We examined whether maturity, anthropometric profiles and fitness measures vary according to birth date distribution in elite, under‐14 youth academy soccer players. The selection year was divided into four quarters, with 160 male players grouped according to individual birth date. Players had their skeletal age determined and were assessed using a battery of standard anthropometric and physical performance tests. Players born across all quarters of the year were investigated for differences in the various performance characteristics using multi‐ and univariate analyses. An uneven birth distribution was observed, with players born early in the selection year highly represented (P<0.01). A significant difference in height was observed across quarters (P<0.01) with higher values reported in the earlier‐born players. No significant differences were observed across any of the fitness measures, although the trend was for players born in the first quarter to out‐perform peers born in the later quarters. These findings suggest that the relative age of the performer may not always be linked to a significant advantage in physical components. The selection criteria for entry into the academy may explain the present results.

Secular changes in body size, estimated fatness, skeletal maturation and functional characteristics of youth soccer players on entry into an elite academy between 1992 and 2003 were compared. Annual selections grouped across time (1992-1995, 1996-1998, 1999-2003), playing position (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, forward), and by eventual status in the sport (professional, non-professional) were compared. Data for 158 players (13.4±0.4 years) at entry into the academy included skeletal age (Greulich-Pyle method), height, weight, relative fatness, four field tests of functional capacities (aerobic, anaerobic, power, speed) and quadriceps concentric strength of the dominant and non-dominant legs. MANCOVA with age as the covariate and chi square were used for comparisons across years. With few exceptions notably estimated V  O2max, results for player size, functional characteristics and skeletal maturation did not differ among years. Distributions of players by skeletal maturity status and within each playing position also did not differ between years.Although related research has suggested that the anthropometric characteristics of professional players and demands of contemporary professional soccer competition increased over this period, the size, maturity and functional characteristics of youth players on entry to an elite academy and of graduates who eventually played soccer at the professional level generally did not change across annual selections from 1992-2003. The results suggest a lack of change in selection philosophies and practices of coaches involved in recruiting players for the academy which in turn is reflected in consistency of specific evaluation criteria employed over the decade considered.