scholarly journals Relative Age Effect in the Sport Environment. Role of Physical Fitness and Cognitive Function in Youth Soccer Players

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (16) ◽  
pp. 2837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florentino Huertas ◽  
Rafael Ballester ◽  
Honorato José Gines ◽  
Abdel Karim Hamidi ◽  
Consuelo Moratal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Anthropometric Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Youth Soccer ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Attentional Functioning ◽  
Age Related

The need to achieve short-term competitive outcomes in sports may influence the emergence of talent selection strategies, which could bias individuals’ opportunities. The present study aimed to further explore the relative age effect (RAE), a phenomenon that strongly influences youth sport development. The RAE refers to a disproportionately high percentage in sport teams of athletes born early in the selection year. Our primary focus was to explore whether the RAE is supported by behavioral evidence in favor of better fitness—and especially cognitive-attentional functioning—of early as compared to late-born players. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 105 young athletes (u10, n = 52; 9.8 ± 0.3 years old, and u12, n = 53; 11.8 ± 0.2 years old) attending two youth elite soccer academies. Attentional functioning, anthropometrics, physical fitness, and game intelligence were compared across two Age Groups (u10 vs. u12) and four Birth Quarters (BQ1–BQ4). The RAE was statistically significant (p < 0.001), showing that about 50% of participants were born in the first quarter and 75% were born in the first half of the year. More importantly, U12 players outperformed u10 players in measures that were related to sustained attention (with faster and less variable responses; p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively), and in all anthropometric measures (p < 0.001), physical-fitness capacities (p < 0.05). Crucially, neither the attentional measures, game intelligence, anthropometrics, nor physical fitness were affected by BQ (all ps > 0.1 and BF10 between 0.08 and 0.6, showing strong evidence for the null hypothesis). The present findings suggest that the early selection process that occurs during scouting in youth soccer academies offsets the age-related differences that could be anticipated in cognitive skills, anthropometrics, and physical abilities, due to growth and maturation. These birth asymmetries could lead teams to disregard later maturation athletes and athletes born later in the year inducing a larger dropout of those players with the consequent reduction in the talent pool.

scholarly journals The Relative Age Effect in Poland's Elite Youth Soccer Players

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 265-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystian Rubajczyk ◽  
Andrzej Rokita
Keyword(s):  
Selection Process ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Youth Soccer ◽  
Youth Athletes ◽  
National Team ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Biological Development

Abstract The relative age effect (RAE) is related to discrimination against youth athletes born in the last quarter of the calendar year. The current study presents research on the RAE in elite youth soccer players in Poland. Players in the Central Junior League (CLJ) finals represent 0.59% of the 25,756 players under 20 years old (U20). This study analyzed the post-game protocols of the CLJ knockout stage from the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons as well as the U17-U21 teams during 2015, including only players who played on the field for at least one minute (n = 395). The results revealed the existence of RAE in the examined groups ( CLJ 2013/2014, χ23 = 15.441, p < 0.01, CLJ 2014/2015, χ23 = 20.891, p < 0.001 U17-U21, χ23 = 25.110, p < 0.001). In addition, the results differed by monthly birth distribution in the Polish population (PP) between 1995 and 1999. This study is the first to examine the RAE in youth soccer in Poland. The occurrence of the RAE with regard to the most promising youth and national team players suggests that a similar effect exists among younger age categories. To reduce the RAE related to identifying soccer talent, tools should be implemented to optimize the player-selection process, such as those that consider the biological development of a player.

scholarly journals Relative Age Effect in Anthropometrical Characteristics and Physical Fitness Among Youth Soccer Players of Amateur Clubs

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (0) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Yiannis Michailidis ◽  
Charalambos Zelenitsas ◽  
Dimitrios Mikikis ◽  
Kosmas Christoulas ◽  
Thomas Metaxas
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Youth Soccer ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect

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 Relative Age Effect of Sport Academy Adolescents, a Physiological Evaluation

Sports ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Staffan Ek ◽  
Per Wollmer ◽  
Magnus K. Karlsson ◽  
Tomas Peterson ◽  
Ola Thorsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Selection Process ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Physiological Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Fitness Parameters ◽  
Lower Body Power

The relationship between birth quarter distribution and physiological characteristics related to athletic skills, in adolescent sport academy students has not been fully investigated. In a cross-sectional study, we recruited 86 boys and 52 girls aged 12–14 years during their first term at a sport academy school. We measured body size, cardiac size, pulmonary function, body composition, lower body power, cardiorespiratory fitness parameters, and running endurance by standard methods and analyzed these estimates in relation to birth quarter by ANOVA. Birth quarter distribution in our cohort was compared with birth quarter distribution in the same ages in the whole of Sweden and analyzed by logistic regression. The academy had an overrepresentation of students born in the first quartile of the year compared to those born in the last quartile (odds ratio 2.3 (95% CI: 1.1–4.7)). When comparing the physiological characteristics between birth quarters, uniformity is prominent since out of 26 performed physiological and anthropometric tests only four showed statistically significant group differences. We thus believe that the selection process to the sport academy favours athletes with higher chronological age, i.e., a so-called relative age effect is present.

scholarly journals The Influence of Relative Age Effects on the Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels of Children Age 9 to 10 and 11 to 12 Years of Age

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J. Roberts ◽  
Lynne M. Boddy ◽  
Stuart J. Fairclough ◽  
Gareth Stratton
Keyword(s):  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Fitness Testing ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
First Time

The aims of this study were firstly to examine whether there was an observed relative age effect in the cardiorespiratory fitness scores of 9-10 and 11-12 year old children, and secondly whether any observed effect was maintained after controlling for somatic maturity. Cardiorespiratory fitness data from 11,404 children aged 9-10 years and 3,911 children aged 11-12 years were obtained from a large cross-sectional field-based fitness testing program. A one-way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant relative age effect (p < .01) existed in the 20mSRT scores across all the age groups. Furthermore, ANCOVA analyses identified a statistically significant relative age effect was maintained after controlling for somatic maturation (p < .05). From a public health perspective these results confirm the existence of relative age effects for the first time and consequently may hold implications for relatively younger children in the accurate assessment of their cardiorespiratory fitness scores.

scholarly journals Relative Age Effect on basketball: implications for the selection of successful players (Efecto de la edad relativa en el baloncesto: implicaciones para la selección de jugadores exitosos)

Retos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 266-275
Author(s):  
Larissa Fernanda Porto Maciel ◽  
Mônica Cristina Flach ◽  
Raquel Krapp do Nascimento ◽  
Eduardo José Dallegrave ◽  
Juarez Vieira do Nascimento ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Athletic Teams ◽  
Region Data

The Relative Age Effect has been the subject of study by researchers who seek to understand sports performance. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of relative age effect (RAE) in basketball players, verifying whether early-birth players and the features of the place they inserted affect probable recruitment for athletic teams. The sample was comprised 1,455 players within 9 and 19-year-old. Variables included birth semester, gender, sports category, number of recruitments, geographical region. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model. The results found that early-birth players had a better chance to be recruited for state athletic teams u13 than late-birth ones. Players u15 and u17 had similar chances. Further, u13 and u15 players linked to the northern region for Brazil and in cities with very high Human Development Index (HDI) and medium-sized cities had a better recruitment chance for state team. Results may be employed by coaches, recruiters and headhunters, since variables associated to RAE may affect the state team and players´ performance throughout the process of sports formation. Removing the influence of relative age-related differences is predicted to improve the accuracy of identifying skilled players.  Resumen. El efecto de la edad relativa (RAE) ha sido objeto de estudio por parte de investigadores que buscan comprender el desempeño en el deporte. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el predominio del efecto de la edad relativa (RAE) en jugadores de baloncesto, verificando si los jugadores de nacimiento temprano y las características del lugar donde estaban insertos inciden en el probable reclutamiento para equipos deportivos. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 1.455 jugadores de entre 9 y 19 años. Las variables incluyeron semestre de nacimiento, género, categoría deportiva, número de reclutamientos, región geográfica. Los datos fueron analizados mediante estadística descriptiva y modelo de regresión logística binaria. Los resultados encontrados demostraron que los jugadores de nacimiento temprano tenían mayores posibilidades de ser reclutados para equipos atléticos estatales sub13 que los de nacimiento tardío. Los jugadores sub15 y sub17 tuvieron oportunidades similares. Además, los jugadores sub13 y sub15 vinculados a la región norte de Brasil y en ciudades com alto Índice de Desarrollo Humano (IDH) y ciudades medianas, tuvieron mayores oportunidades de ser reclutados para el equipo estatal. Los resultados pueden ser empleados por entrenadores, reclutadores y cazatalentos, ya que las variables asociadas al RAE pueden afectar el desempeño del equipo estatal y de los jugadores a lo largo del proceso de formación deportiva. Se prevé que al eliminar la influencia de las diferencias relativas relacionadas con la edad mejorará la precisión en la identificación de jugadores habilidosos.

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

scholarly journals Relative Age Effect and Long-Term Success in the Spanish Soccer and Basketball National Teams

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina López de Subijana ◽  
Jorge Lorenzo
Keyword(s):  
Selection Process ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
National Team ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Premier League ◽  
Talent Selection

AbstractThe aims of this study were: i) to analyze whether relative age effect occurs in the athletes of the junior national teams and professional athletes in Spain in general and in soccer and basketball, and ii) to compare the long-term success of the players selected for the junior national team between these sports. The samples for this study were Spanish professional soccer (n = 461) and basketball (n = 250) players in the 2013-2014 premier league and players from the junior Spanish soccer (i.e., n = 273; U-17: n = 107; U-19: n = 166) and basketball (i.e., n = 240; U-18: n = 120, U-16: n = 120) teams that classified to play in the European Championships (from 2004 to 2013). Junior players (42.3%) were more frequently born in the 1st quarter of the year than the professional players (30.7%) (χ2(3) = 30.07; p = .001; Vc = .157). This was found in both basketball (χ2(3) = 12.2.; p = .007; Vc = .158) and soccer (χ2(3) = 20.13; p < .001; Vc = .166). Long-term success is more frequent in soccer, where 59.9% of the juniors selected for the national team played later in the premier league, while in basketball that percentage was 39.6% (χ2(1) = 14.64; p < .001; Vc = .201). On the other hand, 79.4% and 39.8% of the professional soccer and basketball players had been previously selected for junior national teams (χ2(1) = 60.2; p < .001; Vc = .386), respectively. The talent selection process should be reviewed as players born in the second half of the year have fewer opportunities to stand out.

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