The Relative Age Effect in the Best Track and Field Athletes Aged 10 to 15 Years Old

Abstract

(1) The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of the relative age effect (RAE) in the best young (10 to 15 years old) track and field athletes. (2) Hypothesis: The prevalence of the RAE in the best young track and field athletes of both genders will be evident in all age groups from 10 to 15 years old, which may be associated with the significant relationship between biological maturity, chronological age, and the development of physical qualities. (3) Materials and methods: In total, 1778 athletes volunteered for this study. The sample was based on the results of the best young athletes who participated in the final tournaments of the national competition “Shipovka Yunykh”(“Running spikes for young athletes”), which have been held since 1981. The sample group consisted of male and female athletes classified into specific age groups: 10 to 11 years old (n = 579), 12 to 13 years old (n = 600), and 14 to 15 years old (n = 599). Analysis was performed using Jamovi 1.8.1. The Chi-square test was used to compare the RAE between different groups. (4) Results: A wide distribution of the RAE was revealed both in the general sample and in boys and girls. The percentage of “early-born” athletes was 37.6% while only 12.3% were “late-born” athletes. The difference in the severity of the RAE may reflect the small sample of athletes from the fourth quartile, which was significantly less than the sample of boys from the fourth quartile (p = 0.04, OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.02–2.78). The RAE was also evident in all age groups of boys and girls, without any statistically significant differences in the severity (p > 0.05, Chi = 2.135, V = 0.02). In the 14- to 15-year-old male athletes group, the number of early-born compared to late-born athletes peaked. The RAE was most common amongst the most successful track and field athletes. Among the competition medalists during the analyzed time period, more than 50% of athletes were born in the first quarter and no athletes were born in the fourth quarter.

Relative age in Brazilian swimmers and para swimmers

“…The meaningful swimmer's representation, who were born in the 2nd quartile and the less amount of para swimmers who were born in the 3nd and 4nd quartiles of the year seem to evidence a discrimination against relatively younger children solely because they were born in certain months of the year 11,16,17 and corroborate with previous studies 6,9,18 . In fact, swimming is a sport in which the greatest prevalence of the relative age effects has been observed, with increased participation in championships for those born in the first quartiles 9,10 and a high perceived precocity in elite competition 1 .…”

“…Consequently, this might have implications on the strength demands and the propulsive forces applied 7 . According to Bezuglov et al 11 similar effects are reported in Athletics disciplines, which creates discrimination against late-born and late-maturing children.…”

Physical fitness and motor competence performance characteristics of Chinese elite youth athletes from four track and field throwing disciplines—a cross-sectional study

“…The acquisition of technical skills and explosive power that are necessary for these disciplines cannot be attained before the age group of 14-15 years. This is primarily attributed to the significant correlation between biological maturation, chronological age, and the enhancement of physical attributes (Bezuglov et al, 2022), alongside the prolonged instruction required for superior throwing techniques (Kirkeberg et al, 2022). Despite declining age influence in explosive power sports with age, age-related effects persist in senior levels.…”