Existence Of Relative Age Effect Research Articles

Relative age effect presence among swimmers within Youth Olympic Games

Purpose: Swimming is one of the oldest activities known to man. In the context of sports performance, swimmers became a subject of admiration due to their superior technique and untouchable records. However, such a tendency toward the absolute results increases the danger of Relative Age effect (RAE) occurrence within swimming. Methods: Therefore, the authors of this research aimed to enlighten the possible existence of RAE in swimming during the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2018. Data were retrieved through the web source, and afterward analyzed through the Chisquare test. Results: Results revealed there is an unequal distribution of four generations within the same competition age (youth) category The great value of the Chi-square test (χ2= 289.869; P= .000) indicates the (enormous) magnitude of the effect occurring within the analyzed competition. The youngest 2003 generation was present at less than 10% (7.15%) while the oldest one (2000) represents almost half (42.55%) of the overall sample. Conclusions: Managers of competitive sports events should pay attention to this issue because there is up to four years of difference between some competitors, and that system may include both pre-pubertal and post-pubertal competitors in the same age category. Youth categories, especially cadets in early pubertal stages are being affected. The authors suggest that the separation of this youth category into more than one would be of much help for athletes and sports organizations to ensure more fair competition system. Keywords: talent identification, youth Olympics, RAE, swimming, YOG.

Relative age effect on elite men’s futsal according to region and playing position: A study of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021

Objective: To investigate the existence of relative age effect (RAE) in male futsal athletes that participated in the “FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021”, according to region and playing position.
 Methods: The birthdates of 384 male futsal athletes participating in the competition were collected from official websites. Players were divided according to their continents and playing positions, and the chi-square goodness-of-fit tests (χ2) were performed to compare the expected and the observed birthdate absolute distributions for each group. Also, specific effect sizes (⍵) were calculated for each of the chi-square tests performed. Additionally, Odds Ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the first and the last quarters of the year, as for semesters.
 Results: The overall analysis of the athletes indicated no presence of RAE in this sample, since an even distribution of birthdates was found (χ2 = 5.949; p = 0.114; ω = 0.124). The regions analysed also indicated no presence of RAE. When playing positions were considered, once again analyses indicated no RAE to elite international futsal athletes, since no differences were found between the observed and expected birthdate distributions.
 Conclusion: RAE is not prevalent on the international male elite futsal context. This effect was not associated with region or playing positions.

The relative age effect and gender difference on fundamental motor skills in preschool children aged 4–5 years

The main objective of this study was to examine the existence of Relative Age Effect (RAE) and analyze the effect of gender on Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) of preschool children aged 4–5 years old. A total of 298 healthy preschool childrenwere evaluated. The Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) was used to evaluate preschoolers’ FMS. The data showed the main effects on the semester of birth factor in locomotor skills (LM) and total test score (TTS) (p < 0.05), but not in object control skills (OC; p > 0.05). There were also significant main effects on the gender factor in LM and TTS (p < 0.05), but not in OC (p > 0.05). RAE is present in FMS in preschool children, with those born in the first semester outperforming those born in the second semester in LM and TTS. With respect to gender, the scores obtained by girls are higher in LM and TTS.

Relative Age Effect in Brazilian water polo: analysis of male and female athletes from U16 to senior categories

Aim: To investigate the existence of relative age effect (RAE) in Brazilian water polo athletes according to sex and age category. Methods: The birthdate of 574 Brazilian water polo athletes were organized according to the athletes’ birthdates into quarters of the year (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4), and classified according to sex (male and female) and age category (U16, U18, U20, and senior). To verify the existence of RAE, the Chi-Square tests (χ2) were performed, and the effect sizes (ω) were calculated for each of the tests. We also calculated odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals, setting the level of significance to 0.05. As post hoc analysis, multiple comparisons between quarters were performed, with Bonferroni's correction (significance level set to 0.0083 in these cases). Results: The results indicated an uneven distribution of birthdates for male water polo athletes (χ2 = 12.257; p = 0.007; ω = 0.173), with an overrepresentation of athletes born in the first (p < 0.006) and second (p < 0.002) quarters. When sex and age category were considered, male athletes presented uneven distributions in U20 (χ2 = 10.747; p = 0.013; ω = 0.345) and senior (χ2 = 12.614; p = 0.006; ω = 0.383) categories. In females, no differences were found. Conclusion: We conclude that there is an uneven distribution of birthdates in male Brazilian water polo athletes, indicating the presence of RAE in this group.

Is the relative age effect prevalent in elite Brazilian male futsal? An investigation based on age categories and playing positions

This study aimed to investigate the existence of relative age effect (RAE) in male Brazilian futsal athletes according to age categories and playing position. Data from male futsal athletes from the top five teams in Brazil were collected during May and June 2021. The distribution of birth dates of 387 male futsal athletes was analyzed, based on their age categories (U15, n = 97; U17, n = 88; U20, n = 116; senior, n = 86) and playing positions (defender, n = 76; winger; n = 162; pivot, n = 69; goalkeeper, n = 80). Chi-squared tests were used to analyze the birth dates distribution based on quarter and semesters of the year according to age categories and playing positions. The overall analysis of birth quarter indicated a higher occurrence of births in the first quarter of the year (p&amp;lt;.001; V = 0.188). The age categories analysis indicated a uniform distribution in U15 (p=.09; V = 0.15) and unequal distributions in U17 (p&amp;lt;.001; V = 0.29), U20 (p&amp;lt;.007; V = 0.19) and senior (p&amp;lt;.01; V = 0.21) categories. The playing position analysis indicated a uniform distribution for the pivots (p=.11; V = 0.17) and unequal distribution for goalkeepers (p&amp;lt;.04; V = 0.19), wingers (p&amp;lt;.002; V = 0.19) and defenders (p&amp;lt;.002; V = 0.27). We concluded that RAE was present in Brazilian elite men’s futsal, especially in the U17, U20, and senior categories, and goalkeepers, wingers, and defenders. Our results reinforce the need to consider the effects of relative age in the development of Brazilian elite futsal players.

The New Generation of Professional Soccer Talent Is Born under the Bias of the RAE: Relative Age Effect in International Male Youth Soccer Championships

In 2019, numerous championships of youth categories soccer national teams were held. In the present study, we analyzed the existence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in four major male championships that, due to their importance and participating teams, most likely brought together the great bulk of the players who will dominate professional soccer in the next decade. Participants were professional and amateur youth male soccer players who participated in the last international championships: UEFA European Under-21 Championship (2017–2019); UEFA European Under-19 Championship (2019); South American Youth Football Championship (also known as Conmebol U-20) (2019); and FIFA U-20 World Cup (2019), with 823 players (20.25 ± 0.84 years). In the four championships analyzed, the existence of RAE was found for all players (p < 0.001). Analyzing the players when considering their position on the pitch and their championship, RAE was found, statistically significant, in 10 of the 16 classifications. New generations of elite soccer players arrive with a clear bias in the selection of talent; an unfair bias, based on unequal opportunities in early categories, which should be reviewed by sports authorities.

Gender Differences on Motor Competence in 5-Year-Old Preschool Children Regarding Relative Age.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences on motor competence between 5-year-old boys and girls and to investigate the existence of Relative Age Effect (RAE) on their motor competence. A total of 232 preschool children were evaluated of whom 134 (57.8%) were boys and 98 (42.2%) were girls. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect data. The data show a main effect on gender factor; there was a main effect in total score of manual dexterity (MD; p = 0.010), in total score of balance (Bal; p < 0.001), in total test score (TTS; p < 0.001), and in total percentile score (TPS, p < 0.001). In the semester of birth factor, there were differences in aiming and catching (A&C, p < 0.001), in Bal (p = 0.029) and in total percentile score (TPS, p = 0.010). Girls perform better in MD, Bal, TTS, and TPS than boys. Preschool children born in the first semester obtain, in general, a higher percentage and a higher percentile than their peers born in the second one. RAE is present in A&C, Bal, and TPS, with higher scores obtained by preschool children born in the first semester compared to those born in the second one.

Differences on Motor Competence in 4-Year-Old Boys and Girls Regarding the Quarter of Birth: Is There a Relative Age Effect?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences on motor competence between boys and girls aged 4 years old and investigate the existence of Relative Age Effect on their motor competence. In total, 132 preschool children were evaluated, of whom 60 (45.50%) were girls and 72 (54.5%) were boys. The distribution of the participants was from quarter 1 [n = 28 (21.2%)], quarter 2 [n = 52 (39.4%)], quarter 3 [n = 24 (18.2%)], and quarter 4 [(n = 28 (21.2%)], respectively. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect the data. The data show the main effects on quarter of birth factor in manual dexterity (MD; p < 0.001), in aiming and catching (A&C; p < 0.001), in balance (Bal; p < 0.001) and in total test score (TTS; p < 0.001). There are also statistical differences on gender factor in MD (p < 0.001) and in TTS (p = 0.031). A significant effect was also found in the interaction between two factors (gender and quarter of birth) in MD (p < 0.001), A&C (p < 0.001), and Bal (p < 0.001). There are differences in all the variables studied according to the quarter of birth and only in manual dexterity and in the total score if compared according to gender (the scores are higher in girls).

Relative Age Effect in Collegiate Soccer: Influence of Nationality, Playing Position, and Class.

Hurley, E, Comstock, BA, Haile, L, and Beyer, KS. Relative age effect in collegiate soccer: influence of nationality, playing position, and class. J Strength Cond Res 33(12): 3295-3301, 2019-The purpose of this study was to evaluate the existence of relative age effects (RAEs) in collegiate soccer. In addition, the impact of nationality, position, class, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament qualification status on the prevalence of RAEs was assessed. Birth dates from male NCAA Division I soccer athletes (n = 4,082) from the 2017/2018 season were categorized into quarters based on calendar and scholastic quarters. All athlete birth-date distributions were compared with the expected birth-date distributions for the United States. International-born athletes (INT) displayed a significant difference in birth-date distribution when assessed with calendar quarters, whereas American-born athletes (USA) showed a significant difference in birth-date distributions when assessed with scholastic quarters. Furthermore, INT showed significant RAEs for midfielders and defenders, whereas USA showed significant RAEs midfielders and goalkeepers. In terms of class, INT had significant RAEs for all classes, whereas USA had significant RAEs only for freshmen and sophomores. All INT had significant RAEs regardless of tournament qualification status; however, USA had significant RAEs only for nontournament teams. In summary, significant RAEs exist in male Division I college soccer; however, the presence of RAEs is influenced by nationality, position, class, and NCAA tournament qualification status. Coaches should be aware of RAEs during the recruitment process to avoid potential selection bias.

Relative age effects in American professional football

Abstract We test for the existence of relative age effects in professional American football. In a sample of 18,898 football players born on or after 1940, there is an excess of January and February births – consistent with a relative age effect associated with calendar year – as well as a slight increase in September births – consistent with the fact that some football players we analyze attended high school in states with fall school cutoff dates. We consider the possibility that relative age effects may affect skilled football positions more than positions relying heavily on player weight, and we find suggestive evidence of this. Lastly, and contrary to what has recently been shown in professional hockey, we find no evidence that misguided preferences for relatively older players lead to selection-based inefficiencies in football player drafting. Our results have implications for evaluating potential football players and speak broadly to the role of physiological factors beyond player control on athletic success.

Relative age effect and second-tiers: No second chance for later-born players.

The main objective of this research was to determine the existence of relative age effect (RAE) in five European soccer leagues and their second-tier competitions. Even though RAE is a well-known phenomenon in professional sports environments it seems that the effect does not decline over the years. Moreover, additional information is required, especially when taking into account second-tier leagues. Birthdates from 1,332 first-tier domestic players from France, England, Spain, Germany and Italy and birthdates from 1,992 second-tier domestic players for the 2014/2015 season were taken for statistical analysis. In addition to standard statistical tests, the data were analyzed using econometric techniques for count data using Poisson and negative binomial regressions. The results obtained confirmed a biased distribution of birthdates in favor of players born earlier in the calendar year. For all of the five first-tier soccer leagues there was an unequal distribution of birthdates (France χ2 = 40.976, P<0.001; England χ2 = 21.892, P = 0.025; Spain χ2 = 24.690, P = 0.010; Germany χ2 = 22.889, P = 0.018; Italy χ2 = 28.583, P = 0.003). The results for second-tier leagues were similar (France χ2 = 46.741, P<0.001; England χ2 = 27.301, P = 0.004; Spain χ2 = 49.745, P<0.001; Germany χ2 = 30.633, P = 0.001; Italy χ2 = 36.973, P<0.001). Econometric techniques achieved similar results: estimated effect of month of birth, i.e., long-term RAE on players’ representativeness, is negative (statistically significant at the 1% level). On average, one month closer to the end of the year reduces the logs of expected counts of players by 6.9%. Assuming this effect as linear, being born in the month immediately before the cut-off date (i.e., December/August), reduces the logs of expected counts of players by approximately 75.9%. Further, ID (index of discrimination, that is, the ratio between the expected counts of players born in the middle of the first and the twelfth month of the selection year) is 2.13 and 2.22 for the first- and second-tier, respectively. In other words, in the top five European first-tier and second-tier leagues, one should expect the number of players born in the first month of the calendar year to be twice the number of those born in the last month. The RAE in the second-tiers is the same as in the first-tiers, so it appears that there is no second chance for later born players. This reduces the chances to recover talented players discarded in youth simply because of lower maturity.

Relative Age Effect: Relationship between Anthropometric and Fitness Skills in Youth Soccer

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between anthropometric and fitness skills in youth soccer players according to their related age. The existence of relative age effect was also examined. Anthropometric as well fitness variables such as height, weight, BMI, body mass, flexibility, balance, reaction time, jumping ability, and endurance of the lower limb were assessed in 347 amateur young players. Participants’ age ranged from 9 to 16 ( M = 12.43, SD = 2.17). Analyses of variance indicated many significant differences among players of different birth quartile (from P < .001 to P < .05) for all the skills that were examined. The chi square test that was conducted to assess the distribution of players, showed that for all four different age groups no statistically significant difference was found regarding the birth quartile of players. In countries that training groups include 2 different age categories, anthropometric and fitness differences because of relative age effect are heightened. However, physical and physiological variables are inaccurate in predicting later success of players. Thus talent identification systems should provide equal opportunities for talented but related younger players. It is suggested an on-going talent identification using a multidimensional evaluation form including technical, physiological, physical, tactical, and psychological parameters.

The Influence of Relative Age Effects on the Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels of Children Age 9 to 10 and 11 to 12 Years of Age

The aims of this study were firstly to examine whether there was an observed relative age effect in the cardiorespiratory fitness scores of 9-10 and 11-12 year old children, and secondly whether any observed effect was maintained after controlling for somatic maturity. Cardiorespiratory fitness data from 11,404 children aged 9-10 years and 3,911 children aged 11-12 years were obtained from a large cross-sectional field-based fitness testing program. A one-way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant relative age effect (p < .01) existed in the 20mSRT scores across all the age groups. Furthermore, ANCOVA analyses identified a statistically significant relative age effect was maintained after controlling for somatic maturation (p < .05). From a public health perspective these results confirm the existence of relative age effects for the first time and consequently may hold implications for relatively younger children in the accurate assessment of their cardiorespiratory fitness scores.

The Influence of Relative Age Effect in the Assessment of High School Students in Physical Education in the United Kingdom

The common practice of annually age grouping children in education, likely done under the assumption of similarly aged children sharing similar abilities and learner characteristics, may actually undermine equity and fairness in student assessments. This strategy has received criticism for (dis) advantaging those older children born closer to the “cut off” date for entry into an academic year and for promoting the existence of relative age effects (RAEs). This paper explores the possibility that RAEs may be prevalent in the end-of-year attainment levels of junior high school physical education (PE) students. The PE end-of-year attainment scores were collected from 582 students in grades 7, 8 and 9 (aged 11–14 years) in the United Kingdom (UK). The results from a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated a significant main effect for month of birth (p = .001) and gender (p = .001). Follow up interviews with heads of PE (HoPE) revealed a lack of awareness of RAEs and inconsiderate assessment strategies, which deviated from the requirements of the formal curriculum. The implications of RAEs in school PE assessment and possible recommendations are discussed.