The past few decades have seen a significant change in the delivery of sport and trends related to athlete development. However, notion talent continues play critical role most development models. In this brief review, we highlight concerns with how it is conceptualized high performance systems. These include: assumption that fixed capacity can be identified early, influence beliefs on development, different levels risk for selection decisions, biases evident approaches selection, inadequacy...

Abstract When athletes are placed into annual age groups to organize and coordinate sport participation, certain (dis)advantages occur as a result of the subtle differences within these groups. These differences, termed “relative effects”, have been consistently related youth adult attainment. However, there has lack consistency in terminology used this area research. In paper, we consider operational terms relative research, discuss appropriate applications terminology, suggest directions...

Relative age effects (RAEs), reflecting observed inequalities in participation and attainment as a result of annual age-grouping policies youth sport, are common most team sports. The aims this study were to determine if when RAEs become apparent Rugby League, how influential variables (e.g., gender) lead clarify whether player retention at junior representative levels can explain persistent RAEs. Player data collected for the male female community games ranging from Under 7s Senior...

In this paper, we describe two studies on the association among long-term developmental outcomes and relative age effects. To extend or compliment cross-sectional work done previously, these take different approaches to investigate of effects development. first, a retrospective approach is taken, while in second, data for players over 4-year period considered. study 1 between later performance at adult level presented. The results show patterns females males. second study, development during...

Relative age effects (RAEs; R. H. Barnsley, A. Thompson, & P. E. 1985) convey school attainment (dis)advantages depending on whether one is relatively older or younger within annually age-grouped cohorts. In the present study, authors examined pervasiveness of RAEs by examining (a) in 4 secondary subjects, (b) consistency across (c) pupils enrolled gifted and talented programs, (d) referred for learning support identified as having special educational needs, (e) were related to pupil...

In this manuscript we argue for a broader use of the term ‘relative age effect’ due to influence varying development policies on sport expertise. Two studies are presented basis data from Schorer, et al. [1]. The first showed clear ‘constant year effects’ in German handball talent system. A shift groupings female athletes resulted birth patterns. second study investigated whether constant effect national system carried over professional handball. No patterns were observable. Together both...

Abstract Researchers are only beginning to understand how contextual variables such as date of birth and birthplace affect the development elite athletes. This article considers generality date‐of‐birth effects in varying sport contexts. The Study 1 examined environmental factors associated with an athlete's size predict likelihood becoming Olympic athlete Canada, United States America, Germany, Kingdom. 2 among athletes playing first professional league Germany. also validity a proxy for...

The relative age effect suggests that athletes born in the first two quartiles of a given selection year experience advantage and therefore greater opportunity for success. We describe studies examining relationship between age, competition level, dropout rates O ntario M inor H ockey A ssociation male ice‐hockey players from ages 10 to 15 years ( n = 14 325). In Study 1, was highest among three four [χ 2 (3) 16.32, P < 0.05; w 0.06], while found dropped out have less movement levels...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between relative age and injury prevalence in Canadian youth ice hockey.In 1, hockey-related injuries (among children 10-15 years age) collected by Hospitals Injury Reporting Prevention Program 1995 2002 were analyzed. ages injured compared across different groups characteristics (mechanism severity injury). In 2, reported Hockey Canada Insurance Database at levels play (ie, representative versus house league teams) compared.In...

Relative age effects (RAEs) typically favour older members within a cohort; however, research suggests that younger players may experience some long-term advantages, such as longer career length. The purposes of this study were to replicate previous findings on RAEs among National Hockey League (NHL) ice hockey players, Basketball Association (NBA) basketball and Football (NFL) football investigate the influence relative length in all three sports.Using official archives, birthdates number...

Athlete selection (often referred to as talent selection) reflects the end point of what is a complex decision-making process coaches, administrators, and/or scouts use when deciding who remains and removed from sample potential athletes. In this paper, we conceptualize athlete an evolutionary where pressures (e.g., performance demands, system limitations) influence value one trait/characteristic over another. Athletes are selected either through demonstrating enhanced (survival advantages)...

Relative age describes a youth's within their group cohort. Compared to relatively younger peers, older youth in an annual cohort have been found more likely be selected sports teams, and receive higher grades education. This study examined the influence of sport participants' relative on participation dropout. Using data from 1995 German Youth Sport Survey (N total=2612), comparisons (stratified by gender type) were made between current former participants. Analyses also considered type...