Relative age effects in professional German soccer: A historical analysis

Relative age effects (RAEs) refer to the specific selection, participation and attainment (dis)advantages which occur as a result of physical and cognitive differences within annual age-grouped cohorts. The present study tracked the existence of RAEs in professional German soccer by examining RAEs i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of sports sciences 2008-12, Vol.26 (14), p.1531-1538
Main Authors: Cobley, Stephen P., Schorer, Joerg, Baker, Joseph
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Distribution
Biological and medical sciences
Chi-Square Distribution
coaches
Competitive Behavior
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Germany
Humans
Male
Professional Competence - statistics & numerical data
professional players
referees
Relative age effects
soccer
Soccer - classification
Soccer - statistics & numerical data
Task Performance and Analysis
Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
Young Adult
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Summary:Relative age effects (RAEs) refer to the specific selection, participation and attainment (dis)advantages which occur as a result of physical and cognitive differences within annual age-grouped cohorts. The present study tracked the existence of RAEs in professional German soccer by examining RAEs in players, head coaches and referees who represented professional soccer clubs or officiated in the Bundesliga from 1963/64 to 2006/07. An additional objective was to consider the social-cultural mechanisms responsible for RAEs, so for a similar period, population and soccer participation information was also obtained. When players were categorised into half decade groups, chi-square analyses predominantly showed RAEs across the history of the Bundesliga, irrespective of dates used for annual age grouping in junior/youth soccer. RAEs were also apparent for head coaches but not for referees. Participation data indicated consistent and progressive growth from 1950 to 1990. RAEs influence the likelihood of attaining professional player and coaching status in German soccer. With many coaches being former players, inequalities associated with annual age-grouping appear to extend beyond a playing career. Officiating was not affected, with referees suggested to emerge from an alternative development pathway. Increased popularity of soccer may have propagated RAEs over time, through intensification of competition and selection mechanisms.
ISSN:0264-0414
1466-447X
DOI:10.1080/02640410802298250