@article{ref1,
title="Effects of relative age on physical and physiological performance characteristics in youth soccer",
journal="Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness",
year="2011",
author="Bliss, A. and Brickley, G.",
volume="51",
number="4",
pages="571-575",
abstract="AIM: In youth sport, birth-date positioning of performers has significant implications for future success. This phenomenon is particularly evident in soccer and is identified as the &quot;Relative Age Effect&quot; (RAE). To date, limited work has been conducted into the RAE from a laboratory setting. METHODS: Subjects completed a modified cycling intermittent sprint protocol (mCISP) of 15, 6 s sprints against a resistance of 7.5%·body mass, interspersed with 120 s active recovery. Nineteen (male) athletes (mean±SD) age 14.2±0.7 y; height 164±7.9 cm and body mass 54±8.7 kg participated and were separated into six-month groups, Early-Born (EB) or Late-Born (LB) based on birth-month. Ethical approval was granted by the University Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) were found between EB and LB peak power outputs (PPO) and mean power outputs (MPO) (absolute and relative to body mass). EB subjects had significantly higher inter-sprint MPOs and PPOs for 15 and 13 sprints respectively. Borderline significance was observed for height and fat free mass (P=0.11). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests EB individuals are often more physically and physiologically mature than LB counterparts.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4707",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}