The relative age effect on physical fitness in preschool children

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Sports Science
• Pediatrics

Background:

• The relative age effect (RAE) is well-documented in sports, influencing performance based on birth date.
• Previous research has primarily focused on older age groups, leaving a gap in understanding RAE in early childhood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the existence and impact of the relative age effect on physical fitness in preschoolers.
• To determine if birth quarter influences anthropometric and physical fitness measures in children aged 3-5 years.

Main Methods:

• Assessed anthropometry and physical fitness in 3147 preschoolers (3-5 years) using the PREFIT battery.
• Categorized participants into birth year groups and then into four birth quarters within each year.
• Employed multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) to analyze the effects of year group and birth quarter on fitness outcomes.

Main Results:

• A significant main effect of both year group and birth quarter was found across the physical fitness battery.
• Children born in earlier quarters (Quarter 1) generally demonstrated superior physical fitness compared to those born in later quarters.
• This study provides the first evidence of a relative age effect in the preschool population.

Conclusions:

• The relative age effect is present in preschoolers' physical fitness, affecting performance based on birth date.
• Relative age influences physical development even at the earliest stages of childhood.
• Individualization of training and educational strategies within the academic year is crucial for preschoolers, not just older students.