scholarly journals The Relative Age Effect in Spanish Female Soccer Players. Influence of the Competitive Level and a Playing Position

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Sedano ◽  
Roel Vaeyens ◽  
Juan Carlos Redondo
Keyword(s):  
Age Distribution ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Birth Date ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Almost All

Abstract The purposes of the study were to examine relative age effects (RAEs) in Spanish female soccer and to identify the influence of a playing position. The sample comprised all female players (n=4035) of five different competitive levels in the 2010-2013 seasons: First, Second and Third divisions (n=936, n=1711 and n=870, respectively), and National and Regional (n=232 and n=286, respectively) teams were included. Differences between the observed and expected birth-date distributions were tested based on data from the general Spanish population, using the chi-square statistic followed up by calculating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results revealed that the birth-date distributions of almost all groups of football players showed an overrepresentation of players born in the first quartile. Only in the lowest level was age distribution not significantly different from that of the general population. Moreover, the RAE risk progressively increased with a higher level of involvement. It was also observed that at some playing positions the birth-date distributions were significantly biased. That was the case for goalkeepers and defenders. It could be concluded that in the current structure of Spanish female soccer there is a relative age effect, probably due to the early processes of talent identification.

scholarly journals Distribuição do mês de nascimento e medidas antropométricas de jogadores de futebol de elite nacional sub-15

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Melo Altimari ◽  
Henrique Bortolotti ◽  
Nelson Dos Santos-Junior ◽  
Leandro Ricardo Altimari ◽  
Antonio Carlos de Moraes
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Birth Date ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Birth Month ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Selection Of

The aim of this study was to analyze the birth month distribution and anthropometric measurements of U-15 elite soccer players. The sample consisted of 400 athletes (15.4 ± 0.4 years, 171.0 ± 10.6 cm and 63.0 ± 8.8 kg) participants of the 11th edition of the Brazil U-15 Soccer Cup, who had their birth month information and height and body mass measures obtained from data available on the organization’s website. Athletes were separated according to the categorization of chronological age into four-month periods: 1st quarter (1st QDT), athletes born between January and April; 2nd quarter (2nd QDT), those born between May and August, and 3rd quarter (3rd QDT), those born between September and December. The non-parametric chi-square test (X2) was used to analyze the possible differences between observed and expected birth date distributions in the four-month periods. The significance level was P<0.05. The results show that the number of players born in 1st QDT was higher when compared to 2nd QDT and 3rd QDT (P<0.05), and higher when compared to 2nd QDT with 3rd QDT (P<0.05). For variables height and body mass, it was observed that players born in 1st QDT presented values significantly higher than those born in 2nd QDT and 3rd QDT (P<0.05). In the same way, players born in 2nd QDT presented higher values than those born in 3rd QDT (P<0.05).It could be concluded that the relative age effect exerts an influence on the selection of Brazilian U-15 soccer players because it is associated with differences in the anthropometric characteristics of these young players.

scholarly journals The relative age effect in FIFA U-17 World Cup: The role of the playing position and the continent

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 12-18
Author(s):  
ALI IŞIN ◽  
TUBA MELEKOĞLU
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Football Players ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the relative age effect of the countries which attended the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup and to research the relative age effect in terms of continents and the players’ position. Material and methods: 504 male football players from 24 countries which participated in the U-17 World Cup in India in 2017 were included in the study. Football players’ dates of birth were grouped into periods of three months in quarter years (Q): Q1 – January-March, Q2 – April-June, Q3 – July-September, Q4 – October-December. To study the sub-group differences of the relative age effect, meaningful chi-square (χ²) values were followed by calculating the odds ratio and %95 confidence intervals. To determine the effect size, Cramer’s V was used. Results: The relative age effect was based on quarter years’ distributions. Significant differences were found among age quartiles for all teams in FIFA U-17 World Cup. However, when the variables analysed were according to the continents, the relative age effect disappeared in Africa, Asia and Oceania. Conclusions: In the comparison of the players’ continents, a relative age effect was observed in Europe, North America, and South America. When the players’ positions are compared, a relative age effect was found in defenders, midfielders and forward players.

scholarly journals Are Soccer and Futsal Affected by the Relative Age Effect? The Portuguese Football Association Case

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Figueiredo ◽  
André Seabra ◽  
Marta Brito ◽  
Marta Galvão ◽  
João Brito
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Training Institution ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Male Youth ◽  
Youth Soccer ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect

A better understanding of the relative age effect (RAE) in youth will increase the awareness of the need for reducing the bias of (de)selection. Thus, we investigated the RAE in youth female and male soccer and futsal players in Portugal, using nationwide data. Birthdates of 5,306 female and 126,285 male soccer players, and 2,437 female and 23,988 male futsal players (U7–U19), registered in Portugal during the season 2019–2020, and Portuguese National teams (from U15 to AA soccer teams and from U17 to AA futsal teams) were analyzed. Data were categorized into age groups and certification levels [no certification, basic football training center, football school, and training institution] of the respective clubs/academies. Birthdates were stratified from the start of the selection year using quartiles (Q) and semesters (S). Differences between the observed and expected birthdate distributions were analyzed using chi-square statistics, and RAEs were calculated using odds ratios (OR). In both soccer and futsal, female players, in the age category U9, RAEs were found (Q1 vs. Q4, OR: 1.49 and 1.84, respectively). In male soccer, differences in the birthdate distribution were observed in all age categories (U7–U19) with significant OR between all comparisons (Q and S). In contrast, an over-representation of young male futsal players (Q1 vs. Q4) was observed only in the age categories U7 and U9 (OR: 1.54 and 1.34, respectively). The stratification by certification level showed a significant RAE for all certification levels in male soccer players. In contrast, in male futsal players, the RAE was significant only in clubs and academies with the highest level. For National teams, the RAE was more pronounced in male soccer, particularly in the U16 and U17 (OR: 9.84 and 12.36, respectively). Data showed a RAE in female and male youth soccer and futsal, particularly in male, younger age categories, and in clubs and academies having a higher certification level, which could be accompanied by a loss of valuable elite players during the youth phase of their careers. Thus, adjustments in the systems and structure of talent identification are recommended to prevent RAE-related discrimination in youth soccer and futsal.

scholarly journals Relative age effect in U-16 Asian Championship Soccer Tournament

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pathmanathan K. Suppiah ◽  
Jeffrey Low Fook Lee ◽  
Abdul Muiz Nor Azmi ◽  
Hasnol Noordin ◽  
Rabiu Muazu Musa
Keyword(s):  
Age Effect ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Month Of Birth ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Youth Soccer ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Birth Month ◽  
Older Athletes ◽  
Cognitive Knowledge

Athletes born at the beginning of the year may present the advantage of physical characteristics, motor ability or cognitive knowledge that could increase their chances for selection against their peers. This circumstance could lead to the over-representation of older athletes in an age-defined competition which is commonly referred to as relative age effect (RAE). Although, a number of studies have demonstrated that RAE is apparent in youth soccer, such studies barely investigates the performance advantage that may likely exists across the birth month of the athletes. The current study aims to determine the presence of RAE in the under 16 Asian Football Confederation Championship (AFC), investigate the effect of RAE on the team qualification success as well as ascertain the existence of RAE in the playing position amongst the soccer players. Data of the 2018 AFC under 16 qualifications matches were obtained from the AFC. A total of 719 players from 32 countries participated in the qualification competitions. Chi-square for goodness fit is used to determine the existence of the RAE across the players’ month of birth while logistic regression is applied to analyze the differences of the quartiles’ distribution with respect to the quartile, qualification status (qualifier or non-qualifier) as well as the playing position of the players. The results demonstrate the presence of RAE in the AFC under 16 soccer tournaments [χ2(4) = 21.53; p < 0.001] with the largest number of older players dominating the qualified team. Likewise, a substantial difference is observed with regards to the quartile and various playing position of the players p < 0.05.

scholarly journals The relative age effect in Brazilian soccer: so what?

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-70
Author(s):  
Dalmo Roberto Lopes Machado ◽  
Pedro Pugliesi Abdalla ◽  
Ana Claudia Rossini Venturini ◽  
André Pereira Dos Santos ◽  
Nilo Cesar Ramos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Partial Correlation ◽  
Technical Skills ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Youth Soccer ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Significant Difference

Objectiveː our purpose was a) to describe the Relative Age Effect occurrence in Brazilian elite youth soccer players; b) to identify the association between Relative Age Effect and technical skills and c) to examine how Relative Age Effect can affect Physical Fitness. Method: Eighty-one Brazilian elite soccer players from three age-group teams (U-15, U-17 and U-20) were classified by birth quartiles according to their date of birth. Relative Age Effect was determined when there was a statistically significant difference between players who were born in BQ1 (January through March) to the other birth quartiles (Chi-Square). The association between Relative Age Effect and Technical Rankings was verified by the correlation. The partial correlation controlled for date of birth and for maturity offset was also performed. Relative Age Effect on Physical Fitness was verified by the variance (ANOVA) of its components on each team’s birth quartiles. Results: Players born in BQ1 were the most selected in U-15 (60%) and U-17 (35%) teams, but not in U-20 (25%). A low to moderate (Rho = 0.04 to 0.53) correlation was found between birth quartiles and Technical Rankings, while date of birth and maturation (partial correlation) effects were identified in the U-15 team. Although birth quartiles do not affect Physical Fitness (ANOVA), it may favour some Physical Fitness components (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The greater risk of Relative Age Effect in younger teams is due to the greater emphasis on technical skills. When date of birth and maturation are controlled for, the association between Technical Rankings and birth quartiles is reduced. There was no evidence that Relative Age Effect affected the players’ game performance.

scholarly journals Does Relative Age Effect Exist among Norwegian Professional Soccer Players?

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Wiium ◽  
Yngrar Ommundsen ◽  
Hege R. Enksen ◽  
Stein Atle Lie
Keyword(s):  
Age Effect ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Professional Soccer

scholarly journals Relative Age Effect in Elite German Soccer: Influence of Gender and Competition Level

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Götze ◽  
Matthias W. Hoppe
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Large Effect Size ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Small Effect Size ◽  
Competition Level ◽  
German Adult

The relative age effect (RAE) is associated with (dis)advantages in competitive sports. While the RAE in elite male soccer reveals a skewed birthdate distribution in relation to a certain cut-off date, research of RAE in elite female soccer is affected by small number of samples and conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the RAE in elite adult German soccer regarding gender and competition level. The sample comprised 680 female and 1,083 male players of the two top German leagues during the 2019/20 season and German national teams (A-Team to Under 19). Differences between the observed and expected birthdate distributions were analyzed using chi-square statistics and effect sizes followed by calculating odds ratios. Results showed a statistically significant RAE with small effect size across all players included for both genders (female players: P &lt; 0.001, W = 0.16, male players: P &lt; 0.001, W = 0.23). The identified RAE was based on an over-representation of players born at the beginning of the year. According to gender and competition level, RAEs were more pronounced in German male soccer. While significant RAEs were found among males in the first two leagues (first league: P &lt; 0.001, W = 0.19, second league: P &lt; 0.001, W = 0.26), the RAE of females was more pronounced in the second league (first league: P = 0.080, W = 0.16, second league: P = 0.002, W = 0.20). The analysis of RAE regarding the national teams revealed a statistically significant RAE with large effect size for only the youngest investigated age group of male players (Under 19: P = 0.022, W = 0.52). Our data show an RAE in female and male German adult soccer, which could be accompanied by a loss of valuable elite players during the youth phase of the career. Consequently, the pool of talented players at the adult level would be limited.

scholarly journals Relative age effect, skeletal maturation and aerobic running performance in youth soccer players

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson Santiago Teixeira ◽  
Juliano Fernandes da Silva ◽  
Priscila Cristina dos Santos ◽  
Paulo Cesar do Nascimento Salvador ◽  
Fernando de Souza Campos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Effect ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Skeletal Maturation ◽  
Running Performance ◽  
Youth Soccer ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect

Relative age effects in American professional football

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack F. Heneghan ◽  
Michael C. Herron
Keyword(s):  
Football Player ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
American Football ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Physiological Factors ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Athletic Success

Abstract We test for the existence of relative age effects in professional American football. In a sample of 18,898 football players born on or after 1940, there is an excess of January and February births – consistent with a relative age effect associated with calendar year – as well as a slight increase in September births – consistent with the fact that some football players we analyze attended high school in states with fall school cutoff dates. We consider the possibility that relative age effects may affect skilled football positions more than positions relying heavily on player weight, and we find suggestive evidence of this. Lastly, and contrary to what has recently been shown in professional hockey, we find no evidence that misguided preferences for relatively older players lead to selection-based inefficiencies in football player drafting. Our results have implications for evaluating potential football players and speak broadly to the role of physiological factors beyond player control on athletic success.

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