Abstract
El efecto relativo de la edad (RAE) ha sido ampliamente estudiado en futbol revelando una distribución de nacimientos sesgada que favorece a los jugadores nacidos en los primeros meses del año. También, se ha observado que el efecto es más relevante en los equipos de alto nivel. Con esto en mente, este estudio analiza el predominio del efecto relativo de la edad en diferentes equipos de un club de futbol profesional así como en los procesos de selección de este. Considerando todo el equipo, la distribución difiere significantemente de la distribución teórica esperada (p<.05). Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los nacimientos observados y los esperados en las categorías alevines (masculino, x2 = 8.14, p<.05; femenino, x2 = 11.5, p<.01). Además, en la categoría femenina no hubo ninguna jugadora nacida entre septiembre y diciembre del año de selección. Sin embargo, no se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los resultados esperados y observados en categorías superiores a pesar de observarse una distribución sesgada. En conjunto, hubo una sobrerrepresentación de jugadores nacidos en los primeros meses del año en todo el equipo confirmando la presencia del RAE en el club. Por otra parte, al analizar el efecto en los procesos de selección confirmamos que este comenzaba antes de que los jugadores ingresasen en el club. Se observaron diferencias significativas en todas las fases de selección entre los jugadores seleccionados y no seleccionados (x2 = 18.10-7.80, p<.05). En consecuencia, podemos decir que el RAE comienza en la identificación temprana de los jugadores. Palabras clave: Fecha de nacimiento, RAE, fútbol, club profesional.Abstract: The presence of RAE has been widely reported and studied in soccer revealing skewed birth-date distributions favoring individuals born early in the selection year. Indeed, it has been documented that RAE is more relevant in high level teams. With this in mind, the present study examined the prevalence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in different age groups of a professional soccer club and in the selection processes of the same club. Considering the entire club, distribution differs significantly from the theoretical distribution expected (p<.05). Regarding different categories, there were significant differences between the observed and expected births in both alevin categories (male, x2 = 8.14, p<.05; female, x2 = 11.5, p<.01). Moreover, in womens alevin age group none of the players was born between September and December of the selection year. Nevertheless, they were not significant differences between the expected and observed results in higher categories but a comparatively biased distribution was observed. Overall, we found an over-representation of players born at the beginning of the year confirming the presence of the RAE in the club. When analyzing the effect of RAE in the talent identification process we observed that it begins before the players enter the club. Comparing the distributions of the not-selected players against the selected players significant differences were found in each of the selection phases (x2 = 18.10-7.80, p<.05). Thus, results revealed that the relative age effect acts in the early identification process of the players.Keywords: Birth date, RAE, soccer, professional club.
Highlights
In order to equalize competition sport, organizations set up systems of age categories based on birthdates of young participants
In the present study we examined the prevalence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in different age groups of a professional soccer club
The objective of the present study was to analyse the effect of RAE in the process of talent identification to observe if RAE begins before the players enter the club
Summary
In order to equalize competition sport, organizations set up systems of age categories based on birthdates of young participants. In most European countries the cut-off date used to define categories is the 1st of January In these countries, the majority of sports teams are made up of participants born between the 1st of January and the 31st of December of the same year. There can be an age difference of almost one year between the oldest and the youngest participants within any age group (Helsen, Starkes & Van Winckel, 2005). The intention of these age divisions is to provide developmentally appropriate training and competition, and an equal opportunity to achieve success (Helsen, Starkes & Van Winckel, 1998). As children are separated into age groups there are important variations in terms of physical, cognitive, and emotional differences between the youngest and the oldest ones (Musch & Grondin, 2001)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
