F-26 Free Communication/Poster - Injury Epidemiology

Abstract

During the last century several studies (i.e. Kassel, 1929) have thoroughly described that young people with eminent performance have a tendency to be born early in the year. Succeeding studies in sport (i.e. Musch & Grondin, 2001; Cobley et al., 2009) have documented the relative age effect (RAE). Selection of team handball players are often based on physical and cognitive criteria (e.g. play intelligence), making it an advantage to be bigger, faster, stronger and have more experience. However, there have been few studies about RAE in youth handball, and especially whether the age effect lasts. Sánchez-Rodríguez et al. (2013) have investigated RAE in male handball; findings indicate an age effect in several national teams. The Norwegian national handball team for women has been world leading the last decade. PURPOSE: To examine the relative age effect over time in three different Norwegian female youth national teams (U-20, U-18, U-16). Our hypothesis is that the RAE effect flattens over time. METHODS: Data from three different Norwegian female youth national teams (U-20 (n=22), U- 18 (n=19), U-16 (n=16)) were collected in cooperation with the Norwegian Handball Federation (NHF). Youth national teams are divided into categories made up by players born in two following years, where cut off dates are in even numbered birth years. Thus, a national team consists of players born in eight different quartiles. RESULTS: Significant correlations (p<0.05) between number of athletes and birth quartiles were found for U-16 (r2=.67) and U-18 (r2=.60), while no significant correlation was found for U-20 (r2=.02, p>0.05) CONCLUSION: This indicates that there is a RAE in the younger age groups (U-16 and U-18) while it is not visible in U-20. This may be explained by new players entering youth national teams over time, and less matured players catching up and then achieve key criteria for selection. Early maturation and physical capacity seem to favor players in selection at younger age. Future studies should compare the current findings with new youth national teams to see if this is a trend or a random result.