Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the relative age effect (RAE) on the selection and promotion processes in an elite soccer academy. One hundred and eleven elite youth players who belonged to an elite soccer club from the Spanish “La Liga” participated in this study. Players were classified into three age-categories: under 14 years (U14), under 16 years (U16) and under 18 years (U18); and they were also classified in quartiles based on their date of birth (i.e., January-March, Q1; April-June, Q2; July-September, Q3; October-December, Q4). In addition, two further classification criteria were established based on the selection (i.e., selected and non-selected players) and promotion (i.e., promoted and non-promoted players) processes. The main results showed that in U14 and U16 age-categories, players born early in the year were over-represented compared to players born late in the year, although birth-distribution was not associated with the likelihood of a player to be selected or promoted. In addition, less fat in sum skinfolds, less percentage of fat, higher percentage of muscle and lower endomorphy and mesomorphy components were showed in U14 selected players, in comparison with non-selected players. Likewise, better sprint performance was found in U16 selected players versus non-selected ones. However, no significant differences on anthropometry, body composition, somatotype and physical performance were found between promoted and non-promoted players. Therefore, our results suggest there is need for coaches to reorient their talent identification programs in order to make sure that players selected to continue playing in the club have the potential to promote to the excellence in soccer.
Highlights
In order to ensure fair competition between players with similar levels of development and growth, youth soccer competitions are arranged by age-groups [1]
The odds of playing for an elite soccer academy were 7.57 higher for players born at year onset (Q1) than for players born at the end of the competition year (Q4)
Between-group comparisons revealed that the effect of relative age effect (RAE) decreased as the age-category increased, since the odds of playing for an elite soccer team for players born at Q1 were larger at under 14 years (U14) category, compared with under 16 years (U16) and under 18 years (U18) (OR: 20.23; 9.43; 3.51, respectively)
Summary
In order to ensure fair competition between players with similar levels of development and growth, youth soccer competitions are arranged by age-groups [1]. This competition system does not allow to completely avoid players with different chronological age competing. Since the cut-off for players distribution within a specific category is determined by year onset (1st January), and players born in two different years may be competing at the same age-category, the chronological age difference between young competitors may be up to 24 months [2] This variance leads to considerable anthropometry and physical conditioning differences between players competing against each other [3,4,5]. This phenomenon should be taken with special attention in the identification of talented athletes during early age
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