Does the Relative Age Effect Exist in Elite Sport? An Analysis of Olympic Competition

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dc.contributor.authorWingfield, Kathryn McGheeen
dc.contributor.committeechairWilliams, Jay H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHosig, Kathryn W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSerrano, Elena L.en
dc.contributor.departmentHuman Nutrition, Foods, and Exerciseen
dc.date.accessioned2017-06-14T08:02:01Zen
dc.date.available2017-06-14T08:02:01Zen
dc.date.issued2017-06-13en
dc.description.abstractStudies have concluded that youth sports programs have a bias selection process in identifying player talent. Athletes that are identified as talented are more likely to be born in the first three months after the eligibility cut-off for a program's particular age group. This is referred to as the relative age effect (RAE) and has been identified in many youth sports. However, it is not known if the RAE carries over into elite, adult competition. The purpose of this study was to determine if the RAE exists in Olympic competition and to compare the RAE between genders, team vs individual sports, weight class vs non-weight class sports, and medalists vs non-medalists. Data on Olympians competing in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics were gathered from publicly available databases. Lorenz curves were constructed and Gini coefficients calculated to detect unexpected distributions of birth months. In addition, linear regression was used to determine a directional distribution. A negative Gini coefficient and a statistically significant negative slope of the birth month distribution suggested the existence of a RAE. The results showed that there was a RAE in Olympic competition. For all athletes, the Gini coefficient was -0.0324 and the slope of -0.0014 fraction of athletes born per month. Within specific sports, the RAE varies considerably with some showing a positive RAE. Further, the RAE in Olympic athletes does not seem to be influenced by gender, type of team or success of the athlete.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralMany children and youth participate in sport programs around the world. Research studies have concluded that youth sports programs have a biased selection process in identifying player talent. Athletes identified as talented are more likely to be born in the first three months after the cut-off date for a program’s age group. This is known as the relative age effect (RAE). As RAE is known in youth sports, it is not known if the RAE carries over into elite, adult competition. The purpose of this study was to determine if a RAE exists in Olympic competition and to compare the RAE between genders, team vs individual sports, weight class vs non-weight class sports and medalists vs non-medalists. Data on Olympians competing in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic games were gathered from publicly available databases. From the data, the athletes were sorted based on birthdate, height, weight, gender, sport and medals earned. Sports were then classified as team or individual and as weight class or non-weight class. The expected distribution was 8.3% per month, since this represents an equal number of athletes across all months. Linear regression was used to determine the direction. A negative slope of the birth month distribution suggested the existence of a RAE. A RAE appears to exist within Olympic level competition. Furthermore, RAE gets smaller but still exists as athletes move from the youth to the adult level. Within specific sports, the RAE varies considerably with some not showing a RAE.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:11649en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/78194en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectsporten
dc.subjectyouthen
dc.subjectOlympicsen
dc.subjectdevelopmenten
dc.subjectExerciseen
dc.subjecttalent identificationen
dc.titleDoes the Relative Age Effect Exist in Elite Sport? An Analysis of Olympic Competitionen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineHuman Nutrition, Foods, and Exerciseen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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