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The relationship between the relative age effect and performance among athletes in World Handball Championships.

ABSTRACT: This study examines the relative age effect (RAE) and its impact on the performance of elite male (n = 3,358) and female (n = 3,273) handball players in the U-19 (n = 2,188), U-21 (n = 2,031), and senior (n = 2,412) categories of the 2013/2014, 2015/2016 and 2017/2018 World Handball Championships organised by the International Handball Federation (IHF). The distribution of the players´ birth dates (by quartile: Q, and semester: S) by categories, handball playing positions, and membership of continental federations, were analysed for each of the three two-year periods in which the World Handball Championships took place. Differences between the observed and expected birth dates were tested using a chi-square goodness of fit test, and subsequent calculations were tested using odds ratios. The Spearman's correlation coefficient was applied to test the correlation between the relative age of the athletes and (their) performance parameters. The results revealed a prevalence of the RAE on both male and female in the U-19 and U-21 categories (p<0.001), and a stabilisation of the RAE throughout the period analysed (2013/14-2017/2018). The RAE was not found in the female senior category (2013, 2015 and 2017) or male senior category (2013) (p>0.05). All playing positions were impacted by the RAE (p<0.001), and especially strong effect sizes were noted for male pivots (Vc = 0.66/0.68/0.60) and female center backs (Vc = 0.71/0.65/0.71). In our analysis of the handball continental federations, the RAE was found in all regions, except Oceania (p>0.05). The RAE also affected athlete performance: the oldest athletes played more minutes and achieved better performances. The RAE was associated with the final placement of the teams in each championship category, except in the male youth category. The findings clearly demonstrated that the RAE has a significant impact on the selection of male and female athletes to international competitions and the performance of both men and women in international handball. The potential implications of these findings for policy and practice are discussed.

SUBMITTER: Rubia A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7098603 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The relationship between the relative age effect and performance among athletes in World Handball Championships.

Rubia Alfonso de la A Bjørndal Christian Thue CT Sánchez-Molina Joaquín J Yagüe José María JM Calvo Jorge Lorenzo JL Maroto-Izquierdo Sergio S

PloS one 20200326 3

This study examines the relative age effect (RAE) and its impact on the performance of elite male (n = 3,358) and female (n = 3,273) handball players in the U-19 (n = 2,188), U-21 (n = 2,031), and senior (n = 2,412) categories of the 2013/2014, 2015/2016 and 2017/2018 World Handball Championships organised by the International Handball Federation (IHF). The distribution of the players´ birth dates (by quartile: Q, and semester: S) by categories, handball playing positions, and membership of cont ...[more]

PMID: 32214322

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Project description:The aims of the present study were (1) to determine the differences in body composition and the physical and physiological profile of handball youths across age categories, and (2) to analyze the mediation effect of different categories on the relationship between lean mass or fat mass and specific physical handball capacities. Fifty-four young handball players aged 13 to 18 were assigned to U14 (13- and 14-year-olds), U16 (15- and 16-year-olds), and U18 (17- and 18-year-olds). Body composition was measured using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance (Inbody®, 230). Handball physical fitness was assessed using handgrip force, jumping tests (squat jump, countermovement jump, countermovement jump with aimed arms), a 30-m sprint, a change-of-direction test (T-half agility test and modified Illinois test), and a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1. Simple mediation analysis was performed to analyze whether the category mediated the relationship between lean mass or fat mass and physical capacities. No significant differences were observed according to category for the majority of the measured parameters, except for height, lean body mass, and arm span. Lean body mass increased significantly as player category increased (p < 0.05; ? = 4.66-9.38; effect size (ES) = 0.96-1.92). The increase in handball category enhanced the majority of the physical capacities evaluated; however, these differences were reduced between the U16 vs. U18 categories. The indirect mediation effect suggests that handball category mediated the relationship between lean mass and upper and lower strength, velocity, agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness. In contrast, an indirect effect suggests that category mediated the relationship between fat mass only in agility and cardiorespiratory fitness. We conclude that U18s showed better body composition parameters, as well as better physical performance scores. Handball category clearly mediated the relationship between body composition through lean mass and fat mass and the physiological profile in handball youth, but lean mass proved to be more relevant when mediating physical performance.

Project description:Background:Olympic handball is a sport mainly focused on executing throwing and passing techniques with the throwing arm. Functional specialization due to the unilateral characteristic and dominance of the throwing arm may lead to adapted control of shoulder stability and mobility. Thus, we examined side differences between the throwing and the non-throwing arm. Additionally, correlations between the Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-UQ) and handball-specific performance measures were investigated. Methods:All participants (F?=?13?yrs., n?=?14, training experience [te] 5.9?±?1.3?yrs.; M?=?14?yrs., n?=?24, te 6.5?±?2.5?yrs.; M?=?15?yrs., n?=?18, te 9.3?±?2.2?yrs) were Olympic handball players of a regional youth selection team. YBT-UQ was executed assessing performance in medial, inferolateral and superolateral reach direction normalized to the upper limb length together with a composite score of the mean of all reach directions. A radar gun and a target net were used for the assessment of throwing velocity and throwing accuracy. The paired t-test was used to detect side differences in YBT-UQ performance. Pearson's correlation analysis was calculated for associations between YBT-UQ and throwing velocity/accuracy. Results:Significant differences between the throwing and non-throwing arm were only detected for the superolateral reach direction in the 14-year-old males. Small correlations between YBT-UQ performance and throwing velocity/accuracy (13-year-old females: -?0.01???r???-?0.37 / 0.01???r???0.31; 14-year-old males: 0.10???r???0.45 / -0.01???r???.-0.51; 15-year-old males: 0.06???r???0.34 / 0.01???r???-?0.45) were observed, irrespective of age and sex category. Conclusions:There was only a minimal difference in performance of the YBT-UQ between the throwing and non-throwing arm and only weak if any relationships between throwing performance and stability/mobility of the upper extremities in adolescent Olympic handball players existed. Further research is needed to investigate whether the YBT-UQ is a useful tool to detect training-related improvements in measures of shoulder stability/mobility and functional performance.

Project description:The policy of school organisation for grouping students in the same academic year is based on date of birth. The differences in the experiences and maturation of older students involve a relatively better performance in academic settings, which is known as the relative age effect (RAE). This effect is more important the younger the student is. The goal of this study is to identify the connections of influence that RAE, socioeconomic status (SES), and type of institution have on academic performance in a school population of eighth graders.The study is based on a population-based, representative sample of 15,234 8th graders (50.4% female; average age = 13.61 years) in the 2011 National System of Quality Assessment in Education Survey (SIMCE) from Chile. The SIMCE for global academic performance consists of 4 tests: reading, mathematics, social studies, and science. All tests consist of multiple-choice and closed questions. In addition, in order to have the information of general academic performance, an extra variable expressing the average score of each student was created. Also, the SIMCE includes additional variables for the evaluation process such as SES or type of school. Students were assigned to one of five age groups in terms of date of birth (G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5), in which students belonging to G1 are the oldest and students belonging to G5 are the youngest.The results achieved in the structural equation modelling indicate a good global fit. Individual relationships show significant effects of the three variables observed on academic performance, although SES received the highest values. The influence of RAE took place both in the full sample and sub-samples composed according to the SES and academic performance, showing higher values for students with lower scores. Although the influence of RAE decreases when SES is controlled, its effect is still significant and contributes to additionally explain the performance.The RAE remains, even with residual values, an explanatory factor in academic performance even in eighth graders. Since the RAE decreases as the influence of schooling increases, the potential adverse effects for some students would be placed in previous and initial moments of formal schooling. These findings may be useful into taking steps towards flexibilisation on age of entry in compulsory schooling. Moreover, the need to implement early, comprehensive evaluation systems which include aspects related to neurodevelopment in order to provide maximum information to parents and educators is also drawn.

Project description:ContextWhen playing handball, the preservation of the subacromial space, which can be quantified by the acromiohumeral distance (AHD), plays a crucial role for shoulder health of handball players. Acute effects of handball-specific loading on the subacromial space with consideration of individual adaptions resulting from long-term handball-specific loading experience have yet to be determined in order to prevent injuries such as e. g. an impingement of the supraspinatus tendon.ObjectiveTo (1) assess the acute effects of handball-specific loading on the AHD in healthy experienced handball players (HB) and non-handball experienced athletes (CG) and (2) to assess the AHD behavior in relation to individual intrinsic factors to identify possible risk factors and the effect of handball-specific experience associated adaptations.Participants20 HB (10m; 10f) and 20 CG (10m; 10f); 24 ± 5 years.InterventionHandball-specific loading protocol.Main outcome measuresThe AHD was measured by ultrasonography at 0° and 60° abduction pre and post intervention. Isometric shoulder strength was measured with hand-held dynamometry. Shoulder range of motion (ROM) was measured with goniometry.ResultsHandball-specific loading led to significantly reduced AHD in the dominant shoulder in the 60° abducted position in both groups (HB: -1.7 ± 2.0 mm; p = 0.001, d = 0.69; CG: -1.1 ± 2.0 mm; p = 0.024, d = 0.37) and in the non-dominant shoulder in 0° (-0.7 ± 1.5 mm; p = 0.038, d = 0.35) and 60° abducted position (-1.3 ± 1.8 mm; p = 0.004, d = 0.69) in HB only. Handball-specific loading enhanced AHD reduction when elevating the shoulder from 0° to 60° in both groups and arms. Larger shoulder abduction strength affected the maintenance of the AHD positively. HB demonstrated less shoulder strength compared to CG, while ROM did not differ.ConclusionsHandball-specific loading can affect the ability to preserve the subacromial space which might put handball players at risk for shoulder injuries. Poor shoulder strength can aggravate this mechanism. Therefore, implementation of strengthening exercises of the external rotator and abductor muscles in the training schedule may improve shoulder health of handball players.

Dataset Information

The relationship between the relative age effect and performance among athletes in World Handball Championships.

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The relationship between the relative age effect and performance among athletes in World Handball Championships.

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