The prevalence of Constituent Year effect in Youth Olympic Games: implications for talent identification and development in basketball

Abstract

Purpose: The Relative Age Effect (RAE) and Constituent Year Effect (CYE) is increasingly recognized as a significant concern in youth sports, especially in basketball where physical traits such as height, arm span, and leg length are emphasized. This focus often eclipses the critical role of age-related variations in talent scouting processes. This study aims to explore the presence and impact of CYE in basketball, with a specific focus on the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Methods: Utilizing statistical analysis, primarily the Chi-square test and Cramer's V, this research examines the occurrence of CYE among basketball players at the YOG. Results: The findings decisively confirm the existence of CYE in youth basketball (P= .000, χ2= 51.593, df= 2, Cramer's V= .403). Results of male (χ2 = 29.342, Cramer's V: .431) and female χ2 =23.43, Cramer's V: .383) also subsample suggest a significant skew in player selection based on birth year, with a large effect size in both cases. A notable discovery is the disproportionate number of athletes born in 2000, who are 19 times more common than those born in 2002, indicating a significant age-related skew in player selection. This indicates a strong association between birth year and player selection in the context of the YOG for both genders. Conclusions: CYE's prevalence in youth basketball could detrimentally impact athletes' development and teams' overall performance. The research emphasizes the need for a more equitable and balanced approach in athlete selection. The paper proposes practical steps to reduce CYE in basketball, such as narrowing age categories or establishing smaller, more precise age groups to ensure fairer competition and more accurate talent identification.