Relative age effect and selection of young basketball players

Abstract

Purpose of the present study was to examine whether influence of relative age effect (RAE) exists or not in the selected 13 year old basketball players. Subjects were 20 basketball players (HT=177.35cm±6.73, BW=61.42kg±8.98, average age 13 years and 7 months ±.28, average experience in basketball training 4 years and 6 months ±1.15). Sample was divided in two groups: 11 players born in first half of the year and 9 players born in the second half of the year. One-way ANOVA was used in order to analyze the differences between the two groups of players in set of anthropometric variables (body height, arm span, standing reach height, body weight and percentage of body fat), motor variables (velocity of neuromuscular reaction time, vertical jump, 5 meters sprint, 10 meters sprint, 20 meters sprint, T-test, Zig-zag test, ball throw from sitting position, Sit-ups for 30 seconds and standing forward bend) and one functional variable (20-M shuttle run test). Subjects do not differ in applied set of parameters, except in on variable (sit-ups for 30 seconds, p=.040). It was concluded that RAE does not exist in this sample of examinees.

Keywords

• basketball coaches
• puberty
• physical characteristics