Relative age effect - A head start for early-born football players

Niels Nygaard Rossing; Kasper Raaby Pedersen; Knud Eske Ryom; David  Hancock

Relative age effect - A head start for early-born football players

Niels Nygaard Rossing^*, Kasper Raaby Pedersen, Knud Eske Ryom, David Hancock

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine relative age effect (RAE) on distinctive variables and age groups in recreational football. Participants (N = 79,249) included male (n = 63,540) and female (n = 15,709) players aged 2 to 12 years. Data were gathered through an official database containing all licensed players in Denmark. Birthdate distributions were split by age category, sex, club size, year group size, and birth quarter (Q1 = January to March, Q4 = October to December). RAEs were calculated using chi-square analysis. Significant RAEs existed in all age categories (except females in U6 and below). The effect was most pronounced at the entry level among both males and females. Club size was not associated with RAEs, but were shown in smaller and midsized year groups, but were absent in larger year groups. The results of this study show that RAEs are present from early sport participation.

Original language	English
Journal	Sustainability and Sports Science Journal
Volume	1
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	34-45
Number of pages	12
Publication status	Published - 20 Jun 2023

Keywords

Birthdate
Birth effects
Soccer
Early sport participation
Parents

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title = "Relative age effect - A head start for early-born football players",

abstract = "The aim of this study was to examine relative age effect (RAE) on distinctive variables and age groups in recreational football. Participants (N = 79,249) included male (n = 63,540) and female (n = 15,709) players aged 2 to 12 years. Data were gathered through an official database containing all licensed players in Denmark. Birthdate distributions were split by age category, sex, club size, year group size, and birth quarter (Q1 = January to March, Q4 = October to December). RAEs were calculated using chi-square analysis. Significant RAEs existed in all age categories (except females in U6 and below). The effect was most pronounced at the entry level among both males and females. Club size was not associated with RAEs, but were shown in smaller and midsized year groups, but were absent in larger year groups. The results of this study show that RAEs are present from early sport participation.",

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AU - Rossing, Niels Nygaard

AU - Raaby Pedersen, Kasper

AU - Ryom, Knud Eske

AU - Hancock, David

PY - 2023/6/20

Y1 - 2023/6/20

N2 - The aim of this study was to examine relative age effect (RAE) on distinctive variables and age groups in recreational football. Participants (N = 79,249) included male (n = 63,540) and female (n = 15,709) players aged 2 to 12 years. Data were gathered through an official database containing all licensed players in Denmark. Birthdate distributions were split by age category, sex, club size, year group size, and birth quarter (Q1 = January to March, Q4 = October to December). RAEs were calculated using chi-square analysis. Significant RAEs existed in all age categories (except females in U6 and below). The effect was most pronounced at the entry level among both males and females. Club size was not associated with RAEs, but were shown in smaller and midsized year groups, but were absent in larger year groups. The results of this study show that RAEs are present from early sport participation.

AB - The aim of this study was to examine relative age effect (RAE) on distinctive variables and age groups in recreational football. Participants (N = 79,249) included male (n = 63,540) and female (n = 15,709) players aged 2 to 12 years. Data were gathered through an official database containing all licensed players in Denmark. Birthdate distributions were split by age category, sex, club size, year group size, and birth quarter (Q1 = January to March, Q4 = October to December). RAEs were calculated using chi-square analysis. Significant RAEs existed in all age categories (except females in U6 and below). The effect was most pronounced at the entry level among both males and females. Club size was not associated with RAEs, but were shown in smaller and midsized year groups, but were absent in larger year groups. The results of this study show that RAEs are present from early sport participation.

KW - Birthdate

KW - Birth effects

KW - Soccer

KW - Early sport participation

KW - Parents

UR - https://sssj.kineticeditorial.com/index.php/sssj/article/view/relative-age-effect-head-start-early-born-football-players

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EP - 45

JO - Sustainability and Sports Science Journal

JF - Sustainability and Sports Science Journal

IS - 1

ER -

Relative age effect - A head start for early-born football players

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