Initial identification & selection bias versus the eventual confirmation of talent: Evidence for the benefits of a rocky road?

McCarthy, N. and Collins, D. orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-7601-0454 (2014) Initial identification & selection bias versus the eventual confirmation of talent: Evidence for the benefits of a rocky road? Journal of Sports Sciences, 32 (17). pp. 1604-1610. ISSN 0264-0414

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Abstract

The relative age effect (RAE), whereby earlier birthdate children within a selection year are more commonly selected as talented, has been highlighted in the literature. As a consequence, these young athletes get into specialised training earlier and in greater numbers, leading (it is suggested) to a disproportionate opportunity for success. However, this disproportionality seems not to be manifest in senior teams. Accordingly, we examine the identification and conversion rates for academy rugby players, examining a sample of all players passing into and either graduating, or being dismissed from, a major English rugby academy. Data demonstrated a reversal of the RAE “benefit”, whereby late-birth players were less likely to be selected, but more likely to achieve senior professional status. Possible reasons are explored and, on the basis of our data, we propose a psychologically based explanation of greater “growth” due to additional challenge experienced by these initially disadvantaged younger players.


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