Sportsmen and women born in the summer overlooked
Published on: 3rd November 2011
Following a report published today suggesting that children born in the summer have an academic disadvantage, a Leeds Metropolitan University researcher explains the impact of an August birth on sporting success.
Kevin Till from the Carnegie Faculty at Leeds Metropolitan University undertook a study which discovered that maturity can be inadvertently confused with ability when sports teams are being selected.
Kevin Till, who is also the strength and conditioning coach at rugby league side Castleford Tigers, undertook a study into the Rugby Football League’s former talent identification and development programme, the Player Performance Pathway.
Kevin’s found that that many players born late in the academic year were being overlooked in favour of those born earlier in the academic year. For example, a player born in September who is the oldest in the year would still be grouped in the same team as a player born in August, 11 months later. This difference in age is termed ‘relative age’ with the consequences associated with these age differences known as the ‘relative age effect’ (RAE). This can lead to differences in size, weight, performance and coordination. Findings show that more junior players play rugby league if they are born nearer the selection cut-off date of September, with this age discretion being most notable in the selection of players to the representative levels.
His second key finding was that the timing of maturation in children, which can occur at any time between the age of 12 and 16, can have a significant effect on selection to representative squads. A player who matures early may be selected in favour of one who matures at a later age. It is therefore important that talent should not be confused for advanced maturation, says Kevin.
If you would like to arrange an interview with Kevin Till please call me on 0113 8123021 or email m.dorey@leedsmet.ac.uk
