Relative Age Effect in Canadian Hockey: Prevalence, Perceived Competence and Performance

Abstract

The term “relative age effect” (RAE) is used to describe a bias in which participation in sports (and other fields) is higher among people who were born at the beginning of the relevant selection period than would be expected from the distribution of births. In sports, RAEs may affect the psychological experience of players as well as their performance. This article presents 2 studies. Study 1 aims to verify the prevalence of RAEs in minor hockey and test its associations with players' physical self-concept and attitudes toward physical activities in general. Study 2 verifies the prevalence of the RAE and analyzes the performance of Canadian junior elite players as a function of their birth quartile. In study 1, the sample is drawn from 404 minor hockey players who have evolved from a recreational to an elite level. Physical self-concept and attitudes toward different kinds of physical activities were assessed via questionnaires. Results showed that the RAE is prevalent in minor hockey at all competition levels. Minor differences in favor of Q1-born players were observed regarding physical self-concept, but not attitudes. In study 2, data analyses were conducted from the 2018–2019 Canadian Hockey League database. Birth quartiles were compared on different components of performance by using quantile regression on each variable. Results revealed that RAEs are prevalent in the CHL, with Q1 players tending to outperform Q4 players in games played and power-play points. No other significant differences were observed regarding anthropometric measures and other performance outcomes. RAEs are still prevalent in Canadian hockey. Building up perceived competence and providing game-time exposure are examples of aspects that need to be addressed when trying to minimize RAEs in ice hockey.

The Relative Age Effect in the Best Track and Field Athletes Aged 10 to 15 Years Old

“…The common practice of the RAE has been described in the youngest age groups (6 to 12 years old) in a variety of sports, including hockey, football, and alpine skiing [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. At this age, it is possible that chronologically older children have both physical and cognitive advantages.…”

Elite Adolescent Ice Hockey Players: Analyzing Associations between Anthropometry, Fitness, and On-Ice Performance

“…The maturation process is an important factor to consider, especially in late maturing team sports like ice hockey, where physical and anthropometric attributes impact technical performance. We did not analyze the impact of birth date quartiles on performance, but we know that there are recruitment biases in ice hockey, as the literature has already dealt with this topic [ 59 ]. Further analysis in relation to relative age or maturation stage could have helped us better understand and interpret differences.…”

Reasons for Sports-Based Physical Activity Dropouts in University Students

“…In terms of dropout age, the older the age, the reasons for dropout are weighted as follows: lack of enjoyment, injuries, and low academic performance, most certainly due to the great changes that occur during aging of the studied population [ 38 , 40 ]. Furthermore, as participants get older, health problems increase due to the intensity of the activity, and the greater demand for physical condition and competition causes the lack of fun [ 93 , 94 ]. Additionally, in view of the results, those who dropout after moving from school sports to federated sports do so because in federated sports the perception seems to be a drop in results and the loss of socialization [ 95 ].…”