Interacting Constraints and Relative Age Effect in Elite Cross-Country Skiers and Freeskiers
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Published:2022-02-10
Issue:
Volume:81
Page:259-268
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ISSN:1640-5544
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Container-title:Journal of Human Kinetics
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language:
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Short-container-title:Journal of Human Kinetics
Author:
Roaas Truls,Lorås Håvard,Aune Tore,Flakken Boye,Dalen Terje
Abstract
Different characteristics of sports disciplines potentially lead to skewness in birth month distribution (relative age effect, RAE). These characteristics can be considered from a constraint-based approach with interacting environmental, task, and individual constraints as a theoretical framework with which to examine variations in RAE. The main aim of the present study was to examine the theoretical predictions of the constraint-based framework by investigating the birth month distribution in cross-country skiers and freeskiers at elite junior and senior levels. The sample was comprised of top ranked Norwegian U15–U19/20 cross-country skiers and junior-level freeskiers. Birth months of top ranked international senior-level skiers in cross-country and freeskiing were also collected. Results indicated an over-representation of skiers born in the first half versus the second half of the year at all junior ages in cross-country skiing. There was no significant difference in the distribution of birth months in freeskiing or in senior cross-country skiers or freeskiers. Based upon the interacting constraint framework, the skewness towards more early-born athletes in junior cross-country skiing could be due to strict age-grouped and results-oriented developmental programs beginning at an early age (environmental constraints) as well as high-demand for physical capabilities (task constraints) that favour more physically mature athletes (individual constraints). For freeskiing, the interacting environmental (less structured and more individualistic-oriented development), task (high technical/motor skill demands), and individual (no advantage of advanced physical maturation) constraints potentially operate in the opposite direction compared to cross-country skiing.
Publisher
Termedia Sp. z.o.o.
Subject
Physiology (medical),Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
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Cited by
3 articles.
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