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The Relative Age Effect in the Two Professional Men's Football Leagues in Spain
José M Yagüe1, Alfonso Salguero1, Antonio Villegas2
1Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León - Universidad de León, León, Spain.
Journal of Sports Science & Medicine
|December 4, 2023
Summary
The Relative Age Effect is evident in Spanish professional football, impacting player selection. Players born earlier in the year are disproportionately represented, potentially skewing talent identification processes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Developmental Psychology
- Talent Identification
Background:
- Relative Age Effect (RAE) describes developmental disparities due to birth date within a cohort.
- RAE can influence physical, cognitive, and mental development in children.
- Understanding RAE is crucial for fair talent selection in sports.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the Relative Age Effect in Spanish professional football.
- To analyze birth date distribution across seasons, player positions, and team classifications.
- To assess the implications of RAE on talent selection in football.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of player birth dates (n=4097) across three seasons in LaLiga Santander and LaLiga Smartbank.
- Categorization of birth dates into four quartiles based on a January 1st cut-off.
- Statistical examination of birth date distribution by player position and final team ranking.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in birth date distribution were found across both leagues and seasons (p<0.05).
- RAE was more pronounced for goalkeepers and defenders.
- A decreasing percentage of players born in the last quartile (Q4) compared to the first (Q1) was observed.
Conclusions:
- The Relative Age Effect is present in Spanish professional football.
- Current talent selection may be biased towards players born earlier in the year.
- Football recruitment might prioritize short-term results, potentially overlooking late-developing talent.
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