Abstract
The relative age effect (RAE) is a well-documented phenomenon in youth sports. This effect exists when the relative age quarter distribution of selected athletes shows a biased distribution with an over-representation of relatively older athletes. In alpine ski racing, it exists in all age categories (national youth levels up to World Cup). Studies so far could demonstrate that selected ski racers are relatively older, taller and heavier. It could be hypothesized that relatively younger athletes nearly only have a chance for selection if they are early maturing. However, surprisingly this influence of the biological maturity status on the RAE could not be proven, yet. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of the biological maturity status on the RAE in dependence of the level of competition. The study investigated 372 elite youth ski racers: 234 provincial ski racers (P-SR; high level of competition) and 137 national ski racers (N-SR; very high level of competition). Anthropometric characteristics were measured to calculate the age at peak height velocity (APHV) as an indicator of the biological maturity status. A significant RAE was present among both P-SR and N-SR, with a larger effect size among the latter group. The N-SR significantly differed in APHV from the P-SR. The distribution of normal, early and late maturing athletes significantly differed from the expected normal distribution among the N-SR, not among the P-SR. Hardly any late maturing N-SR were present; 41.7% of the male and 34% of the female N-SR of the last relative age quarter were early maturing. These findings clearly demonstrate the significant influence of the biological maturity status on the selection process of youth alpine ski racing in dependence of the level of competition. Relatively younger athletes seem to have a chance of selection only if they are early maturing.
Highlights
To guarantee fair competition and reflect age-related development, the youth athletes in many sports are separated into competition categories by chronological age [1,2,3,4]
Any late maturing national ski racers (N-SR) were present; 41.7% of the male and 34% of the female N-SR of the last relative age quarter were early maturing. These findings clearly demonstrate the significant influence of the biological maturity status on the selection process of youth alpine ski racing in dependence of the level of competition
The results of the present study indicate that the relative age effect (RAE) is a severe problem in national youth ski racing
Summary
To guarantee fair competition and reflect age-related development, the youth athletes in many sports are separated into competition categories by chronological age [1,2,3,4]. Biological Maturity Status and Relative Age Effect in Alpine Ski Racing compete against each other in the same competition category. This strategy is well intentioned, it is responsible for creating chronological age advantages; age differences of almost 12 months are possible between individuals [3; 6]. In youth sports, these differences have lead to the already well-documented relative age effect (RAE) phenomenon. A RAE exists when the relative age quarter distribution (relative age quarter corresponds to the birth quarter) of selected athletes is not distributed among the four quarters, as the distribution of the general population is [7,8], but it shows a skewed distribution with an over-representation of relatively older athletes, whose birth months are close to the cut-off date for the competition categories [3; 7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
