A Proposal to Reduce the Age Discrimination in Canadian Minor Hockey

Abstract

Pour un joueur canadien de hockey mineur, il existe un rapport étroit entre son mois de naissance et les chances qu'il aura de jouer dans une équipe de très haut niveau. Les joueurs nés dans les premiers mois de l'année sont avantagés. On attribue généralement ce fait au système de classification, dans le hockey mineur, qui groupe les joueurs en catégories selon l'âge. Dans cet article, nous commençons par un examen de la situation actuelle. Ensuite, nous montrons que le système de classification basé sur l'âge ne constitue pas une explication suffisante; il faut aussi compter avec une répartition qui s'opère très tôt (c-à-d. la division des joueurs en équipes représentatives et en équipes de ligue-maison.) Nous suggérons un système de classification plus équitable et, finalement, nous examinons les implications de politiques d'intérêt public.There is strong relationship between birthmonth and the chance that a Canadian minor hockey player will play at an elite level. Players born in the early months of the year have an advantage. This is generally attributed to the slotting system: the way in which minor hockey groups players into age divisions. In this paper we first review the evidence. We then argue that there is more to the explanation of this relative age effect than just the slotting system; it also depends on early streaming (i.e., the partitioning of players into representative and house league teams). We suggest a more equitable slotting system, and finally, we discuss public policy implications.

Factors affecting the relative age effect in NHL athletes

“…relative ratio of 1.31 (424 of 324), which is less than the ratio reported in other published studies. 10 The birth dates by quarter were not significantly different (p = 0. 19).…”

“…The RAE was virtually identical for non-Canadian and non-North American players as it was for Canadian-born or trained players. The RAE should be re-examined if Hockey Canada follows through with plans to change the training system 10 to elucidate the effect of changes in policy. Musch and Grondin 19 reported that the increasing findings of an RAE suggested that a mixture of physical, cognitive, emotional and motivational causes work together to produce the effect.…”

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Some authors have studied the potential bias in the past and have recommended wholesale changes in league age structure. 10 Are these recommendations really warranted in today's environment? Certainly they would disrupt the established selection and training process already in place.…”

“…In response to the rela tive age phenomena, Hockey Canada has examined the restructuring of minor hockey to prevent the proposed weighted selection of early year birthdates in elite hockey leagues. 10 The presence in some sports of an RAE can be explained and perhaps avoided. Reviewing the National Hockey League (NHL) player distribution may be indicated at this time, particularly with respect to the players' leagues of origin or pathways to professional hockey.…”

Constituent year effect in international handball at high level

“…Between the solutions proposed by researchers for mitigate this effect these ones stand over the rest: to alternate the cutoff date (Hurley, Lior, & Tracze, 2001), to make competitions with younger age groups (Glamser, & Vincent, 2004), or to divide players from the same category in order to their performance (Kaiserman, 2005). However, all these propose will bang against handball philosophy and against IHF.…”