Talent Selection Based on Sport-Specific Tasks Is Affected by the Relative Age Effects among Adolescent Handball Players

Zsófia Tróznai, Katinka Utczás, Júlia Pápai, Zalán Négele, István Juhász, Tamás Szabó and Leonidas Petridis
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Zsófia Tróznai: Research Centre for Sport Physiology, University of Physical Education, 1123 Budapest, Hungary
Katinka Utczás: Research Centre for Sport Physiology, University of Physical Education, 1123 Budapest, Hungary
Júlia Pápai: Independent Researcher, 8651 Balatonszabadi, Hungary
Zalán Négele: Teleki Blanka High School and Primary School, 8000 Székesfehérvár, Hungary
István Juhász: Hungarian Handball Federation, 1087 Budapest, Hungary
Tamás Szabó: Research Centre for Sport Physiology, University of Physical Education, 1123 Budapest, Hungary
Leonidas Petridis: Research Centre for Sport Physiology, University of Physical Education, 1123 Budapest, Hungary

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-11

Abstract: Talent selection is often affected by the relative age effects (RAEs), resulting in the overrepresentation of relatively older (vs. relatively younger) players among those selected. The use of sport-specific tasks is suggested to reduce RAEs during talent selection. Purpose: To test the hypothesis that talent selection including only sport-specific tasks is not affected by the RAEs and to analyse the body size and biological maturity of the top selection level according to relative age. Methods: Participants were U14 female ( n = 5428) and U15 ( n = 4408) male handball players participating in four programs consisting of four selection levels (local, county, regional, and national) grouped in bi-annual age. Handball-specific generic skills, position-specific technical drills and in-game performance were the selection criteria evaluated by experts and coaches. Body dimensions were measured and bone age, as an indicator of maturity, was estimated. The relative age quartile distributions within the bi-annual cohorts were examined using Chi-square and Odds Ratios. Results: In terms of all the registered players no RAEs were evident. However, the RAEs of moderate effect size were evident at the county level; χ 2 = 53.2 (girls) and 66.4 (boys), OR = 2.5 and 3.3, respectively. The RAEs of a large effect size were found at the regional level; χ 2 = 139.5 (girls) and 144.9 (boys), OR = 8.2 and 5.2, respectively. At national level, RAEs were still present, but with no further increase in the effect size. At the highest selection level, there were no differences in the anthropometric measures between the relatively older and younger players. Conclusion: The findings provide support to the hypothesis that the selection process exacerbates RAEs even when using only sport-specific selection criteria. The performance metrics in technical skills, but also coaching assessments are likely involved. In addition, an advanced maturity and/or an above-average body size increases the selection odds for relatively younger players.

Keywords: youth sport; birth asymmetry; maturity; adolescence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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