title: The Role of a Relative Age Effect in the 12th Winter European Youth Olympic Festival in 2015.
abstract: The aim of this study was to define the role of the relative age effect in the 12th Winter European Youth Olympic Festival 2015. The birth dates of all 899 participants and anthropometric data of 655 participants were analyzed. A significant relative age effect was present in the total sample and among the male athletes but not in the female athletes. Additionally, a significant relative age effect was present in strength- and endurance-related sports but not in technique-related sports. Statistically significantly more older athletes won medals. Relative age had a strong influence on participation in strength- and endurance-related sports as well as on performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria lisa.mueller@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnitzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raschner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports
keywords: European Youth Olympic Festival; ethics; relative age effect; talent development; winter sport