title: Examining the relationship between relative age, competition level, and dropout rates in male youth ice-hockey players.
abstract: The relative age effect suggests that athletes born in the first two quartiles of a given selection year experience a selection advantage and therefore a greater opportunity for success. We describe two studies examining the relationship between relative age, competition level, and dropout rates of Ontario Minor Hockey Association male ice-hockey players from ages 10 to 15 years (n = 14 325). In Study 1, dropout was highest among players born in quartiles three and four [χ(2) (3) = 16.32, P < 0.05; w = 0.06], while Study 2 found dropped out players to have less movement between competition levels compared to retained players. This study confirms a relationship between relative age and dropout from ice-hockey and adds further depth to our understanding of this persistent phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lemez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wattie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D054874:Athletic Performance; D002648:Child; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D006688:Hockey / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario
keywords: biases; inequity; physical activity; skill acquisition; talent