Antecedents and Explanations of Relative Age Effects

2020 ◽  
pp. 23-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Hancock
Keyword(s):  
Age Effects ◽  
Relative Age

Participation trends according to relative age across youth UK Rugby League

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen P Cobley ◽  
Kevin Till
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Sports Participation ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
The North

Relative age effects in sports participation highlight the presence of a significant social and developmental inequality. To assess its prevalence, patterning, and size, this study examined participation trends of youth (ages 7–21 years) Rugby League players registered to local community clubs across the North of England ( N = 23,943). Results showed that irrespective of relative age, participation growth occurred from U8 to U12s age categories. However, from U13 to U19s, participation became differentiated with the relatively younger showing earlier and progressively lowering participation proportions (e.g. Q4s – U13–U17 = 24–17%) and were up to 50% less likely to participate (i.e. Q4 vs. Q1 – U15–U16 OR = 0.48 and 0.50). Findings highlight the substantial earlier loss of participation for the relatively younger across youth ages. Player development systems containing inherent selection and differentiation during adolescence are presented as one key process affecting the decision to participate in youth Rugby League.

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 A proposed theoretical model to explain relative age effects in sport

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 630-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Hancock ◽  
Ashley L. Adler ◽  
Jean Côté
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Relative Age

The average team age method and its potential to reduce relative age effects

2021 ◽  
pp. 107-124
Author(s):  
Jan Verbeek ◽  
Steve Lawrence ◽  
Jorg van der Breggen ◽  
Adam L. Kelly ◽  
Laura Jonker
Keyword(s):  
Age Effects ◽  
Relative Age

Relative Age Effects in Youth and Elite Sport

2020 ◽  
pp. 98-116
Author(s):  
Werner F. Helsen ◽  
Janet Starkes
Keyword(s):  
Age Effects ◽  
Elite Sport ◽  
Relative Age

Relative Age Effects and Youth Development

2020 ◽  
pp. 57-70
Author(s):  
Srdjan Lemez ◽  
Jessica Fraser-Thomas ◽  
Nick Wattie
Keyword(s):  
Youth Development ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Relative Age

scholarly journals Origins of Relative Age Effects in Youth Football—A Nationwide Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Romann ◽  
Eva Rüeger ◽  
Mirjam Hintermann ◽  
Raphael Kern ◽  
Oliver Faude
Keyword(s):  
Sport Participation ◽  
Waiting Lists ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Youth Football ◽  
Grassroots Level ◽  
Age Range ◽  
First Time ◽  
Age Category

Introduction: Relative age effects (RAEs) refer to the overrepresentation of players born earlier in the selection year compared to late-born players within the same age category. To date, the origins and mechanisms of RAEs are still unclear. To evaluate the development of RAEs in terms of age group and selection level, we analyzed data of all registered child and adolescent football players in Switzerland.Methods: Age category, selection level, and birthdate from all licensed 101,991 Swiss child and youth football players assigned to a specific team [9,149 girls (9.0%) and 92,842 boys (91.0%); age range: 4.6–19.6 years] were analyzed. Additionally, out of 1,128 clubs, 54 clubs provided their documented waiting lists (1,224 players). Birthdate distributions were split by age category, sex, and birth quarter (Q1 = January to March, Q4 = October to December). RAEs were calculated using odds ratios (Q1 vs. Q4) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).Results: We found small RAEs among U8 players (OR 1.44 [95% CI 1.31, 1.59]) and U10 (OR 1.24 [95% CI 1.16, 1.32]). The RAE was negligible in all other age categories, independent of gender. In children's football, 5,584 (71.3%) teams performed selections. In teams without selection, there were no obvious RAEs. However, teams with selections for the same age category showed small RAEs with an overrepresentation of Q1 athletes in the first team (OR = 1.29 [95% CI 1.24, 1.35]) and inverse RAEs with an underrepresentation of Q1 athletes in the last team (OR = 0.85 [95% CI 0.82, 0.89]). Only small RAEs were observed on the waiting lists for the U8 (OR = 1.48 [1.13, 1.95]).Discussion and Conclusion: RAEs have a small, but consistent effect on participation in Swiss children's football at the grassroots level. Contrary to expectations, no inverse RAEs were found on the waiting lists. Nonetheless, first time coach selections seem to be the origin of RAEs. To protect young athletes from discrimination, RAE biases should be analyzed and eliminated at all stages of sport participation, selection, and dropout situations. Modifications to the organizational structure of sport and athlete development systems are recommended to prevent RAE-related discrimination in youth sports.

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