Impact of the Relative Age Effect on Competition Performance in Basketball: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Alfonso de la Rubia Riaza, Jorge Lorenzo Calvo, Daniel Mon-López and Alberto Lorenzo
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Alfonso de la Rubia Riaza: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF-Departamento de Deportes), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/ Martín Fierro, 7, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Jorge Lorenzo Calvo: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF-Departamento de Deportes), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/ Martín Fierro, 7, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Daniel Mon-López: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF-Departamento de Deportes), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/ Martín Fierro, 7, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Alberto Lorenzo: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF-Departamento de Deportes), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/ Martín Fierro, 7, 28040 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-31

Abstract: Performance in basketball is multifactorial. One of the modifying factors is the “Relative Age Effect—RAE”. However, its impact depends on the sample characteristics and sport context. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the RAE on basketball competition performance by analysing peer-reviewed articles published until July 2020. According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses systematic search guidelines, nine studies were identified in four databases: Sport Discus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Moreover, a study quality analysis using “Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology” guidelines was carried out. The results confirmed an impact of the RAE on competition performance in basketball (56% measurements) and a higher influence of the RAE on short-term collective performance (54% measurements). Statistical parameters were affected, especially in men and U14-U18 categories. No impact of the RAE reversal and no influence of the RAE on long-term collective performance were found. There was a higher impact of the RAE in men (71%), the U14-U18 categories (44%), and at the national level (40%) was identified. The RAE has a variable influence on basketball performance according to developmental constraints. Nevertheless, the findings should be considered based on the sport context due to the heterogeneity and variability of the identified results.

Keywords: relative age effect; birthdate; performance; competition; sport talent; sport success; evaluation; statistical; team sport; basketball (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8596-:d:447694

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