Sweeney, Liam and Lundberg, Tommy and Sweeney, Cian and Hickey, Jack and MacNamara, Áine
(2024)
Biological maturity but not relative age biases exist in female international youth soccer players relative to the general population.
Biology of Sport, 42 (2).
pp. 249-256.
ISSN 0860-021X
Abstract
This study investigated the extent to which biological maturity and relative age biases existed
and varied with chronological age in female international youth soccer players relative to the general population.
A total of 113 players (52 under-15 (U15), 32 under-16 (U16) and 29 under-17 (U17)) selected by the Football
Association of Ireland participated in this study. All players were assessed for height, body weight and relative
age. Biological maturity status and timing were assessed in U15 and U16 players only. Relative to population
norms, the results showed a significant but small bias in favour of more biologically mature players (P < 0.001,
d = 0.39) that increased with age from U15 (P = 0.007, d = 0.36) to U16 (P = 0.009, d = 0.44). U16 players
had achieved a significantly higher percentage of their predicted adult height than U15 players (T = 7.4,
P < 0.001). However, there were no relative age biases at any age group nor across the total sample (P > 0.05).
There was no significant difference in height, weight or relative age of the players between the three age
groups and no significant difference between the U15 and U16 age groups in terms of predicted adult height
or biological to chronological age offset. This study demonstrates that biological maturity but not relative age
biases exist in female international youth football relative to the general population, with notable differences
in pattern and magnitude compared to those previously observed in male international youth football.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Talent Identification;
Talent Development;
Female Sport;
Youth Soccer;
Relative Age Effect; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Sports Science and Nutrition |
| Item ID: |
19158 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.144411 |
| Depositing User: |
Liam Sweeney
|
| Date Deposited: |
06 Nov 2024 10:44 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Biology of Sport |
| Publisher: |
Termedia Publishing |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| 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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