Revisiting the Relative Age Effect From a Multidisciplinary Perspective in Youth Basketball: A Bayesian Analysis

Relative age effect (RAE) is considered to bias the selection of young athletes and a cause exclusion many participants. The goal study was unveil effects birth quarter on physical performances set psychological constructs in groups corresponding specialization years. A surveys with cross-sectional data collected from 2015 2019 youth basketball used. Three hundred twenty-seven Brazilian players (127 females, 100 males), mean 14.0 years, participated study. Counter-movement jump, line-drill, yoyo intermittent test, achievement goals, motivation for deliberate practice, enjoyment were measured. Bayesian multilevel regression performed. RAE observed but its advantages did not persist differentiate variables under scrutiny. only predictor athletic outcomes chronological age. initial advantage that triggered coaches' decision select individual disappears during Coaches must overcome superficial observation based actual performances, avoiding hasty decisions that, unlike RAE, last time cannot be reversed.