inch under 5'9. There are 9 non-CB/GK players at or below the American male average of 5'9. The median height is 5'9. only two of these players are 3 inches taller than average, with Gyasi Zardes at 6'2 as the tallest.
It makes you wonder what accounts for this difference.
Is the USWNT emphasizing a physical approach that potentially devalues skilled players? Is this a result of choices by coaches at developmental stages or some other disparity in the player pools?