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

Abstract

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.

Age-Related Differences in the Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Characteristics of Young Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…First, we examined players from the age of 7-14 years, whereas other studies examined players from the age of 11-18 years. Therefore, from 14 to 18 years old, players undergo significant changes in growth and maturation, which play an essential role in neural and muscular adaptations and may explain the possible differences in CMJ performance across the age groups [23]. In a study by Williams et al, (2011) [33] where u11-u16 players were examined, CMJ improved with age, but there was no significant difference between the players in the U12 and U13 teams.…”

“…A battery of tests [19][20][21][22] including vertical and horizontal jumps, sprinting tests, agility, repeated sprint ability, handgrip strength, and aerobic capacity tests, is commonly used to distinguish between different age groups. Notably, these parameters become increasingly important, especially in young players where differences in growth and maturity result in performance disparities [11], opportunities, and, consequently, unequal competition presence according to their age and birth month [20,23,24]. In this regard, the importance of evaluating different skills, scaling children by age groups, and adding information to their anthropometric and performance profiles is highlighted.…”

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

“…This disadvantageous situation could have effects not only in the short term but also in the medium and long term in children. Younger children, in addition to presenting lower levels of FMS, have a greater probability of being less physically active and abandoning sports more, in addition to a lower probability of being subsequently selected to enter sports training programs, being full members of good sports teams and become sports stars ( Pérez-González et al, 2021 ). Therefore, if there is RAE on FMS, the school or sport staff will have to create equal opportunities for all children, taking into account that equal opportunities does not mean that everyone must learn the same thing at the same time, but rather implies that making sure that all students have the best possible opportunities to grow into their full potential.…”

To Sample or to Specialise? Sport Participation Patterns of Youth Team Sport Male Players

“…However, caution is needed in interpreting this finding, since the specialisation of these participants is still emerging at a very young age. Huge amounts of specific practice may not be advantageous at this stage for an individual’s long-term development [ 47 , 48 , 49 ].…”