Sport News Blog

I stumbled upon this report today, released by the SportNation "think tank" (in November 2006), using research commissioned from Loughborough University, into the question of whether children born later in the sporting year are missing out on selection and development opportunities.

The answer to this appears to be a pretty resounding 'yes'. One sport that showed signs of ucking the trend was swimming, who have introduced more 'age on the date' competition. But sports like football, cricket, athletics, basebal and tennis, for example, showed clear signs of the Relative Age Effect.

What's interesting is that this effect appears to continue into senior and elite competitiion - so opportunities missed because of a child's birthday can have lasting effects (or at least that's the implication as strictly we cannot conclude cause and effect from the data). The effect was more pronounced for males than females.

Here's an anecdotal example - Steven Gerrard of Liverpool Football Club and England - who overcame the effect:

Steven Gerrard, one of England's most talented
footballers, was born in May 1980 and was also a
late developer. He describes in his autobiography
his huge disappointment at not getting into the
FA school at Lilleshall and subsequently not
playing for England under-16s. Michael Owen,
born some six months earlier in December and
more physically developed made both squads
easily. Steve Gerrard wrote in his autobiography:
"The one nagging doubt in the back of my mind
was that my rivals were bigger: I was really small
and facing some tall, strong units in my position."
Steven resented his rejection but had coaches
and mentors at Liverpool who knew he needed
more time. Most children are not so lucky.out.

This is clearly an important issue for any Nation that wants to create a system that maximises the potentional of all of its athletes, in all sports. Have others come accross this as a problem, or seen examples where structures have been changed or coaches recognised the need to give younger atheletes more time?

Download the full report
Download the executive summary

Rob RobsonSport and Business Psychologist, Warwickshire