Wei LiXin, Zheng Yafei, Li MingBang, Dai Shu Hong
College of physical education and health, Geely University of China, Chengdu, China.
ChengDu Sports University, Chengdu 610041, Peoples R China.
J Sports Sci Med. 2025 Jun 1;24(2):397-405. doi: 10.52082/jssm.2025.397. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Identifying strategies to mitigate the impact of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) on the development of youth basketball players is crucial. This study aimed to compare two methods of player grouping during competitive small-sided games and match scenarios in training sessions, focusing on their impact on physical performance and technical skill development: mixed birthdate quartiles (CON) versus structured grouping based on birthdate quartiles (BG) over a 6-month period. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with forty-one youth basketball players (age: 12.9 ± 0.7 years) at a trained/developmental level. Throughout the study, participants in the BG group (n = 20) were assigned to small-sided games or match competition scenarios based on their birthdate quartiles, while those in the CON group (n = 21) were grouped with players from mixed quartiles. Players were evaluated at baseline and after the 6-month period for physical performance using countermovement jump (CMJ), change-of-direction (COD), and aerobic capacity (YYIRT). Additionally, they were assessed for technical skills in shooting, passing, and dribbling tests. Comparisons were made based on both birthdate quartiles (quartiles q1-2 relatively older, and q3-4 relatively younger players) and group. After 6 months, the CONq3q4 covered a shorter YYIRT distance than the CONq1q2 group ( = 0.040), achieved a lower CMJ height than both the CONq1q2 ( = 0.024) and BGq1q2 groups ( = 0.019), and had a greater COD deficit than the CONq1q2 group ( = 0.046). Additionally, the CONq3q4 group had longer dribbling times than the CONq1q2 ( = 0.002), BGq1q2 ( = 0.004), and BGq3q4 ( = 0.009) groups. In skill assessments, the CONq3q4 group scored lower in passing than both the CONq1q2 ( = 0.015) and BGq1q2 groups ( = 0.025), and scored lower in shooting compared to the CONq1q2 ( = 0.019), BGq1q2 ( = 0.003), and BGq3q4 ( = 0.003) groups. Grouping youth basketball players based on birthdate quartiles during training can mitigate the relative age effect, promoting more equitable physical and technical development by reducing age-related biases. However, these conclusions are limited by the study's duration and require further research over the long term.
确定减轻相对年龄效应（RAE）对青少年篮球运动员发展影响的策略至关重要。本研究旨在比较在训练课程中的小型比赛和比赛场景中两种球员分组方法，重点关注它们对体能表现和技术技能发展的影响：混合出生日期四分位数分组（CON）与基于出生日期四分位数的结构化分组（BG），为期6个月。对41名处于训练/发展水平的青少年篮球运动员（年龄：12.9±0.7岁）进行了一项随机对照试验。在整个研究过程中，BG组（n = 20）的参与者根据其出生日期四分位数被分配到小型比赛或比赛竞争场景中，而CON组（n = 21）的参与者则与来自混合四分位数的球员分组。在基线时和6个月后，使用反向移动跳跃（CMJ）、变向（COD）和有氧能力（YYIRT）对球员的体能表现进行评估。此外，还在投篮、传球和运球测试中对他们的技术技能进行评估。根据出生日期四分位数（四分位数q1 - 2相对年龄较大，q3 - 4相对年龄较小的球员）和分组进行比较。6个月后，CONq3q4组的YYIRT距离比CONq1q2组短（ = 0.040），CMJ高度低于CONq1q2组（ = 0.024）和BGq1q2组（ = 0.019），并且COD缺陷比CONq1q2组大（ = 0.046）。此外，CONq3q4组的运球时间比CONq1q2组（ = 0.002）、BGq1q2组（ = 0.004）和BGq3q4组（ = 0.009）长。在技能评估中，CONq3q4组的传球得分低于CONq1q2组（ = 0.015）和BGq1q2组（ = 0.025），投篮得分低于CONq1q2组（ = 0.019）、BGq1q2组（ = 0.003）和BGq3q4组（ = 0.003）。在训练期间根据出生日期四分位数对青少年篮球运动员进行分组可以减轻相对年龄效应，通过减少与年龄相关的偏差促进更公平的体能和技术发展。然而，这些结论受到研究持续时间的限制，需要长期进一步研究。
