The Impact of Relative Age Effect on Competition Performance in Youth Women's Basketball

Yasin Akıncı

Makale detayları

The Impact of Relative Age Effect on Competition Performance in Youth Women's Basketball

Yazarlar:

Yasin Akıncı

Yayıncı:

Pamukkale University

Ana Başlıklar:

Sociology of Sports | Sport and Exercise Psychology

Dergi:

Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences Vol.16 Issue 2, pp.468-489

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357499

pISSN:

1309-0356

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 The Relative Age Effect RAE has been widely examined in various sports, yet its impact on competition performance in youth womens basketball remains underexplored. This study investigates the presence and effects of RAE on the performance of female athletes in the Turkish Womens Basketball Championships across U14, U16, and U18 categories during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons. A retrospective survey model was employed, analysing birth quarter distributions and match statistics of 1,673 players obtained from the Turkish Basketball Federations official database. Players were categorized into quartiles Q1-Q4 based on their birth months, and their performance was assessed using the Player Efficiency Rating PER. Statistical analyses included Pearsons chi-square tests and Kruskal-Wallis H tests to examine RAEs impact on player selection and performance. Results indicated a significant overrepresentation of players born in the first quarter Q1 across all age categories, confirming the presence of RAE. In the U14 category, players born in Q1 were nearly four times more likely to be selected than those in Q4, with similar trends observed in the U16 and U18 categories. Moreover, Q1 players demonstrated higher efficiency ratings and greater playing time compared to their later-born counterparts. The findings suggest that RAE significantly causes talent selection and performance outcomes in youth womens basketball, potentially leading to long-term player development and progression disparities. Future research should explore interventions to mitigate these biases and promote equitable competition opportunities for all athletes.

 The Relative Age Effect RAE has been widely examined in various sports, yet its impact on competition performance in youth womens basketball remains underexplored. This study investigates the presence and effects of RAE on the performance of female athletes in the Turkish Womens Basketball Championships across U14, U16, and U18 categories during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons. A retrospective survey model was employed, analysing birth quarter distributions and match statistics of 1,673 players obtained from the Turkish Basketball Federations official database. Players were categorized into quartiles Q1-Q4 based on their birth months, and their performance was assessed using the Player Efficiency Rating PER. Statistical analyses included Pearsons chi-square tests and Kruskal-Wallis H tests to examine RAEs impact on player selection and performance. Results indicated a significant overrepresentation of players born in the first quarter Q1 across all age categories, confirming the presence of RAE. In the U14 category, players born in Q1 were nearly four times more likely to be selected than those in Q4, with similar trends observed in the U16 and U18 categories. Moreover, Q1 players demonstrated higher efficiency ratings and greater playing time compared to their later-born counterparts. The findings suggest that RAE significantly causes talent selection and performance outcomes in youth womens basketball, potentially leading to long-term player development and progression disparities. Future research should explore interventions to mitigate these biases and promote equitable competition opportunities for all athletes.

 The Relative Age Effect RAE has been widely examined in various sports, yet its impact on competition performance in youth womens basketball remains underexplored. This study investigates the presence and effects of RAE on the performance of female athletes in the Turkish Womens Basketball Championships across U14, U16, and U18 categories during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons. A retrospective survey model was employed, analysing birth quarter distributions and match statistics of 1,673 players obtained from the Turkish Basketball Federations official database. Players were categorized into quartiles Q1-Q4 based on their birth months, and their performance was assessed using the Player Efficiency Rating PER. Statistical analyses included Pearsons chi-square tests and Kruskal-Wallis H tests to examine RAEs impact on player selection and performance. Results indicated a significant overrepresentation of players born in the first quarter Q1 across all age categories, confirming the presence of RAE. In the U14 category, players born in Q1 were nearly four times more likely to be selected than those in Q4, with similar trends observed in the U16 and U18 categories. Moreover, Q1 players demonstrated higher efficiency ratings and greater playing time compared to their later-born counterparts. The findings suggest that RAE significantly causes talent selection and performance outcomes in youth womens basketball, potentially leading to long-term player development and progression disparities. Future research should explore interventions to mitigate these biases and promote equitable competition opportunities for all athletes.

 The Relative Age Effect RAE has been widely examined in various sports, yet its impact on competition performance in youth womens basketball remains underexplored. This study investigates the presence and effects of RAE on the performance of female athletes in the Turkish Womens Basketball Championships across U14, U16, and U18 categories during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons. A retrospective survey model was employed, analysing birth quarter distributions and match statistics of 1,673 players obtained from the Turkish Basketball Federations official database. Players were categorized into quartiles Q1-Q4 based on their birth months, and their performance was assessed using the Player Efficiency Rating PER. Statistical analyses included Pearsons chi-square tests and Kruskal-Wallis H tests to examine RAEs impact on player selection and performance. Results indicated a significant overrepresentation of players born in the first quarter Q1 across all age categories, confirming the presence of RAE. In the U14 category, players born in Q1 were nearly four times more likely to be selected than those in Q4, with similar trends observed in the U16 and U18 categories. Moreover, Q1 players demonstrated higher efficiency ratings and greater playing time compared to their later-born counterparts. The findings suggest that RAE significantly causes talent selection and performance outcomes in youth womens basketball, potentially leading to long-term player development and progression disparities. Future research should explore interventions to mitigate these biases and promote equitable competition opportunities for all athletes.

Makale detayları

The Impact of Relative Age Effect on Competition Performance in Youth Women's Basketball

Yazarlar:

Yasin Akıncı

Yayıncı:

Pamukkale University

Ana Başlıklar:

Sociology of Sports | Sport and Exercise Psychology

Dergi:

Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences Vol.16 Issue 2, pp.468-489

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357499

pISSN:

1309-0356

Birth quartile

Chronological age

Performance

Team sports

Youth sport

Sayı

Makale detayları

The Impact of Relative Age Effect on Competition Performance in Youth Women's Basketball

Yazarlar: Yasin Akıncı

Yayıncı: Pamukkale University

Ana Başlıklar: Sociology of Sports | Sport and Exercise Psychology

Dergi: Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences Vol.16 Issue 2, pp.468-489

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 8/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001357499

pISSN: 1309-0356

Birth quartile

Chronological age

Performance

Team sports

Youth sport

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Yasin Akıncı

Yayıncı:

Pamukkale University

Ana Başlıklar:

Sociology of Sports | Sport and Exercise Psychology

Dergi:

Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences Vol.16 Issue 2, pp.468-489

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357499

pISSN:

1309-0356