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Biological Maturity Status Strongly Intensifies the Relative Age Effect in Alpine Ski Racing

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  • Lisa Müller
  • Erich Müller
  • Carolin Hildebrandt
  • Christian Raschner

Abstract

The relative age effect (RAE) is a well-documented phenomenon in youth sports. This effect exists when the relative age quarter distribution of selected athletes shows a biased distribution with an over-representation of relatively older athletes. In alpine ski racing, it exists in all age categories (national youth levels up to World Cup). Studies so far could demonstrate that selected ski racers are relatively older, taller and heavier. It could be hypothesized that relatively younger athletes nearly only have a chance for selection if they are early maturing. However, surprisingly this influence of the biological maturity status on the RAE could not be proven, yet. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of the biological maturity status on the RAE in dependence of the level of competition. The study investigated 372 elite youth ski racers: 234 provincial ski racers (P-SR; high level of competition) and 137 national ski racers (N-SR; very high level of competition). Anthropometric characteristics were measured to calculate the age at peak height velocity (APHV) as an indicator of the biological maturity status. A significant RAE was present among both P-SR and N-SR, with a larger effect size among the latter group. The N-SR significantly differed in APHV from the P-SR. The distribution of normal, early and late maturing athletes significantly differed from the expected normal distribution among the N-SR, not among the P-SR. Hardly any late maturing N-SR were present; 41.7% of the male and 34% of the female N-SR of the last relative age quarter were early maturing. These findings clearly demonstrate the significant influence of the biological maturity status on the selection process of youth alpine ski racing in dependence of the level of competition. Relatively younger athletes seem to have a chance of selection only if they are early maturing.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Müller & Erich Müller & Carolin Hildebrandt & Christian Raschner, 2016. "Biological Maturity Status Strongly Intensifies the Relative Age Effect in Alpine Ski Racing," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(8), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0160969
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160969
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lisa Müller & Erich Müller & Carolin Hildebrandt & Elmar Kornexl & Christian Raschner, 2015. "Influential Factors on the Relative Age Effect in Alpine Ski Racing," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-15, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lisa Steidl-Müller & Carolin Hildebrandt & Erich Müller & Christian Raschner, 2020. "Relationship of Changes in Physical Fitness and Anthropometric Characteristics over One Season, Biological Maturity Status and Injury Risk in Elite Youth Ski Racers: A Prospective Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-10, January.
    2. Ruben Vist Hagen & Monika Haga & Hermundur Sigmundsson & Håvard Lorås, 2022. "The association between academic achievement in physical education and timing of biological maturity in adolescents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(3), pages 1-13, March.

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