title: Relative age and dropout in French male soccer.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the birthdates distribution of French male soccer players (n = 363,590) who dropped out during or after the 2006-2007 season, to determine whether the relative age effect is linked to dropout behaviour. An over-representation of players born late in the competitive year was observed among dropouts, from the U-9 to the U-18 age categories, whereas their counterparts born earlier in the year were under-represented. The distortion of the distribution was most marked for the extreme quarters of the competitive year, and in the U-13 and U-15 categories. This biased distribution was not confirmed for the U-7 category. Finally, regarding the adult category, an unbiased distribution of dropouts was observed as hypothesized. Practical implications to avoid the negative consequences of the relative age effect are advanced.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Sport et Environnement Social (SENS), Universite J. Fourier Grenoble 1, 38041 Grenoble cedex 9, France. nicolas.delorme@ujf-grenoble.fr
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Delorme
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boiche
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raspaud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001519:Behavior; D002648:Child; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012916:Soccer / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult