Presence Of Relative Age Effect Research Articles

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.

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.

THE RELATIVE AGE EFFECT IN SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAMS

The aim of the present study was two-fold; (1) to examine the relative age effect of football players representing their countries and reaching the podium in the FIFA U17 and U20 World Cups between 2009 and 2019, and (2) to analyze the relative age effect according to players’ positions. This study was a retrospective cross-sectional design. A total of 756 male football players were included in the study. Dates of birth of football players were grouped into periods of three months in a quartile year. All data is presented in frequency and percentage. Chi-square was applied to determine differences in the intergroup distributions. The odds ratio, confidence interval (95%) and Cramer’s V were calculated. The findings emphasized the relative age effect in successful national teams participating last six U17 and U20 World Cup. The relative age effect of U17 was higher compared to U20 (χ² = 70.974; p &lt; 0.001, χ² = 39.587; p &lt; 0.001 respectively). As a result of the research, players born in the first quartile of the year have been represented on podium more than those born in the last quartile, significantly. The findings of this study confirm the presence of relative age effect among football players reaching the podium in the last six U17 and U20 World Cup. Coaches and sports scientists are suggested to take the relative age effect into reconsideration to reduce this bias and to improve the system leading to loss of talents as a consequence.

THE RELATIVE AGE EFFECT IN SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAMS

The aim of the present study was two-fold; (1) to examine the relative age effect of football players representing their countries and reaching the podium in the FIFA U17 and U20 World Cups between 2009 and 2019, and (2) to analyze the relative age effect according to players’ positions. This study was a retrospective cross-sectional design. A total of 756 male football players were included in the study. Dates of birth of football players were grouped into periods of three months in a quartile year. All data is presented in frequency and percentage. Chi-square was applied to determine differences in the intergroup distributions. The odds ratio, confidence interval (95%) and Cramer’s V were calculated. The findings emphasized the relative age effect in successful national teams participating last six U17 and U20 World Cup. The relative age effect of U17 was higher compared to U20 (χ² = 70.974; p &lt; 0.001, χ² = 39.587; p &lt; 0.001 respectively). As a result of the research, players born in the first quartile of the year have been represented on podium more than those born in the last quartile, significantly. The findings of this study confirm the presence of relative age effect among football players reaching the podium in the last six U17 and U20 World Cup. Coaches and sports scientists are suggested to take the relative age effect into reconsideration to reduce this bias and to improve the system leading to loss of talents as a consequence.

The relative age effect in young athletes: A countywide analysis of 9-14-year-old participants in all competitive sports.

The relative age effect (RAE) has primarily been investigated in male athletes involved in popular sports and high-level competitions. However, occurrence of RAE in other types of sports at the grassroots level, particularly in female athletes, is less well-studied. Thus, we examined the RAE in a large cohort of young athletes who participated in all competitive sports in Bizkaia, Spain, according to gender and specificity of the sport. The birth dates of 38,381 participants (65.1% males and 34.9% females) aged 9–14 years old in 37 competitive sports were analyzed. Birth dates were divided into four birth-quarters and compared to those of all children born in the same period using a χ2 goodness-of-fit test and standardized residuals. The effect size Cramer’s V was measured, and odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine the odds of athletes born in January playing in the highest leagues. In the total sample, in boys RAE was evident in football, but only in higher-competition leagues (p<0.001, large effect size). In girls, RAE was evident in the most popular team sports: basketball (p<0.001, large effect size in basketball 1st league), handball and football (p<0.05, both small effect sizes). Players born in January were 3.23- and 2.89-times more likely to play in the 1st leagues than those born in December, for boys (football) and girls (basketball) respectively. In the overall analysis and in the remaining sports, presence of RAE was negligible. Therefore, the date of birth does not seem to be a constraint to participating in most sports in Bizkaia. The potential mechanisms for RAE are multifactorial and complex, yet a combination of factors, such as the popularity of a sport and the depth of competition, physicality and social influences may be involved. We discuss these mechanisms and potential measures to mitigate RAE.

The relative age effect is more than just participation bias in badminton

Background: Annual age grouping is a widely used strategy to allocate players to age categories for more equal and fair opportunities considering the developmental differences. Although it is a well-intended strategy, certain (dis)advantages occur because of the subtle age-related differences within the same age groups. Objective: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relative age effect among badminton players reaching the podium in the last three consecutive European U15, U17 and Junior (U19) Badminton Championships. Methods: A total of 288 medal owners from 20 countries were evaluated in the study. Chi-square (χ2) goodness-of-fit tests were used to compare the obtained birth month distributions across the quartiles (Q), and odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated in order to compare quartiles with each other. Results: Statistically significant relative age effects were determined favouring relatively older athletes in the total sample (χ2 = 82.278, p < .001). Statistically significant distribution differences were noted in both singles and doubles categories in total (χ2 = 18.778, p < .001; χ2 = 63.815, p < .001, respectively). Striking findings were determined in Q1-Q4 and Q2-Q4 comparisons as players in Q1 and Q2 were more than five and four times as likely to reach the podium than players in Q4, respectively. Conclusions: Results of this study confirm the presence of relative age effect among award-winning badminton players which goes beyond the classical participation trends findings, and stress the importance of the issue for talent development, selection and success.

RELATIVE AGE EFFECT AMONG YOUNG CROATIAN TAEKWONDO COMPETITORS

Aim of this research was to identify and analyse relative age effect (RAE) on sample composed of young Croatian taekwondo competitors. In order with aim of research, for medal winners (n1=72) and other competitors (n2=187) who competed at Croatian taekwondo cadet championship 2015, date of birth, weight category and sport success were extracted. By conducting of Chi-square test on all competitors (n=259) it is proven there is non-significant difference (χ2=12.28; p=0.34) between expected and observed frequencies according to month of birth. Furthermore, significant difference between observed and expected frequencies according to year of birth of medal winners (χ2=45.31; p&lt;0.01) is confirmed. Results of this research are pointing on presence of RAE which could lead to mistakes in selection of young athletes. Authors are suggesting to minimize allowed age range for competition, or to separate competitors in more age categories, which would enable more equal competitions and reduce effect of age on sport success.

Appreciating Factors Beyond the Physical in Talent Identification and Development: Insights From the FC Barcelona Sporting Model.

FC Barcelona is a multi-sport organization that adopts a talent identification approach that emphasizes the technical, psychological, and perceptual–cognitive attributes. It is unclear within this type of sporting selection model whether the relative age effect (RAE) exists. Consequently, the aim of the study was to evaluate the RAE across multiple sports and age groups at FC Barcelona. The birthdates of all players (n = 6,542) affiliated to each sport [male basketball (n = 1,013), male (n = 3,012) and female (n = 449) soccer, male futsal (n = 761), male handball (n = 999), and male indoor roller hockey (n = 308)] across all age groups from U10 to Senior were recorded. These were then categorized into quartiles from the start of the selection year (Q1 = Jan–Mar; Q2 = Apr–Jun; Q3 = Jul–Sep; Q4 = Oct–Dec) and analyzed for (a) each sport; (b) each age group, irrespective of the sport; and (c) each age group within each sport, using Chi-squared statistics and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Birthdates across the entire club revealed a RAE (Q1 = 46.1%, Q2 = 27.1%, Q3 = 17.1%, and Q4 = 9.7%, χ2 = 29.8, P < 0.01), with OR in Q1, Q2, and Q3 representing a 4.76 (95% CIs: 1.96–11.57), 2.80 (1.12–7.03), and 1.77 (0.67–4.63) increased likelihood for selection when compared to Q4, respectively. Despite FC Barcelona's approach to talent identification and development, the RAE was still present within youth age groups (<18 years old). The current findings provide support that the RAE is more prevalent within regionally popular sports and reduces with increasing age; however, given the talent identification processes within FC Barcelona's sporting model, additional factors beyond the physical attributes, such as enhanced psychological and perceptual–cognitive attributes, in those born earlier in the selection year might further influence the RAE. Consequently, current results provide indirect evidence to suggest that sociological and psychological determinants might be a greater influence on the presence of RAE in sporting environments that prefer to consider technical and perceptual–cognitive attributes in their talent development programs.

Relative Age Effect is Modulated by Playing Position but is Not Related to Competitive Success in Elite Under-19 Handball Athletes.

This study aimed to verify the occurrence of the relative age effect (RAE) in male elite young handball athletes according to the playing position and its association with team performance in a World Championship. Data from 383 handball athletes from 24 countries who participated in the 7th World Men’s Championship in the under-19 category were analyzed. RAE was investigated from the birth trimester of the athletes, their playing position, and final ranking in the Championship. The results showed an overrepresentation of athletes born in the first two trimesters (Q1 and Q2) (χ2(3) = 32.97; p < 0.001, ω = 0.29). The analysis of the athlete’s position showed that most wings (χ2(3) = 18.37; p < 0.001, ω = 0.32) and backs (χ2(3) = 12.51; p = 0.006, ω = 0.34) were born in the first trimesters (Q1 and Q2). The ranking in the Championship presented no significant association with the date of the birth (p > 0.05). The results showed the existence of the RAE in youth handball elite athletes, especially for the back and wing positions. However, the strategy of selecting is questionable once the presence of RAE was not associated with competitive success.

The Relative Age Effect On The Selection In The Slovakia National Football Teams

Summary The focus of this research was to determine the relative age effect (RAE) on selection in the Slovakia national football teams. A factor that may have a significant impact on the quality of players chosen for the national teams or may result in a poor selection of players for the elite teams. Anthropometric and cognitive acceleration of players born in the first months of the calendar year concerning the overall context of the competition for placement in the national teams may be considered as a significant advantage. The aim of this research was to examine, determine and verify the presence of relative age effect in the selection of football players for the Slovakia national teams starting with the under 16 age category (U-16) through to the A - senior national football team. We presumed that the elite teams under this review and study consisted predominantly of players born in the first quarter of the calendar year, while also presuming that relative age effect receded with the increasing age category. Our survey sample U16 consisted of 79 players, U17 consisted of 47 players, U18 consisted of 58 players, U19 consisted of 71 players, U21 consisted of 52 players and A - senior national team consisted of 302 Slovakia national football players. The information obtained from the Slovak Football Association has been processed by the application of statistical methods and statistical significance test (T-test). Our research confirmed the presence of relative age effect in the U-16, U-17 and U-18 teams under our investigation (p≤0.01). In the U19 and U21 age categories, statistical significance has not been confirmed. As for the senior national team, statistically significant difference has been found in relation to players born in the last quarter of the year as opposed to players born in the first three months of the year (p≤0.01). Our results have shown that with the increasing age, the relative age effect fades and vanishes in full in the category of senior elite players. In the U-19 and U-21 age categories, statistical significance has not been confirmed. Based on this research results it may be recommended to use the advantage of relative age effect for the selection of players of the particular age category in the particular competition (such as e.g. the European Championship qualification, the European Championship final tournament qualification, or the World Cup qualification in the U-16, U-17, U-18 age categories).