The relative age effect in male and female English age-grade rugby union: Exploring the gender-specific mechanisms that underpin participation

Kelly, Adam L. and Jackson, Daniel T. and Barrell, Donald and Burke, Kate and Till, Kevin (2021) The relative age effect in male and female English age-grade rugby union: Exploring the gender-specific mechanisms that underpin participation. Science and Medicine in Football. pp. 1-8. ISSN 2473-4446

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Abstract

The relative age effect (RAE) is a phenomenon that represents how young athletes who are born early in the selection year are often overrepresented within youth sport settings. The contact nature of rugby union may further magnify the physiological advantages of those athletes who are chronologically older. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the RAE within English age-grade rugby union. Male (n = 228,206) and female (n = 23,563) English age-grade rugby union participants were allocated into their 12-month annual age-category (under-7 to under-18). Data was analysed using a chi-square goodness-of-fit test to compare the observed and expected distributions. Significant differences were revealed in all male (p < 0.001) and nine out of twelve female (p < 0.05) annual-age categories. From a male perspective, a higher relative difference became present at under-14 onwards, suggesting that there may be further implications due to the onset of puberty and the introduction of 15-a-side competition. Further female analysis revealed that there was a within-2-year effect in their 24-month age groups (under-13 and under-15). Interestingly, there was an inverse within-3-year effect (i.e., an overrepresentation of younger players) within the female 36-month age group (under-18). The key findings indicate a RAE has become ingrained in English age-grade rugby union, as well as outlining important gender-specific considerations.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	** From Crossref journal articles via Jisc Publications Router ** History: epub 13-08-2021; issued 13-08-2021.
Identification Number:	10.1080/24733938.2021.1955145
Dates:	Date Event 29 June 2021 Accepted 13 August 2021 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Talent identification, talent development, athlete development, constituent year effect, youth rugby, rugby football union
Subjects:	CAH03 - biological and sport sciences > CAH03-02 - sport and exercise sciences > CAH03-02-01 - sport and exercise sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > Centre for Life and Sport Sciences (C-LASS)
SWORD Depositor:	JISC PubRouter
Depositing User:	JISC PubRouter
Date Deposited:	31 Aug 2021 14:52
Last Modified:	13 Aug 2022 03:00
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/12106

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