Biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female international youth soccer players relative to the general population
This study investigated the extent to which biological maturity and relative age biases existed and varied with chronological age in female international youth soccer players relative to the general population. A total of 113 players (52 under-15 (U15), 32 under-16 (U16) and 29 under-17 (U17)) selec...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Termedia Publishing House
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Biology of Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://www.termedia.pl/Biological-maturity-but-not-relative-age-biases-exist-in-female-r-ninternational-youth-soccer-players-relative-to-the-general-r-npopulation,78,55027,1,1.html |
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| _version_ | 1849322139293843456 |
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| author | Liam Sweeney Tommy R Lundberg Cian Sweeney Jack Hickey Áine MacNamara |
| author_facet | Liam Sweeney Tommy R Lundberg Cian Sweeney Jack Hickey Áine MacNamara |
| author_sort | Liam Sweeney |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigated the extent to which biological maturity and relative age biases existed and varied with chronological age in female international youth soccer players relative to the general population. A total of 113 players (52 under-15 (U15), 32 under-16 (U16) and 29 under-17 (U17)) selected by the Football Association of Ireland participated in this study. All players were assessed for height, body weight and relative age. Biological maturity status and timing were assessed in U15 and U16 players only. Relative to population norms, the results showed a significant but small bias in favour of more biologically mature players ( P < 0.001, d = 0.39) that increased with age from U15 ( P = 0.007, d = 0.36) to U16 ( P = 0.009, d = 0.44). U16 players had achieved a significantly higher percentage of their predicted adult height than U15 players ( T = 7.4, P < 0.001). However, there were no relative age biases at any age group nor across the total sample ( P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in height, weight or relative age of the players between the three age groups and no significant difference between the U15 and U16 age groups in terms of predicted adult height or biological to chronological age offset. This study demonstrates that biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female international youth football relative to the general population, with notable differences in pattern and magnitude compared to those previously observed in male international youth football. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7dbfdcc45cef4a169cc2f57ffac747eb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0860-021X 2083-1862 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Termedia Publishing House |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology of Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-7dbfdcc45cef4a169cc2f57ffac747eb2025-08-20T03:49:32ZengTermedia Publishing HouseBiology of Sport0860-021X2083-18622024-11-0142224925610.5114/biolsport.2025.14441155027Biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female international youth soccer players relative to the general populationLiam SweeneyTommy R LundbergCian SweeneyJack HickeyÁine MacNamaraThis study investigated the extent to which biological maturity and relative age biases existed and varied with chronological age in female international youth soccer players relative to the general population. A total of 113 players (52 under-15 (U15), 32 under-16 (U16) and 29 under-17 (U17)) selected by the Football Association of Ireland participated in this study. All players were assessed for height, body weight and relative age. Biological maturity status and timing were assessed in U15 and U16 players only. Relative to population norms, the results showed a significant but small bias in favour of more biologically mature players ( P < 0.001, d = 0.39) that increased with age from U15 ( P = 0.007, d = 0.36) to U16 ( P = 0.009, d = 0.44). U16 players had achieved a significantly higher percentage of their predicted adult height than U15 players ( T = 7.4, P < 0.001). However, there were no relative age biases at any age group nor across the total sample ( P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in height, weight or relative age of the players between the three age groups and no significant difference between the U15 and U16 age groups in terms of predicted adult height or biological to chronological age offset. This study demonstrates that biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female international youth football relative to the general population, with notable differences in pattern and magnitude compared to those previously observed in male international youth football.https://www.termedia.pl/Biological-maturity-but-not-relative-age-biases-exist-in-female-r-ninternational-youth-soccer-players-relative-to-the-general-r-npopulation,78,55027,1,1.htmltalent identification talent development female sport youth soccer relative age effect |
| spellingShingle | Liam Sweeney Tommy R Lundberg Cian Sweeney Jack Hickey Áine MacNamara Biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female international youth soccer players relative to the general population Biology of Sport talent identification talent development female sport youth soccer relative age effect |
| title | Biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female
international youth soccer players relative to the general
population |
| title_full | Biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female
international youth soccer players relative to the general
population |
| title_fullStr | Biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female
international youth soccer players relative to the general
population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female
international youth soccer players relative to the general
population |
| title_short | Biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female
international youth soccer players relative to the general
population |
| title_sort | biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female international youth soccer players relative to the general population |
| topic | talent identification talent development female sport youth soccer relative age effect |
| url | https://www.termedia.pl/Biological-maturity-but-not-relative-age-biases-exist-in-female-r-ninternational-youth-soccer-players-relative-to-the-general-r-npopulation,78,55027,1,1.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT liamsweeney biologicalmaturitybutnotrelativeagebiasesexistinfemaleinternationalyouthsoccerplayersrelativetothegeneralpopulation AT tommyrlundberg biologicalmaturitybutnotrelativeagebiasesexistinfemaleinternationalyouthsoccerplayersrelativetothegeneralpopulation AT ciansweeney biologicalmaturitybutnotrelativeagebiasesexistinfemaleinternationalyouthsoccerplayersrelativetothegeneralpopulation AT jackhickey biologicalmaturitybutnotrelativeagebiasesexistinfemaleinternationalyouthsoccerplayersrelativetothegeneralpopulation AT ainemacnamara biologicalmaturitybutnotrelativeagebiasesexistinfemaleinternationalyouthsoccerplayersrelativetothegeneralpopulation |