Sweeney, Liam and Taylor, Jamie and MacNamara, Áine (2023) Push and Pull Factors: Contextualising Biological Maturation and Relative Age in Talent Development Systems. Children, 10 (1). p. 130. ISSN 2227-9067

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Abstract

In this conceptual paper, we contextualise ongoing attempts to manage challenge dynamics in talent systems in sport. Firstly, we review the broad literature base related to biological maturation, relative age, and the proposed interventions to mitigate effects. We suggest that the relative age effect may be a population level effect, indicative of deeper phenomena, rather than having a direct effect on challenge levels. In contrast, we suggest that biological maturation has a direct effect on challenge at the individual level. Therefore, our main critique of many existing approaches to the management of challenge is a lack of individual nuance and flexibility. We suggest the necessity for talent systems to adopt a more holistic approach, conceptualising biological maturation and relative age within a broader field of "push and pull factors" that impact challenge dynamics in talent development in sport. Finally, we provide practical guidance for talent systems in their approach to relative age and biological maturation, recognising that there is no "gold standard". Instead, there is a need to recognize the highly individual and contextual nature of these concepts, focusing on strategic coherence through talent systems for the management of selection and development processes.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	bio-banding; challenge; relative age effect; sport performance; talent development; talent development systems; talent identification;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Sports Science and Nutrition
Item ID:	17947
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.3390/children10010130
Depositing User:	Liam Sweeney
Date Deposited:	13 Dec 2023 15:05
Journal or Publication Title:	Children
Publisher:	MDPI
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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