García-Rubio Javier, García-Vallejo Andrés, Arenas-Pareja María de Los Ángeles, López-Sierra Pablo, Ibáñez Sergio J
Optimization of Training and Sports Performance Research Group (GOERD), Faculty of Sports Science, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain.
Children (Basel). 2022 Oct 10;9(10):1543. doi: 10.3390/children9101543.
The implications of relative age grouping in sport are known as the Relative Age Effect (RAE). This study has the twofold purpose of analyzing RAE in Spanish youth national soccer teams and examining the prediction value of being selected for national youth teams to be a professional. The sample was composed of 548 players divided into five groups. A descriptive analysis of distribution and participation, frequencies, mean and standard deviation, crosstabs, Sankey charts, coefficient correlation and Cohen's effect size criteria and two regression analyses were performed. Results established that the RAE is present in U'17 to U'21 Spanish youth national teams. Talent detection and selection programs are more reliable the closer they are to adulthood, reaching a success rate of almost 100% at the U'21 stage. The selection of players for such programs should be delayed as much as possible, thus, preventing younger players from dropping out and those selected from thinking they have already reached their goal. To this end, they should focus on long-term improvement, not short-term performance. In addition, factors such as the RAE or the maturity level of the athletes should be monitored.
体育中相对年龄分组的影响被称为相对年龄效应（RAE）。本研究具有双重目的，一是分析西班牙青年国家足球队中的相对年龄效应，二是检验入选国家青年队对于成为职业球员的预测价值。样本由548名球员组成，分为五组。进行了分布与参与情况的描述性分析、频率分析、均值与标准差分析、交叉表分析、桑基图分析、系数相关性分析以及科恩效应量标准分析，还进行了两项回归分析。结果表明，相对年龄效应存在于西班牙U17至U21青年国家足球队中。人才选拔和挑选计划越接近成年期就越可靠，在U21阶段成功率几乎达到100%。此类计划的球员选拔应尽可能推迟，从而防止年轻球员退出，以及防止入选球员认为自己已经实现目标。为此，它们应专注于长期提升，而非短期表现。此外，应监测相对年龄效应或运动员成熟度水平等因素。
