Contextual factors and sporting success: The relationship between birth date and place of early development on the progression of Jamaican track and field athletes from junior to senior level

Abstract

Understanding determinants associated with dropout from sport is important for talent development. This study aimed (i) to determine dropout rates for Jamaican track and field athletes and (ii) to examine contextual factors (i.e., relative age effect and place of development) as potential determinants of junior athletes progressing to the senior level. A sample of 1552 track and field athletes (mean age 18.57±0.41 years) who were finalists at the national high school (junior) championships in Jamaica between 2000 and 2017 were evaluated from the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association database. The database provided birth date, school attendance and performance results. A retrospective analysis was completed to investigate the relationship between junior and senior successes and dropout rates. Chisquare analyses were conducted to examine the distribution of birth date quartiles based on the selection year. Using the Jamaican census information, the population size of regions where participants attended school were categorized and used as a proxy for athletes' place of development. Results showed that the majority of the participants did not progress to senior levels (81%). The relative age effect was evident for athletes who progressed to the senior level but was not evident for athletes who did not progress. There was a bias towards participants who attended school in regions with a population size between 5000-29 999. This study illuminates some of the contextual factors that may influence the likelihood of progressing from junior to senior levels which may help to inform talent identification, selection and development in the sport of track and field.

Teacher-Rated Executive Functions, Gender and Relative Age: Independent and Interactive Effects on Observed Fundamental Motor Skills in Kindergarteners

“…However, in relation to this last aspect, opportunities for motor practices, there are studies that indicate that it is not so important the “when” is born (that is, the relative age) but the “where” ( Côté et al, 2006 ); understanding the “where” in a broad sense. Thus, this would include the place of early development and its contextual factors such as the experiences offered in it, among which are the motor support and training programs ( Campbell et al, 2019 ). In this sense, there are studies that indicate that in Western societies FMS are essentially promoted in school, where the child spends more hours a day ( Lopes et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Furthermore, it should be noted that regarding the possible motor experiences of our participants outside of school, the literature indicates the following. In “small” or “medium” size communities (between 1,000 and 499,999 inhabitants), the effects of RAE among children are lower than in large communities (more than 500,000 inhabitants), since in the former the motor experiences are more accessible to all children than in large communities ( Campbell et al, 2019 ). This aspect could also help to explain that in the studied sample (from a medium community) RAE was only detected in two FMS.…”

To succeed as youth athlete: Is it the dead end in track and field?

“…Hollings & Hume (2011) found that 32% of the New Zealanders and 22% of the Australian WA WJC finalists subsequently became either finalists or medalists at the Commonwealth Games. From a sample of 1552 Jamaican track and field athletes who were finalist at a junior level, the 19% progress to senior level [6]. Furthermore, a small percentage (9% of men and 13% of women) of athletes retained a top 20 national ranking at senior level, after been ranked in the top 20 at youth level [7].…”

“…Previous studies have analyzed the athletes' subsequent rate of success as senior athletes. However, these analyses focus only on male athletes [8], specific events [3], specific countries [6,11], or transition to other events such as Olympic Games [4]. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the percentage of success of male and female finalist at WA World Youth Championship (WYC) (from 1999 to 2009) who also became finalists in a subsequent senior WA World Championship (WC), considering all events.…”

Analisis Karakteristik Antropometri Dan Kondisi Fisik Atlet Pelajar Disekolah Pusat Pendidikan Dan Latihan Pelajar Se-Pulau Jawa

“…Pencarian bibit atlet atau athlete talent indentification merupakan suatu kegiatan yang bertujuan untuk mencari potensi atlet berdasarkan bakat yang dimilikinya dalam suatu cabang olahraga, dan dilakukan sedini mungkin, guna dapat mengembangkan potensi tersebut secara maksimal (Sarmento dkk, 2018). Di Indonesia maupun di dunia, proses pencarian bibit dilakukan secara maksimal, oleh seluruh cabang olahraga yang dipertandingkan baik dalam skala nasional ataupun internasional (Williams dkk, 2000;Budde, H et al, 2016;Campbell E et al, 2019;Cobley, S et al, 2017). Fakta menariknya, meskipun dilakukan secara menyeluruh oleh seluruh cabang olahraga yang dipertandingkan, namun tidak dipungkiri bahwa beberapa negara melakukan strategi dalam melakukan pencarian bibit atlet tersebut.…”