@article{ref1,
title="The influence of age-policy changes on the relative age effect across the Australian Rules football talent pathway",
journal="Journal of science and medicine in sport",
year="2018",
author="Haycraft, Jade A. Z. and Kovalchik, Stephanie and Pyne, David B. and Larkin, Paul and Robertson, Sam",
volume="21",
number="10",
pages="1106-1111",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: To identify the influence of age-policy changes on the relative age effect (RAE) across the Australian Football League (AFL) talent pathway. <br><br>DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of junior AFL players attending the National Draft (National), State, and State Under 16s (U16) combines between 1999-2016. <br><br>METHODS: Birth-date data was obtained for players attending the AFL State U16 (n=663, age: 15.9±0.4years), State (n=803, age: 19.1±1.7years), National (n=1111, age: 18.3±0.8years) combines. Corresponding aged-matched Australian general population birth rate data was also collected. <br><br>RESULTS: A chi-squared analysis comparing birth month distributions found all combine groups differed significantly from the general population (Under 16s: χ<sup>2</sup>=62.61, State: χ<sup>2</sup>=38.83, National: χ<sup>2</sup>=129.13, p<0.001). Specifically, Under 16s had greater birth frequencies for months January to March (≥2%, p<0.05), with more State players born in January (4.9%, p<0.05). Age-policy changes at the National level reduced birth distribution bias for some months, however the RAE remained for March, June and July (3.9%, 6.1%, 4.3%, p<0.05). State U16s and National players had 2-9% lower birth frequencies for November-December births compared general population. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Selection bias exists towards older players is present at the AFL's State U16, and is maintained at State and National level combines. Age-policy changes are only partially successful at addressing the RAE at the National level, with alternative strategies also recommended in order to address the RAE across the AFL talent pathways.<br><br>Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1440-2440",
doi="10.1016/j.jsams.2018.03.008",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.03.008"
}