From entry to elite: The relative age effect in the Australian football talent pathway

Tribolet, R; Watsford, ML; Coutts, AJ; Smith, C; Fransen, J

From entry to elite: The relative age effect in the Australian football talent pathway

Tribolet, R

Watsford, ML

Coutts, AJ

Smith, C Fransen, J

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2019, 22 (6), pp. 741 - 745
Issue Date:: 2019-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tribolet, R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9252-1900	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Watsford, ML https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4569-6377	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Coutts, AJ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1782-7691	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Smith, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fransen, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3355-1848	en_US
dc.date.available	2018-12-19	en_US
dc.date.issued	2019-06-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2019, 22 (6), pp. 741 - 745	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1440-2440	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/135354
dc.description.abstract	© 2018 Sports Medicine Australia Objectives: This study aimed to assess the first instance and prevalence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in the male Australian Football (AF) talent development pathway through to the Australian Football League (AFL). Design: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis. Methods: Birthdate distribution was accessed from an U10–U12 AF academy trial (n = 514), U13–U19 AF academy players (n = 408), AFL state, national and international combines (n = 2989), AFL Rising Star nominees (n = 50) and the top ten AFL Brownlow vote recipients (n = 50) between 2013–2017. Results: Chi-squared analysis showed significant overrepresentation to early born players in the selection year for both quartile and half-year compared to the previously known distribution at different stages of the talent pathway. Odds ratio demonstrated bias to players born in quartiles one and two of the selection year compared to players born in quartile four in every cohort examined. Conclusions: RAEs appear between ages 10–12 in the male AF development pathway and continue to senior professional competition. RAEs are amplified as the competition for positions increases and at points where selection cut-offs occur. Interestingly, players receiving votes for the AFL's best and fairest award were 12.6 times more likely to be born in the first half of the year. This may suggest a latent effect, which has long term benefits for relatively older players. Nonetheless, the RAE affects career progression in a male AF talent pathway.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.jsams.2018.12.014	en_US
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject.classification	Sport Sciences	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Odds Ratio	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Retrospective Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aptitude	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Age Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Football	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Child	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Athletic Performance	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Youth Sports	en_US
dc.title	From entry to elite: The relative age effect in the Australian football talent pathway	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	22	en_US
utslib.for	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1116 Medical Physiology	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Sports and Exercise Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	22	en_US

Abstract:

© 2018 Sports Medicine Australia Objectives: This study aimed to assess the first instance and prevalence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in the male Australian Football (AF) talent development pathway through to the Australian Football League (AFL). Design: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis. Methods: Birthdate distribution was accessed from an U10–U12 AF academy trial (n = 514), U13–U19 AF academy players (n = 408), AFL state, national and international combines (n = 2989), AFL Rising Star nominees (n = 50) and the top ten AFL Brownlow vote recipients (n = 50) between 2013–2017. Results: Chi-squared analysis showed significant overrepresentation to early born players in the selection year for both quartile and half-year compared to the previously known distribution at different stages of the talent pathway. Odds ratio demonstrated bias to players born in quartiles one and two of the selection year compared to players born in quartile four in every cohort examined. Conclusions: RAEs appear between ages 10–12 in the male AF development pathway and continue to senior professional competition. RAEs are amplified as the competition for positions increases and at points where selection cut-offs occur. Interestingly, players receiving votes for the AFL's best and fairest award were 12.6 times more likely to be born in the first half of the year. This may suggest a latent effect, which has long term benefits for relatively older players. Nonetheless, the RAE affects career progression in a male AF talent pathway.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/135354