6533b7d0fe1ef96bd1259b86

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Relative age and perceptions of soccer specific skills among elite youth players in Norway

Bjørn Tore JohansenKetil ØStremStig Arve Sæther Martin Kjeøen Erikstad

subject

media_common.quotation_subject050105 experimental psychology03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicinePerceptionPlayer assessed skills0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesRelative age effectmedia_commonCoach assessed skillsYouth soccer05 social sciences030229 sport sciencesGeneral MedicineRelative age effectVDP::Medisinske Fag: 700::Idrettsmedisinske fag: 850Peer reviewTalent developmentGV557-1198.995Sports medicineElitePsychologyRC1200-1245:Samfunnsvitenskap: 200::Samfunnsvitenskapelige idrettsfag: 330 [VDP]human activitiesSportsDemography

description

One common feature among the selected players in talent development programs are the well-known relative age effect (RAE), characterized by a skewed birth distribution among selected players with an over-representation of players born early in the selection year. The aim of the present study was to examine potential differences in soccer-specific skills between players selected for national talent program born in the first half of the year compared to the players born in the second half of the year. A total of 753 elite male U 14 (N = 363) and U 13 players (N = 390) from 16 of 18 soccer regions in Norway participated. The results showed players born early in the selection year considered themselves stronger and faster than late born players. Similar, coaches considered the players born early in the selection year as stronger than players born late in the selection year. Neither the players or coaches considered the early born players as technically, tactically and mentally better. Within a talent development program, we argue that coaches and recruiters should be aware of differences in relative age, and thus prevent that late born players must compensate their physical disadvantages to be allowed into such programs.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2019-05-01
10.15203/ciss_2019.006https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2648707