The relative age effect in the German Football TID Programme: Biases in motor performance diagnostics and effects on single motor abilities and skills in groups of selected players

Abstract

This study examined the disturbing effects of relative age on the talent identification process in the talent development programme of the German Football Association. The bias in the selection rate was examined via the extent of relative age effects. The bias in motor performance diagnostics was analysed by comparing the motor performance of selected players with normal motor development. The mechanisms underlying the relative age biases in motor performance were examined by modelling the direct and indirect effects of relative age on single motor performance tests for sprint, running agility, dribbling and ball passing and control. Data from 10,130 selected football players from the U12 to U15 age groups were collected in autumn 2010. The birth distribution differed significantly from the reference population with approximately 61% of the players born in the first half of the year. The selection probability was approximately two times higher for players born in the first quarter of the year than for players born in the last quarter. Revised motor performance diagnostics showed better results on average for relatively younger players. Path analysis revealed significant direct and indirect relative age effects for physiologically demanding tests and almost no effects for technically demanding tests. Large sample sizes allowed high resolution in relative age with additional informational content and multivariate modelling of the complex relationships among relative age, physical development and motor performance. The results are discussed on how relative age affects the effectiveness and fairness of talent identification and development processes.

Efeito da idade relativa na antropometria, maturação biológica e desempenho em jovens futebolistas

“…However, those born in the first half of the selection year showed no significant advantage in anthropometry, biological maturation, physical and technical performance compared to those born in the second half. In relation to the presence of RAE, similar results were observed by Mujikaet al 8 and Gil et al 12 in Spanish soccer players (55.3% and 66%, respectively), for Votteler and Honer 14 in Germany (61%) and Deprez et al 15 in Belgium (64%). This asymmetry may be even greater in higher competitive levels, as reported by Massa et al 9 in U-14 (78%) and U-16 Brazilian soccer players (71%), by Carling et al 11 in France (77 %), Hirose 5 in Japan (80.5%) and Helsen et al 2…”

“…However, literature is contradictory as to the possible anthropometric and physical performance advantage that athletes born on 1 st quartile would take over those born in the 4 th quartile. There are studies that show that relatively older athletes are taller 5,6,10,12 and heavier 5,6 than relatively younger athletes, while others did not find such significant differences [13][14][15][16] .…”

“…It is believed that physical performance is better 12 or shows a tendency 11 in soccer players born on the 1 st quartile. On the other hand, there are studies that found no significant differences 13,15,16 , and there is a study that found faster motor development in relatively younger soccer players 14 . In addition, studies on the influence of RAE on the technical performance of soccer players are scarce.…”

Relative Age Effect and Constituent Year Effect: An Analysis of the International Tennis Federation Ranking

“…Durante a formação esportiva, jovens são divididos em categorias de acordo com a idade cronológica. Datas de corte são escolhidas para delimitar essas categorias no intuito de formar grupos mais homogêneos, reduzindo potenciais diferenças físicas e cognitivas, possibilitando justa competição 19 e igualdade de oportunidades para todos os participantes 18 . No entanto, a organização por categorias em função da faixa etária tem se mostrado ineficiente no sentido de prevenir que alguns sejam beneficiados e outros prejudicados ao longo desse processo 7 15 verificaram a presença do EIR nos rankings sul-americano e mundial composto por atletas infanto-juvenis.…”

A new physical performance classification system for elite handball players: cluster analysis

“…A further use of a physical performance test is the identification of young talent. This line of research has generated many studies in different sports such as soccer (Unnithan et al, 2012; Votteler and Höner, 2013; William and Reilly, 2000), handball (Baker et al, 2013; Lidor et al, 2005; Mohamed et al, 2009), basketball (Hoare, 2000) or rugby (Gabbett, 2006, 2011) in which the principle objective was to differentiate elite from amateur players based on variables related to physical performance, anthropometric measures or decision making ability. In a recent study, Matthys et al (2011) developed a multidisciplinary model to identify talented young handball players (under-14 [U14], under-16 [U16] and under-18 [U18]).…”