Relative age effect in Brazilian Basketball Championship: Under 15 players

Abstract

In sport, the relative age effect (RAE) refers to the advantages of participation and performance that athletes born in the first months of the selection year have in relation to those within the same age category. The aim of the present study was to investigate the RAE in athletes of the Brazilian Basketball Championship of the U-15 category in 2015, analyzing differences between sexes, geographic region, competitive level and performance of teams. The information of teams and the birth quarter (quartile) of 530 basketball players were obtained through the website of the Brazilian Basketball Confederation. The results showed greater representation of male athletes born in the first months of the year, the first and second divisions, of the Southeastern, Northern and Mid-Western regions and in female medalists. It was concluded that the RAE is present in Brazilian U-15 male basketball players, being higher in athletes of higher competitive level, particularly in the Southeastern, Northern and Mid-Western regions of Brazil. In addition, RAE proved to be associated with the winning of women’s medals.