Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics

Gülhan Erdem Subak; Ahmet Atlı

EN TR

Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the presence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) among amateur football players in Iğdır province and to evaluate its distribution across birth months and quarterly periods.

Method: The study was conducted using a cross-sectional design. A total of 311 licensed football players competing in the 2024–2025 amateur league season were included. Data were obtained from the official website of the Turkish Football Federation, and players’ birthdates were categorized by months and quarterly periods. The presence of RAE was analyzed using chi-square tests.

Results: The results indicated no statistically significant differences in the distribution of birth months (χ²=17.09, p=0.105). Similarly, no significant differences were found across birth quarters (χ²=0.936, p=0.817). These findings suggest that there is no systematic advantage based on birthdate among amateur football players.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that the Relative Age Effect is not evident at the amateur football level. This may reflect the reduced influence of selection bias observed in elite contexts and suggest that athlete selection processes at the amateur level are shaped by less competitive dynamics.

Keywords

Amatör Futbolda Bağıl Yaş Etkisi: Iğdır İli Örneği ve Elit Dışı Seçim Dinamiklerinin Rolü

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Iğdır ili amatör futbolcuları arasında bağıl yaş etkisinin (Relative Age Effect, RAE) varlığını incelemek ve bu etkinin doğum ayları ile çeyrek dilimlere göre dağılımını değerlendirmektir.

Yöntem: Araştırma, kesitsel bir tasarım ile yürütülmüştür. Çalışmaya, 2024–2025 sezonunda Iğdır Amatör Liglerinde mücadele eden 311 lisanslı futbolcu dâhil edilmiştir. Veriler, Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu’nun resmi web sitesinden elde edilmiş ve sporcuların doğum tarihleri ay ve çeyrek dilimlere göre sınıflandırılmıştır. Bağıl yaş etkisinin varlığı Ki-kare testi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir.

Bulgular: Analiz sonuçları, futbolcuların doğum aylarına göre dağılımlarında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık olmadığını göstermiştir (χ²=17.09, p=0.105). Benzer şekilde, doğum çeyreklerine göre yapılan analizde de anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır (χ²=0.936, p=0.817). Bu bulgular, amatör futbolcular arasında doğum tarihine bağlı sistematik bir avantajın bulunmadığını ortaya koymaktadır.

Sonuç: Elde edilen sonuçlar, bağıl yaş etkisinin amatör futbol düzeyinde belirgin olmadığını göstermektedir. Bu durum, elit düzeyde gözlemlenen seçilim yanlılığının amatör seviyede zayıfladığını ve sporcu seçim süreçlerinin daha az rekabetçi dinamiklerle şekillendiğini düşündürmektedir.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Sports Science and Exercise (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gülhan Erdem Subak
0000-0003-1698-262X
Türkiye

Ahmet Atlı ^*
0000-0002-7516-2675
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 13, 2026

Submission Date

April 2, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 5, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 2026

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA74ZY74WF

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Subak, G. E., & Atlı, A. (2026). Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics. 9(2026), 499-510. https://izlik.org/JA74ZY74WF

AMA

1.Subak GE, Atlı A. Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics. 2026;9(2026):499-510. https://izlik.org/JA74ZY74WF

Chicago

Subak, Gülhan Erdem, and Ahmet Atlı. 2026. Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics. 9 (2026): 499-510. https://izlik.org/JA74ZY74WF.

EndNote

Subak GE, Atlı A (July 1, 2026) Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics. 9 2026 499–510.

IEEE

[1]G. E. Subak and A. Atlı, “Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics”, vol. 9, no. 2026, pp. 499–510, July 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA74ZY74WF

ISNAD

Subak, Gülhan Erdem - Atlı, Ahmet. “Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics” 9/2026 (July 1, 2026): 499-510. https://izlik.org/JA74ZY74WF.

JAMA

1.Subak GE, Atlı A. Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics. 2026;9:499–510.

MLA

Subak, Gülhan Erdem, and Ahmet Atlı. Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics. no. 2026, July 2026, pp. 499-10, https://izlik.org/JA74ZY74WF.

Vancouver

1.Gülhan Erdem Subak, Ahmet Atlı. Relative Age Effect In Amateur Football: Evidence From Iğdır Province And The Role Of Non-Elite Selection Dynamics [Internet]. Vols. 9. 2026 Jul. 1;9(2026):499-510. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA74ZY74WF

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Editör

Gökmen ÖZEN

Sports Science and Exercise, Sports Training, Exercise Physiology, Physical Activity and Health

MA

Mahmut ACAK

Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Physical Training, Sports and Physical Activity For Disabled, Physical Activity and Health, Movement Education in Sports Science

HK

Hürmüz KOÇ

Sports Science and Exercise

Yayın Danışma Kurlu

Zarife PANCAR

Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, Physical Activity and Health, Movement Education in Sports Science, Sports Nutrition

BB

Barış BAYDEMIR

Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Health Sciences, Sports Science and Exercise, Movement Education in Sports Science

Ahmet YAPAR

Sports Training, Physical Training and Sports Pedagogy

Abdulmenaf KORKUTATA

Sports Science and Exercise, Sports and Recreation, Tourism

GP

Guilherme PINHEIRO

Sports Science and Exercise (Other)

CÖ

Can ÖZGIDER

Sociology of Sports, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Sports Science and Exercise, Physical Activity and Health, Sports Activity Management

Emrah AYKORA

Sports Science and Exercise, Sports Training

Cevdet CENGIZ

Sport and Exercise Psychology, Physical Training and Sports Pedagogy, Physical Activity and Health, Exercise and Sports Psychology

Derya SAKALLI

Sports Science and Exercise, Physical Training and Sports Pedagogy

Gülşah ŞAHIN

Sports Science and Exercise

Gökmen ÖZEN

Sports Science and Exercise, Sports Training, Exercise Physiology, Physical Activity and Health

Esra KÜRKCÜ AKGÖNÜL

Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Sports Training, Physical Training and Sports, Exercise Physiology, Physical Fitness

HA

Hasan ABANOZ

Sports Training

GE

Günay ESKICI

Physical Activity and Health, Sports Nutrition

Erdal DEMIR

Physical Training and Sports Pedagogy, Exercise and Sports Psychology

Mustafa Deniz DINDAR

Sports Science and Exercise, Sports and Recreation, Sport and Leisure Management

GM

Godefroid Kusuayi MABELE

Cardiology, Health Sciences

Sinan UĞRAŞ

Physical Training and Sports Pedagogy

Hatice BAYGUT

Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutritional Science, Sports Nutrition

ÖB

Özhan BAVLI

Sports Science and Exercise, Sports Training, Physical Activity and Health

Jasmina PLUNCEVIC GLIGOROSKA

Medical Physiology, Physical Activity and Health, Public Health

Dr Mwebaze NICHOLAS

Exercise Physiology

İlhan ADILOĞULLARI

Sport and Exercise Psychology, Sports Science and Exercise, Exercise and Sports Psychology

MA

Mahmut ACAK

Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Physical Training, Sports and Physical Activity For Disabled, Physical Activity and Health, Movement Education in Sports Science

AC

Ali COŞKUN

Physical Training and Sports, Physical Activity and Health, Physical Fitness