Examination of the Effects of Relative Age Effect on Physical and Motor Performance in 10-12 Year Old Judo Athletes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) on physical and motor performance parameters in 10–12 year old judo athletes. Seventy-nine judokas training in various clubs in Ankara participated in the study. The athletes were categorized by birth year (2012, 2013, 2014) and divided into four quarters according to birth month (Q1: January–March; Q2: April–June; Q3: July–September; Q4: October–December). Anthropometric measurements and motor performance tests including a 20 m sprint, countermovement jump, sit-and-reach flexibility, T-test for agility, plank, and sit-up tests were administered. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 27. Separate one-way ANOVA were conducted for each birth year. The results revealed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) among birth quarters in any physical or motor performance variables. These findings suggest that weight categories in judo may mitigate the RAE, and that in this age group, technical skill acquisition likely plays a more decisive role in performance than physical differences. In conclusion, the Relative Age Effect does not appear to exert a significant influence on the physical or motor performance of 10-12 year-old judo athletes.

Keywords

• Relative age effect
• Judo
• motor performance
• physical performance
• youth athletes

10-12 Yaş Grubu Judo Sporcularında Bağıl Yaş Etkisinin Fiziksel ve Motorik Performans Üzerine Etkisinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Bu araştırmanın amacı, 10-12 yaş grubu judo sporcularında bağıl yaş etkisinin fiziksel ve motorik performans parametreleri üzerindeki yansımalarını incelemektir. Çalışmaya Ankara'daki judo kulüplerinde aktif olarak spor yapan 79 judo sporcusu katılmıştır. Sporcular, doğum yıllarına (2012, 2013, 2014) ve doğdukları aylara göre dört farklı çeyreğe (Q1: Ocak-Mart, Q2: Nisan-Haziran, Q3: Temmuz-Eylül, Q4: Ekim-Aralık) ayrılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Katılımcıların fiziksel ve motorik özellikleri; antropometrik ölçümler, 20m sprint testi, dikey sıçrama testi, otur-uzan esneklik testi, T-test çeviklik testi, plank testi ve mekik testi ile belirlenmiştir. Verilerin analizinde SPSS 27 paket programı kullanılmış ve doğum yıllarına göre ayrı ayrı varyans analizi (ANOVA) yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçları, doğum yılı çeyrekliklerine göre tüm motorik performans parametrelerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark olmadığını göstermiştir (p > 0.05). Her üç doğum yılında da (2012, 2013, 2014) bağıl yaş etkisinin beklendiği şekilde fiziksel ve motorik performans üzerinde belirgin bir etkisi tespit edilmemiştir. Bu bulgular, judo sporunda sıklet kategorilerinin varlığının bağıl yaş etkisini azaltabileceğini ve bu yaş grubunda teknik beceri gelişiminin fiziksel performans farklılıklarından daha önemli olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Sonuç olarak, 10-12 yaş grubu judo sporcularında bağıl yaş etkisinin fiziksel ve motorik performans parametreleri üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi bulunmamaktadır.

Keywords

• Bağıl yaş etkisi
• Judo
• Motorik Performans
• Fiziksel Performans
• Çocuk Sporcular

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