Yu Haitong, Yang Chengbo
School of Sports Training, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 19;15(1):9538. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-94035-9.
This study aimed to explore the presence and magnitude of relative age effects (RAEs) among elite male Chinese youth basketball players. A total of 728 adolescent players and 60 teams in the 2023 Chinese Student (Youth) Games were included. Player efficiency rating (PER) was calculated to evaluate individual performance, and the relative age team achievement (RATA) score was used to assess team-related RAEs. Partial correlation analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between relative age and performance parameters, with height and weight as control variables. The results indicate a skewed distribution of birth dates in the U-16 group. In contrast, the U-18 group exhibited a more balanced distribution. In the U-16 competitions, relative age had significant positive correlations with points, assists and PER. However, in the U-18 competitions, a significant positive correlation was only observed for assists. At the team level, in both U-16 and U-18 competitions, there was no significant correlation between the relative age and team performance indicators such as average point differential, winning percentage, and team efficiency. Given that RAEs in youth basketball may lead to inequitable talent selection and developmental opportunities, this phenomenon warrants attention, and measures should be implemented to mitigate potential selection bias and talent loss.
本研究旨在探讨中国优秀青年男子篮球运动员中相对年龄效应（RAEs）的存在情况及其程度。研究纳入了2023年中国学生（青年）运动会中的728名青少年运动员和60支球队。计算球员效率值（PER）以评估个人表现，并使用相对年龄团队成就（RATA）得分来评估与团队相关的相对年龄效应。进行偏相关分析以探讨相对年龄与表现参数之间的关系，将身高和体重作为控制变量。结果表明，16岁以下组的出生日期分布存在偏差。相比之下，18岁以下组的分布更为均衡。在16岁以下组的比赛中，相对年龄与得分、助攻和PER呈显著正相关。然而，在18岁以下组的比赛中，仅观察到助攻与相对年龄存在显著正相关。在团队层面，在16岁以下组和18岁以下组的比赛中，相对年龄与平均分差、胜率和团队效率等团队表现指标之间均无显著相关性。鉴于青少年篮球中的相对年龄效应可能导致不公平的人才选拔和发展机会，这一现象值得关注，应采取措施减轻潜在的选拔偏差和人才流失。
