Abstract

BackgroundThe relative age effect is a commonly occurring phenomenon whereby there is a tendency for relatively older players to be over-represented during high level competitions. This effect is often seen to diminish as player’s age, however, there has been far less investigation on other potential moderating factors.MethodThis study investigated the impact of the relative age effect, and potential moderating factors, within the talent selection process of Australian cricket. Relative age distribution of 2,415 male and female junior and senior state level cricket players, who played in the Junior National Championships or State competition (senior level) between 2011 and 2015, were analysed.ResultsPlayers born in the first quartile of the cricket season were significantly over-represented in both male Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and female Under-15 and Under-18 levels. However, there was no significant difference at the senior state level for either male or female cricketers. Further investigation of the relative age effect in the junior talent pathway revealed that male all-rounders, batters and pace bowlers, and female all-rounders and batters, born in first quartile were over-represented. Right-handed batters and bowlers were also influenced by the relative age effect at all Junior National levels, while left-handed batters and bowlers were only influenced at the Under-15 and Under-17 levels. These results highlight the impact relative age has on junior cricket talent pathways, including sex, age, handedness and primary skills. Only state level, and left-handedness at the Under-19 level, were unaffected by relative age.DiscussionThe findings of this study highlight the influence of relative age effects for both male and female junior cricket players. Interestingly, there may be an advantage to being left-handed that is more prevalent at the older (male Under-19; female Under-18) age levels.

Highlights

  • Analysing junior representative level competitions that are responsible for the selection and development of young talented athletes, have been ideal settings to examine relative age effects (RAE)

  • The results of this study suggest that RAE is most prevalent around the 15-year-old competition age group, for both male and female cricketers

  • All-rounders, batters and pace bowlers, who are potentially advantaged by early physical maturity, demonstrated the greatest frequency of RAE across age groups

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Summary

Introduction

Analysing junior representative level competitions that are responsible for the selection and development of young talented athletes, have been ideal settings to examine relative age effects (RAE). Sports such as soccer (Gil et al, 2014; Van den Honert, 2012; Helsen, Van Winckel & Williams, 2005), tennis (Ulbricht et al, 2015), Australian Football Righthanded batters and bowlers were influenced by the relative age effect at all Junior National levels, while left-handed batters and bowlers were only influenced at the Under-15 and Under-17 levels These results highlight the impact relative age has on junior cricket talent pathways, including sex, age, handedness and primary skills. There may be an advantage to being left-handed that is more prevalent at the older (male Under-19; female Under-18) age levels

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