Testing the application of corrective adjustment procedures for removal of relative age effects in female youth swimming

Abbott, Shaun; Moulds, Kylie; Salter, James; Romann, Michael; Edwards, Lucy; Cobley, Stephen (2020). Testing the application of corrective adjustment procedures for removal of relative age effects in female youth swimming Journal of Sports Sciences, 38(10), pp. 1077-1084. Taylor & Francis 10.1080/02640414.2020.1741956

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The purpose of this study was (1) accurately estimate longitudinal relationships between decimal age (i.e., chronological and relative) and performance in Australian female 100 m (N = 765) and 200 m (N = 428) Breaststroke swimmers (10-18 years); and (2) determine whether corrective adjustment procedures could remove Relative Age Effects (RAEs) in an independent sample of age-matched 100 m (N = 2,491) and 200 m (N = 1,698) state/national level Breaststroke swimmers. In Part 1, growth curve modelling quantified longitudinal relationships between decimal age and swimming performance. In Part 2, relative age distributions (Quartile 1-4) for "All", "Top 25%" and "10%" of swimming times were examined based on raw and correctively adjusted swim times for age-groups. Based on raw swim times, finding identified RAE effect sizes increased in magnitude (small-medium) with selection level ("All"-"Top 25%") in 12-14 years age-groups for both events. However, when correctively adjusted swim performances were examined, RAEs were primarily absent across all age-groups and selection levels. Using longitudinal reference data, corrective adjustment procedures removed relative age advantages in female youth Breaststroke performance. Removing the influence of relative age-related differences is predicted to improve the accuracy of identifying genuinely skilled youth swimmers.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	Swiss Federal Institute of Sports Magglingen SFISM > EHSM - Leistungssport > Trainingswissenschaft
Name:	Abbott, Shaun; Moulds, Kylie; Salter, James; Romann, Michael0000-0003-4139-2955; Edwards, Lucy and Cobley, Stephen
ISSN:	0264-0414
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Language:	English
Submitter:	Service Account
Date Deposited:	16 Mar 2021 14:37
Last Modified:	11 Jul 2023 11:42
Publisher DOI:	10.1080/02640414.2020.1741956
Related URLs:	Publication
PubMed ID:	32202222
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Athlete development Swimming Talent identification Youth competition Relative age effect
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.14411
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/14411