Abstract
The study examined the presence of the relative age effect (RAE) and association between birth quartile and anthropometry, biological maturation and physical and technical performance of young Brazilian soccer players. The sample included 119 male players, 74 of U-15 category and 45 of U-17 category, which were divided into quartiles according to the birth year. Biological maturation was assessed using the method of skeletal age of Fels. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, stature and subcutaneous adiposity. Physical fitness assessment included strength tests in the lower limbs, speed, aerobic endurance and anaerobic power. Technical skills included ball control, dribbling and kicking accuracy. Overall, 65.5% of soccer players were born on the first half of the year (c2= 8.069, p = 0.04); however, in the analysis by category, there was no significant difference in the distribution of birth dates for quartile when compared with the reference population (U-15: c2=6.322, p=0.10; U-17: c2=2.339, p=0.50). MANCOVA revealed no significant differences between anthropometry, biological maturation and physical and technical performance in both competitive categories. These results suggest that there is a higher proportion of young Brazilian soccer born on the first months of the year, but that RAE does not necessarily constitute an advantage under the anthropometric, physical and technical standpoint. The process of biological maturation of individuals should be considered by coaches in the selection of athletes.
Highlights
The identification and selection of young talents in soccer is a task that begins at increasingly early ages because these individuals should be involved increasingly early in organized and systematic training and competition processes, adjusted to their growth and development[1]
Throughout this process aimed at high sports performance, young soccer players have to face competitive situations solely defined by chronological age
In the analysis separated by category, there was no significant difference in the distribution of birth dates for quartile when compared with the reference population
Summary
The identification and selection of young talents in soccer is a task that begins at increasingly early ages because these individuals should be involved increasingly early in organized and systematic training and competition processes, adjusted to their growth and development[1] Throughout this process aimed at high sports performance, young soccer players have to face competitive situations solely defined by chronological age (birth year). Any young soccer player born between January 1 and December 31 of the respective calendar year participates in a given competitive category. This procedure is intended to provide a more balanced training and sports competition, where opportunities to achieve success are similar among practitioners[3,4]. Significant interindividual variations in relation to growth, development and biological maturation, which are especially evident in the period of childhood and adolescence, may condition the goal of this procedure
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