Research in Another un-Examined (RAE) context. A chronology of 35 years of relative age effect research in soccer: is it time to move on?

Abstract

It is approximately 35 years since the publication of the first relative age effect paper in sport and despite the volume of empirical studies, book chapters, conference presentations, and column inches dedicated to this topic we appear to be no further on in eliminating or attenuating this discriminatory practice. This commentary argues that the ongoing use of univariate methods, focusing on primary or secondary analyses of birth-date data, unearthed from previously un-examined contexts is not conducive to stimulating discussion or providing empirical solutions to relative age effects. This paper concludes by suggesting a departure from the traditionally narrow view of relative age inquiry and instead consider the role of transdisciplinary research.

Relative Age-Related Biases in Objective and Subjective Assessments of Performance in Talented Youth Soccer Players

“…Within research on talent development, the RAE is a wellknown and widely studied phenomenon (Roberts et al, 2020). Knowledge about the extent of RAEs as well as the magnitude of age-related biases in these assessments is of particular importance to support an efficient and fair talent development strategy.…”

“…Beyond that, the study provides evidence about the degree to which both objective and subjective assessments of talented players are biased by their relative age. Further, identified gaps in research on RAEs in sport were addressed (e.g., Roberts et al, 2020;Webdale et al, 2020). We employed a cohort study design using a large sample of highly talented soccer players to detect nuances in RAEs (Romann et al, 2018;Bergkamp et al, 2019) across age groups (i.e., U12 to U15) that are critical in the process of youth athlete development.…”

“…We employed a cohort study design using a large sample of highly talented soccer players to detect nuances in RAEs (Romann et al, 2018;Bergkamp et al, 2019) across age groups (i.e., U12 to U15) that are critical in the process of youth athlete development. Due to the large sample size, it was possible to compare the performance level of the players based on the weeks they were born in within a year, allowing for a more differentiated, sensitive, and less aggregative analysis that goes beyond the analysis of year quartiles (Cumming et al, 2018;Roberts et al, 2020). Furthermore, the present study followed the recommendation of Ford et al (2020) and Williams et al (2020) by examining age-related biases using a multidimensional design that canvassed a range of performance characteristics whose prognostic relevance in soccer has been confirmed (Höner et al, 2017, in revision).…”

“…Given an unselected and, therefore, unbiased population of players, such a relationship would also be expected to be found between players' relative age and these test performances within each age group (i.e., U12, U13, U14, and U15). However, previous research suggested that the performance of later-born children within age cohorts must be at least as good as that of the earlier-born children to achieve selection in the same group (e.g., Roberts et al, 2020). As a result, associations between relative age and performance might not exist within age groups for parameters that are judged to be important for performance in soccer.…”

Leveling the Playing Field: A New Proposed Method to Address Relative Age- and Maturity-Related Bias in Soccer

“…Unfortunately, although different (but associated) (de)selection problems, the proposed “solutions” for reducing the RAE and/or the maturity selection bias have been ineffective thus far (although we acknowledge bio-banding research is its infancy). As a result, innovative, integrated research designs and strategies were proposed to eradicate such bias once and for all (Roberts et al, 2020 ). Therefore, the aim of this study was to propose and offer early examination of a new, relatively cheap, simple, and more practical way (i.e., absence of maturity estimation equations and/or player radiographs) ensuring that this new method of allocating youth players not solely using their chronological birth date, but also the estimated developmental (ED) birth date (based on their actual physical characteristics), is accessible to all levels of the soccer pyramid across the globe.…”