The relative age effect on the selection of young athletes and the performance of Brazilian futsal teams

Abstract

Objetivo: El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar el efecto de la edad relativa en la selección de los atletas jóvenes y el rendimiento de los equipos de fútbol sala. Métodos: Se recopiló la fecha de nacimiento de 2.676 jóvenes atletas (femeninos: n=292; masculinos=2.384) que jugaban en las categorías Sub-9 a Sub-20 de fútbol sala brasileño. Los atletas fueron categorizados en base al cuartil y al semestre de nacimiento. La posición final de los equipos en el torneo fue categorizada como finalista, semifinalista y no semifinalista. Se aplicó la prueba chi-cuadrada, el V de Cramer y los modelos de regresión logística multinómica. Resultados: Los datos apoyaron la hipótesis sobre la tendencia a seleccionar atletas que nacieron en los primeros meses del año en equipos masculinos, pero no se observó lo mismo en equipos femeninos. Además, sólo los atletas de la categoría Sub-13 que nacieron en el primer semestre del año presentaran un 50% de posibilidades de estar entre los finalistas del torneo cuando se comparan con sus compañeros. Aplicaciones prácticas: La edad relativa tuvo efecto en el equipo de atletas masculinos jóvenes, pero tal efecto no se asoció con el rendimiento positivo de los equipos de fútbol sala, excepto para la categoría Sub-13. Por lo tanto, se recomienda a los entrenadores de atletas jóvenes valorar otros factores en el momento para seleccionar y componer sus equipos dentro del contexto evaluado aquí. Aim: The aim of the present study is to assess the effect of relative age on the selection of young athletes and the performance of futsal teams. Methods: The date of birth of 2,676 young athletes (female: n=292; male=2,384) playing in the U-9 to U-20 categories of Brazilian futsal was collected. The athletes were categorized based on quartile and on the semester of birth. The final position of the teams in the tournament was categorized as finalist, semifinalist and non-semifinalist. The chi-square test, the Cramer’s V and multinomial logistic regression models were applied. Results: The data supported the hypothesis about the trend to select athletes who were born in the first months of the year in male teams, but it was not observed in female teams. Additionally, only athletes in the U-13 category who were born in the first semester of the year present 50% chance to be among the finalists in the tournament when they are compared to their peers. Practical application: The relative age had effect on the team of young male athletes, but such an effect was not associated with the positive performance of futsal teams, except for the U-13 category. Thus, coaches of young athletes are recommended to value other factors at the time to select and compose their teams within the herein assessed context. Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo é avaliar o efeito da idade relativa na seleção de jovens atletas e o desempenho das equipes de futsal. Métodos: Foi coletada a data de nascimento de 2.676 jovens atletas (feminino: n=292; masculino=2.384) jogando nas categorias Sub-9 a Sub-20 do futsal brasileiro. Os atletas foram categorizados com base no quartil e no semestre de nascimento. As equipes foram agrupadas de acordo com a posição final no torneio como finalista, semifinalista e não semifinalista. Foram aplicados o teste de Qui-quadrado, V de Cramer e os modelos de regressão logística multinomial. Resultados: Os dados corroboraram a hipótese sobre a tendência de selecionar atletas nascidos nos primeiros meses do ano em equipes masculinas, mas isso não foi observado em equipes femininas. Além disso, apenas atletas da categoria Sub-13 que nasceram no primeiro semestre do ano apresentaram 50% de chance de estar entre os finalistas do torneio quando são comparados aos seus pares. Aplicações práticas: Houve efeito da idade relativa na seleção de jovens atletas do sexo masculino, mas tal efeito não esteve associado ao desempenho positivo das equipes de futsal, com exceção da categoria Sub-13. Assim, os treinadores de jovens atletas são recomendados a valorizar outros fatores no momento para selecionar e compor suas equipes dentro do contexto aqui avaliado.

Scientific production on the relative age effect in sport: bibliometric analysis of the last 9 years (2015-2023)

“…Similarly, it has been reported in the scientific literature that team sports, among which soccer and basketball stand out, present a greater number of investigations about volleyball and handball in the study RAE (Fonseca, Figueiredo, Gantois, Lima-Junior & Fortes, 2019;. In that sense, a tendency towards the selection of athletes born in the first months of the year is presented for male teams, although this effect was not observed in female teams (Papadopoulou et al, 2019;Leonardi et al, 2022). On the other hand, another study developed by Saavedra- sought to assess whether the RAE remains present throughout the history of FIBA basketball world championships in the lower categories, determining that it not only decreases over time (as occurs in the male U19 category), but for the female U19 category, it increases.…”

No Relative Age Effect Among Brazilian Elite Female Futsal Athletes

“…Specifically, in futsal, Perondi et al (2018) did not observe RAE in 410 athletes from an adult female competition in Brazil. Leonardi et al (2022) also found no effects of RAE in 292 female futsal players aged 15 to 20, considering the teams' final classification. Our results reinforce these findings in female futsal, but now in the context of one of the most important Brazilian competitions.…”

“…Accordingly, futsal is more practiced by men in Brazil (data made available by CBFS on April 27, 2023: 356,831 male and 36,915 female athletes registered), and the sport is not as popular for females, which may reduce the competition for spots in teams and cause a reduction in the RAE likelihood. Indeed, Leonardi et al (2022) investigated 140 male futsal teams aged between 9 and 20 years, while in the same study, only 19 female futsal teams were found, between 15 and 20 years, highlighting that the female practice of the sport modality is reduced. Another relevant aspect is the fact that in Brazil, women's futsal competitions start at later age, after 13 years old (Perondi, et al, 2018), which can lead to a later specialization in girls when compared to boys.…”

“…Thus, this study aimed to: (1) analyze the presence of RAE in Brazilian elite female futsal athletes; and (2) analyze the relationship between the RAE and athletes' performance (final position in the National Championship and tactical individual performance). Considering the overall low prevalence of RAE in women's sports (Smith, et al, 2018), and previous reports of the absence of RAE in women's futsal in Brazil (Ferreira, et al, 2020;Leonardi et al, 2022;Perondi, Dalla Valle, & Bernardino, 2018), we expected that RAE would not be observed among female futsal athletes nor associated with the selected performance indicators.…”

“…Since RAE may influence a young athlete's opportunity to obtain better training and performance conditions to reach elite levels in sports (Leite, et al, 2021;Lidor, et al, 2021), further studies with specific populations in different sports are still needed. Although RAE arouses interest among many researchers and publications have increased in recent years, investigations in specific sports contexts being underrepresented in this research are warranted, particularly including futsal (Bilgiç & Işın, 2022;Castro et al, 2022bCastro et al, , 2022cLeonardi, et al, 2022). In fact, Méndez-Dominguez, Nakamura, and Travassos (2022) highlighted the importance of developing research on futsal, not only concerning physical, technical, or tactical variables, but also on research topics with practical applications, such as talent development, performance analysis, and psychological topics.…”