Why age categories in youth sport should be eliminated: Insights from performance development of youth female long jumpers

Abstract

Long-term sports participation and performance development are major issues in popular sports and talent development programs. This study aimed to provide longitudinal trends in youth female long jump performance development, participation, and relative age effects (RAEs), as longitudinal data for female athletes are missing. 51′894 season’s best results of female long jump athletes (n = 16′189) were acquired from the Swiss Athletics online database and analyzed within a range of 6–22 years of age. To examine longitudinal performance development and RAEs, data from athletes who participated in at least three seasons were selected (n = 41′253) and analyzed. Performance development was analyzed using age groups (AGs) and exact chronological age (CA) at competition. Differences between performances of birth quarters were analyzed using 83% confidence intervals (CIs) and smallest worthwhile change. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CI were used to quantify RAEs. With the traditional classification into age groups (AG), performances of athletes born between January and March (Q1) were significantly better than those born between October and December (Q4) from U8 to U17. Using exact CA resulted in similar performances in Q1 and Q4 until the U20 age category. The peak of participation was reached in the U12 category, and then decreased until the U23 category with a substantial drop at U17. Significant RAEs were observed from U8 to U19 and at U22. RAEs continuously decreased from U8 (large effect) to U14 (small effect). The present results show that differences in performance arise from the comparison of athletes in AGs. Thus, going beyond AGs and using exact CA, Q4 athletes could benefit from a realistic performance comparison, which promotes fair performance evaluation, un-biased talent development, realistic feedback, and long-term participation.

Relative Age Effect Analysis in the History of the Ballon d’Or (1956–2023)

“…While Q4 displayed higher frequencies than Q2 and Q3, it did not reach the overrepresentation observed in Q1. The inverse RAE detected in the 1950s and 60s, explained by the “underdog hypothesis”, posits that athletes born at the end of the year benefit from training with relatively older peers during development, aiding their transition from junior to elite sports [ 44 , 45 ]. However, this hypothesis diminishes in later decades.…”

Is There a Relative Age Effect among the Most Successful Track and Field Athletes?

“…Therefore, the task of scientists and practitioners is to develop solutions for the RAE prevention in sports. A good example is going beyond age groups and using exact date of birth and chronological age ( Rüeger et al, 2023 ). Biological maturity accounting for performing athletes is considered a substantial method ( Malina et al, 2015 ).…”

The Effects of Age and Height on Gait Smoothness in Adolescent Athletes

“…Erratic trunk motion can impair gait and increase fall-related injury risk through changes in the ability to stabilize the head. Research using methods that detect subtle alterations to gait stability is necessary to determine the effects of physical growth on gait, which may not yet meet the criteria for clinical coordination disruption but still present an increase in the risk of fall and injury [5,6].…”

“…Males, however, do not reach their peak height velocity (0.095 m/year) until an average of 13.5 years of age [5]. Changes to the nature of sports participation have been traditionally based largely on chronological age, irrespective of sex [6]. The difference in relative growth timing may have direct effects on sport-related injury risk due to increases in the intensity, volume, and speed of sport practice and gameplay.…”

“…This temporarily alters the muscle mechanics and torque production capabilities of various body segments and, thus, the ability to maneuver in a coordinated manner [12]. Many aspects of the progression of adolescent sport difficulty, speed, and the intensity of both practice and gameplay are based primarily on chronological age [6] but do not account for variations in the timing of physical manifestations of AMA. As coaches and trainers are typically unable to test for the biological or developmental age of their athletes, understanding the progression of gait stability relative to chronological age during adolescence may be helpful in refining training strategies for subgroups within a wider age range.…”