Relative Age Effects in Women’s Ice Hockey: Contributions of Body Size and Maturity Status

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina A. Geithner ◽  
Claire E. Molenaar ◽  
Tommy Henriksson ◽  
Anncristine Fjellman-Wiklund ◽  
Kajsa Gilenstam
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Age At Menarche ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Hockey Players

Research on relative age effects (RAEs) in women’s ice hockey is lacking data on participant characteristics, particularly body size and maturity status. The purposes of our study were to investigate RAEs in women’s ice hockey players from two countries, and to determine whether RAE patterns could be explained by chronological age, body size, and maturity status. Participants were 54 Swedish elite and 63 Canadian university players. Birthdates were coded by quartiles (Q1–Q4). Weight and height were obtained, and body mass index and chronological age were calculated for each player. Players recalled age at menarche, and maturity status was classified as early, average, or late relative to population-specific means. Chi-square (χ2), odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and effect sizes (Cohen’sw) were calculated using population data across quartiles and for pairwise comparisons between quartiles. Descriptive statistics and MANOVAs were run by quartile and by country. Significant RAEs were found for Canadian players across quartiles (p < .05), along with a Q2 phenomenon (Q2: Q3, Q2: Q4,p < .05). Swedish players were overrepresented in Q3 (Q3: Q4,p < .05). Q4 was significantly underrepresented in both countries (p < .05). The oldest, earliest maturing, and shortest players in both countries were clustered in Q2, whereas the next oldest and latest maturing Swedish players were found in Q3. Age, physical factors, and interactions may contribute to overrepresentations in Q2 and Q3. These findings do not suggest the same bias for greater relative age and maturity found in male ice hockey.

scholarly journals Youth Developmental Experiences Among Female Hockey Players: The Role of Relative Age

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 83-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Chittle ◽  
Jess C. Dixon ◽  
Sean Horton
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Developmental Experiences ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Wilks Lambda ◽  
Experience Survey ◽  
The Impact

Relative age differences can lead to varying sport participation opportunities; however, scant research has focused on the impact of relative age on experiences within sport. This study explored if youth developmental experiences differed by relative age among competitive female ice hockey players. Players within Ontario (n = 264) completed an online survey that contained the Youth Experience Survey for Sport (YES-S) along with additional demographic questions. The YES-S measures 5 dimensions of positive (i.e., personal and social skills, cognitive skills, goal setting, and initiative) and negative developmental experiences in sport. The results of the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) suggested that the developmental experiences reported by athletes did not differ across birth quartiles (Wilks’ Lambda = 0.940, F (15, 707.105) = 1.061, p = .390). Although there was a relative age effect (RAE) trend within this sample of competitive female ice hockey players, the differences across birth quartiles were not statistically significant. It appears that relative age does not result in youth having different positive and negative sporting experiences. Exploring the characteristics of sport environments (e.g., coaches, practices) and personality traits of competitive athletes to better understand how relatively younger athletes continue their participation in sport despite being at a perceived disadvantage warrants further investigation.

Investigating the relationship between the relative age effect and leadership behaviors among male ice hockey players

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 751-768
Author(s):  
Laura Chittle ◽  
Sean Horton ◽  
Patricia Weir ◽  
Jess C Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Relative Weight ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Weight Analysis ◽  
Male House

This study examined the role of relative age on leadership behaviors among male house league ice hockey players. Athletes completed an online survey that solicited their birthdate along with their responses to the leadership scale for sport. As expected, the results of our analyses revealed no relative age effects. Captains scored significantly higher on the training and instruction, democratic behavior and social support dimensions of the leadership scale for sport. While there were significant multivariate differences between birth quartile and the dimensions of leadership, a relative weight analysis revealed that quartile of birth did not differ significantly on any of these dimensions. Thus, male house league hockey players are not (dis)advantaged in terms of their leadership behaviors as a consequence of relative age.

scholarly journals Talent Identification and Relative Age Effects in English Male Rugby Union Pathways: From Entry to Expertise

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam L. Kelly ◽  
Kevin Till ◽  
Daniel Jackson ◽  
Donald Barrell ◽  
Kate Burke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Confidence Intervals ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Odds Ratios ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Talent Identification ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Significant Difference

A common practice in youth rugby union is to group players based on (bi)annual age with fixed cut-off dates. The overrepresentation of players born at the start of the cut-off date and the underrepresentation of players born toward the end of the cut-off date are termed relative age effects (RAEs). The aim of this study was to examine RAEs during entry into professional and international rugby union pathways in England, as well as comparing them to their respective senior cohort: U15 Regional Academy Player (n = 1,114) vs. Senior Professional Player (n = 281) and U16–23 England Academy Player (n = 849) vs. Senior International Player (n = 48). Chi-square (χ2) analysis compared birth quarter (BQ) distributions against expected distributions. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals compared the likelihood of a BQ being selected. Findings revealed a significant overrepresentation of relatively older players compared with their relatively younger peers within both youth cohorts (P &lt; 0.001; BQ1 = 42.5% vs. BQ4 = 9.6%; BQ1 = 36.5% vs. BQ4 = 15.2%). In comparison, there was no significant difference in the BQ distributions within both senior cohorts. Further, BQ4s were 3.86 and 3.9 times more likely to achieve senior professional and international levels than BQ1s and BQ2s, respectively. It is suggested that relatively younger players may have a greater likelihood of achieving expertise following entry into a rugby union talent pathway due to benefitting from more competitive play against relatively older counterparts during their development (e.g., reversal effects; the underdog hypothesis). Moreover, possible solutions (e.g., age and anthropometric banding; playing-up and playing-down) are discussed to encourage practitioners and policy makers to create the most appropriate learning environment for every player.

scholarly journals Exploring Relative Age Effects in Youth Ice Hockey Through a Single Team Case Study and Composite Narratives

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Hancock
Keyword(s):  
Age Effects ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Descriptive Case Study ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Older Athletes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
High Prevalence

Relative age effects (when birthdate influences participation or performance) in sport potentially influence the experiences of sport participants, including athletes, parents, and coaches. Nearly all existing literature on relative age effects adopts a quantitative approach, limiting our understanding of the phenomenon. Thus, the purpose of this unique study was to explore relative age effects using an instrumental, descriptive case study approach with one elite, youth, male ice hockey team. This context was chosen given the high prevalence of relative age effects among such groups. Participants included 20 athletes, 19 parents, and two coaches from one team. Data were collected through biometric measures, semistructured interviews, and participant observations. Results were presented as five composite narratives: relatively older athletes, relatively younger athletes, parents of relatively older athletes, parents of relatively younger athletes, and coaching staff. The narratives demonstrated unique relative age experiences for each group of participants. Discussion aligns the results with the social agents model that explains relative age effects. Practical recommendations for sport participants are also provided.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Study of the Influence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) on Czech Tennis Players Aged 10 - 12.

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Koloničný ◽  
Michal Bozděch ◽  
Jiří Zháněl
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Reference Period ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Tennis Players ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Age Category

The issue of the phenomenon known as RAE first appeared in research within the educational system. In the field of sports research, it first emerged in the 1980s. The theory of RAE is based on the assumption that athletes born in the early months of the year are usually more advanced in both mental and physical fitness. Many studies have confirmed that birthdates of players in sports such as handball, ice hockey or football are distributed asymmetrically in the respective quarters of the year. A high incidence of birthdates has been shown to exist in the first half of the year. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of RAE on Czech tennis players in the age category of 10 – 12. The investigated sample consisted of players (n=1 500) who ranked among the top one hundred in the official ranking of the Czech Tennis Association in the period of 2003 – 2017. In order to verify the conformity of the distribution of the frequency of the players´ birthdates in the sample and the frequency of birthdates among the same population (n=1 506 504) the Chi-Square test (χ2) was used. The results of the study have shown a significant influence of RAE in certain years in the reference age category of 10 – 12, and in thirteen of the fifteen years surveyed. The overall results in the reference period 2003 – 2017 have shown that most of the players were born in Q1 (n=551) and Q2 (n=442). Therefore, 2/3 of the players (66%) were born in the first half of the year, while only 1/3 (34%) were born in the second half. A longitudinal study of tennis players aged 10 – 12 showed the influence of RAE both in specific years (with the exception of 2011 and 2014) and in the reference period 2003 – 2017 taken as a whole. The results of our research correspond to the results of similar studies performed by other authors. Tennis coaches are advised to address the issue of RAE when working with tennis youth and when selecting players to the sports centres, representations, etc.

scholarly journals The Relative Age Effect at the Ice Hockey World Championships (IHWC) in the years 2015–2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-159
Author(s):  
Jiří Nykodým ◽  
Michal Bozděch ◽  
Adrián Agricola ◽  
Jiří Zháněl
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Size Analysis ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Significant Probability ◽  
Research Show

Abstract The relative age effect (RAE) theory is based on the premise that athletes born in the first months of the calendar year have a significant probability of a higher level of physiological, morphological and psychological abilities compared to later-born athletes. The aim of our study was to verify the influence of the RAE on adult ice hockey players, specifically Ice Hockey World Championships’ (IHWC) participants in the years 2015−2017 (n = 1,200). Based on the chi-squared (χ2) analysis, the influence of the RAE during the 2015−2017 period could not be rejected for all observed players (χ2 = 54.6, p < 0.01, w = 0.21) or for all the players for particular years (2015, 2016, and 2017; p < 0.01). During the monitored period (2015−2017), the RAE could not be rejected for any player’s position (forward, defender, or goaltender). Based on the effect size analysis (Cohen’s w), the strongest RAE was observed among goaltenders (w = 0.31), then forwards (w = 0.24) and finally defenders (w = 0.15). The assessment of player’s positions in particular years showed statistical significance for goaltenders only in 2015 (χ2 = 11.3, p < 0.05). With regard to forwards, significance was confirmed for 2015 (χ2 = 8.5, p < 0.05), 2016 (χ2 = 15.2, p < 0.01) and 2017 (χ2 = 14.3, p < 0.01). Therefore, the presence of the RAE could not be rejected for all these cases. The results of the research show that members of national teams in the years 2015−2017 were players who were chronologically older, which is consistent with the results of other authors addressing the RAE.

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