Halterde Bağıl Yaş Etkisi: Sporcuların Yaş Kategorileri ve Performansları Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, sporcuların doğum aylarının dağılımını analiz ederek halterdeki Bağıl Yaş Etkisini (BYE) incelemektir. 2018-2023 yılları arasında (2020 hariç) Avrupa Halter Şampiyonası'nda U15, Gençler, Yıldızlar ve U23 kategorilerinde yarışan 3519 erkek ve kadın sporcunun doğum tarihleri ve performanslarına ilişkin veriler, Avrupa Halter Federasyonu'nun resmi kayıtlarından elde edilmiştir. Doğum ayına göre gözlenen ve beklenen dağılımlar Pearson ki-kare (χ²) testi kullanılarak karşılaştırılırken, doğum ayının kaldırılan toplam ağırlık ve madalya kazanımı üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmek için tek yönlü ANOVA ve Welch ANOVA kullanıldı. Sonuçlar, yılın ilk çeyreğinde doğan sporcuların belirgin bir şekilde fazla temsil edilmesiyle, BYE'nin varlığına işaret ederek, eşit bir dağılımdan önemli sapmalar olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Bu örüntü özellikle U15 ve Gençler kategorilerinde belirgindi. Analizler ayrıca doğum ayının belirli yaş ve ağırlık kategorilerinde kaldırılan toplam ağırlık üzerinde önemli bir etkisi olduğunu göstermiştir; ancak doğum ayının madalya kazanımına anlamlı bir etkisi bulunmamıştır. Bu bulgular, halter sporunda yılın ilk aylarında doğan sporcuların, erken gelişim avantajları sayesinde temsil ve performans açısından akranlarına kıyasla belirli üstünlükler elde edebileceğini göstermektedir. Ancak bu durum, atletik başarıyı tek başına belirlemekten öte, yetenek havuzunun haksız bir şekilde daralmasına yol açarak uzun vadeli gelişimi olumsuz yönde etkileyebilmektedir. Ayrıca, antrenman süresi, kümülatif deneyim ve bireysel gelişim yörüngeleri gibi etmenler de performans sonuçlarının şekillenmesinde belirleyici rol oynamaktadır. Genel olarak bu çalışma, halterde yetenek belirleme ve sporcu geliştirme programları geliştirilirken bağıl yaşın etkisinin göz önünde bulundurulması gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bağıl yaş etkisi (BYE)
• Doğum Ayı
• Gençler
• Halter
• Performans

Relative Age Effect in Weightlifting: An Evaluation on Athletes’ Age Categories and Performance

Öz

This aim of this study is to examine the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in weightlifting by analysing the distribution of athletes' birth months. Data on birth dates and performance were collected for 3519 male and female athletes competing in the U15, Youth, Junior, and U23 categories at the European Weightlifting Championships between 2018 and 2023 (excluding 2020), sourced from the European Weightlifting Federation’s official records. Observed and expected distributions according to birth month were compared using the Pearson chi-square (χ²) test, while one-way ANOVA and Welch ANOVA were employed to assess the effects of birth month on total weight lifted and medal acquisition. The results revealed significant deviations from an even distribution, with a marked overrepresentation of athletes born in the first quarter of the year, indicating the presence of RAE. This pattern was particularly pronounced in the U15 and Junior categories. Analyses further demonstrated that birth month had a significant effect on total weight lifted in specific age and weight categories; however, no significant effect was found between birth month and medal attainment. These findings may indicate that weightlifters born in the earlier months of the year gain certain advantages in terms of representation and performance compared to their peers, primarily due to early developmental benefits. However, this situation does not singularly determine athletic success; rather, it can unjustly narrow the talent pool and potentially hinder long-term development. Furthermore, factors such as training duration, cumulative experience, and individual developmental trajectories also play a decisive role in shaping performance outcomes. Overall, the study highlights the need to consider the impact of relative age when developing talent identification and athlete development programmes within weightlifting.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Relative age effect (RAE)
• Birth month
• Youth
• Weightlifting
• Performance

Kaynakça

1. Arrieta, H., Torres-Unda, J., Gil, S. M., and Irazusta, J. (2016). Relative age effect and performance in the U16, U18 and U20 European Basketball Championships. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(16), 1530–1534. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1122204
2. Ashworth, J., and Heyndels, B. (2007). Selection bias and peer effects in team sports: The Effect of age grouping on earnings of German soccer players. Journal of Sports Economics, 8(4), 355–377. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527002506287695
3. Balyi, I., Way, R., and Higgs, C. (2013). Long-term athlete development. Human Kinetics.
4. Barnsley, R. H., Thompson, A. H., and Barnsley, P. E. (1985). Hockey success and birthdate: The relative age effect. Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, 51(1), 23–28.
5. Brazo-Sayavera, J., Martínez-Valencia, M. A., Müller, L., Andronikos, G., and Martindale, R. J. (2018). Relative age effects in international age group championships: A study of Spanish track and field athletes. PloS One, 13(4), e0196386. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196386
6. Bryson, A., Gomez, R., and Zhang, T. (2017). All-Star or benchwarmer? Relative age, cohort size and career success in the NHL. In B. Frick (Ed.), Breaking the Ice (Vol. 16, pp. 57–91). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67922-8_4
7. Cobley, S., Baker, J., Wattie, N., and McKenna, J. (2009). Annual age-grouping and athlete development: A meta-analytical review of relative age effects in sport. Sports Medicine, 39(3), 235–256. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200939030-00005
8. Coelho E Silva, M. J., Figueiredo, A. J., Moreira Carvalho, H., and Malina, R. M. (2008). Functional capacities and sport‐specific skills of 14‐ to 15‐year‐old male basketball players: Size and maturity effects. European Journal of Sport Science, 8(5), 277–285. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461390802117177

9. Creswell, J. W., and Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
10. Cumming, S. P., Searle, C., Hemsley, J. K., Haswell, F., Edwards, H., Scott, S., Gross, A., Ryan, D., Lewis, J., and White, P. (2018). Biological maturation, relative age and self-regulation in male professional academy soccer players: A test of the underdog hypothesis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 39, 147–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.08.007
11. Côté, J., and Fraser-Thomas, J. (2007). Youth involvement in sport. Sport psychology: A Canadian perspective. Toronto: Pearson, 270-298.
12. de Subijana, C. L., and Lorenzo, J. (2018). Relative age effect and long-term success in the Spanish soccer and basketball nati onal teams. Journal of Human Kinetics, 65, 197-204. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2018-0027
13. Delorme, N., and Raspaud, M. (2009a). Is there an influence of relative age on participation in non-physical sports activities? The example of shooting sports. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27(10), 1035–1042. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410902926438
14. Delorme, N., and Raspaud, M. (2009b). The relative age effect in young French basketball players: A study on the whole population. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 19(2), 235–242. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00781.x
15. Delorme, N., Chalabaev, A., and Raspaud, M. (2011). Relative age is associated with sport dropout: Evidence from youth categories of French basketball. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 21(1), 120–128. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.01060.x
16. Delorme, N. (2014). Do weight categories prevent athletes from relative age effect? Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(1), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2013.809470
17. Erdağı, K., and Işık, B. (2023). The study of relative age effects on weightlifting athletes in U15 and youth age groups. Turkish Journal of Kinesiology, 9(1), 7–15.
18. European Weightlifting Federation. (n.d.). — European Championships Results, Retrieved 23 July 2024, from https://ewf.sport/european-championships-results/
19. Fukuda, D. H., Lopes-Silva, J. P., Takito, M. Y., and Franchini, E. (2023). Relative age effect in judo competitions: Influence of age, weight category, sex, and time frames. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 130(3), 1168–1184. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125231165170
20. Fumarco, L., Gibbs, B. G., Jarvis, J. A., and Rossi, G. (2017). The relative age effect reversal among the National Hockey League elite. PloS One, 12(8), e0182827. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182827
21. Gil, S. M., Bidaurrazaga-Letona, I., Martin-Garetxana, I., Lekue, J. A., and Larruskain, J. (2020). Does birth date influence career attainment in professional soccer? Science and Medicine in Football, 4(2), 119–126. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2019.1696471
22. Hancock, D. J., Adler, A. L., and Côté, J. (2013). A proposed theoretical model to explain relative age effects in sport. European Journal of Sport Science, 13(6), 630–637. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2013.775352
23. Helsen, W. F., Van Winckel, J., and Williams, A. M. (2005). The relative age effect in youth soccer across Europe. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23(6), 629–636. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410400021310
24. Huebner, M., and Perperoglou, A. (2019). Performance development from youth to senior and age of peak performance in Olympic weightlifting. Frontiers in Physiology, 10, 1121. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01121
25. Huebner, M., and Perperoglou, A. (2020). Sex differences and impact of body mass on performance from childhood to senior athletes in Olympic weightlifting. PloS One, 15(9), e0238369. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238369
26. Hurley, E., Comstock, B. A., Haile, L., and Beyer, K. S. (2019). Relative age effect in collegiate soccer: Influence of nationality, playing position, and class. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(12), 3295–3301. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000003356
27. Ibáñez, S. J., Mazo, A., Nascimento, J., and García-Rubio, J. (2018). The relative age Effect in under-18 basketball: Effects on performance according to playing position. PloS One, 13(7), e0200408. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200408
28. International Weightlifting Federation. (2022, January). 2021 BWL TCRR V3 Timetable V1. https://iwf.sport/wpcontent/uploads/downloads/2022/01/BWL_TCRR_2021_V3-Timetable-V1.pdf
29. International Weightlifting Federation. (n.d.). – Participants, Retrieved 23 July 2024, from https://iwf.sport/weightlifting_/participants/
30. Işık, B., and Erdağı, K. (2022). The relative age effect in the European Weightlifting Championships 2015-2019 (male and female). Medicina Dello Sport, 75(4), 546–559. https://doi.org/10.23736/s0025-7826.22.04182-5
31. Kılıç, K., and Yılmaz, E. (2022). Gençlik takım sporlarında bağıl yaş etkisinin ekolojik bakış açısıyla incelenmesi. Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 33(2), 105–119. https://doi.org/10.17644/ sbd.1143998
32. Kilic, K., and Ince, M. L. (2021). Youth athletes' developmental outcomes by age, gender, and type of sport. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise. 16(1) 212-225. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2021.161.19
33. Kin-Isler, A., Asci, F. H., Altintas, A., and Guven-Karahan, B. (2009). Physical activity levels and patterns of 11-14 year-old Turkish adolescents. Adolescence, 44(176) p1005-1015.
34. Kollars, J. M., Taber, C. B., and Beyer, K. S. (2021). Relative age effects in elite Olympic weightlifters. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(5), 1223–1228. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000003882
35. Lemez, S., Baker, J., Horton, S., Wattie, N., and Weir, P. (2014). Examining the relationship between relative age, competition level, and dropout rates in male youth ice‐hockey players. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 24(6), 935–942. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12127
36. Lorenzo-Calvo, J., de la Rubia, A., Mon-López, D., Hontoria-Galán, M., Marquina, M., and Veiga, S. (2021). Prevalence and impact of the relative age effect on competition performance in swimming: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), p10561. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010561
37. Malina, R. M., and Bouchard, C. (1992). Growth, maturation, and physical activity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 24(7), p841. https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-199207000-00018
38. McCarthy, N., Collins, D., and Court, D. (2016). Start hard, finish better: Further evidence for the reversal of the RAE advantage. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(15), 1461–1465. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1119297
39. Morris, S. J., Oliver, J. L., Radnor, J. M., Hill, M., Haff, G. G., and Lloyd, R. S. (2025). The influence of relative age and biological maturity on youth weightlifting performance. Pediatric Exercise Science 1, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2024-0083
40. Musch, J., and Grondin, S. (2001). Unequal competition as an impediment to personal development: A review of the relative age effect in sport. Developmental Review, 21(2), 147–167. https://doi.org/10.1006/drev.2000.0516
41. Mülazımoğlu, O., and Boyacı, A. (2023). Olimpik greko-romen güreşçilerde bağıl yaş etkisinin incelenmesi. Kafkas Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 3(3), 24-33.
42. O’donoghue, P. (2009). Research methods for sports performance analysis. Routledge.
43. Papadopoulou, S. D., Papadopoulou, S. K., Rosemann, T., Knechtle, B., and Nikolaidis, P. T. (2019). Relative age effect on youth female volleyball players: A pilot study on its prevalence and relationship with anthropometric and physiological characteristics. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2737. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02737
44. Schorer, J., Wattie, N., and Baker, J. R. (2013). A new dimension to relative age effects: Constant year effects in German youth handball. PloS One, 8(4), e60336. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0060336
45. Sickles, R. T., and Lombardo, J. A. (1993). The adolescent basketball player. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 12(2), 207–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0278-5919(20)30431-2
46. Skorski, S., Skorski, S., Faude, O., Hammes, D., and Meyer, T. (2016). The relative age effect in elite German youth soccer: Implications for a successful career. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 11(3), 370–376. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2015-0071
47. Solberg, P. A., Hopkins, W. G., Paulsen, G., and Haugen, T. A. (2019). Peak age and performance progression in world-class weightlifting and powerlifting athletes. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 14(10), 1357–1363. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2019-0093
48. Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics Boston. MA: Allyn and Bacon, 5, 2007
49. Tufekci, O., Erdagi, K., and Isik, B. (2021). The relative age effects on senior weightlifting athletes in Turkey. Progress in Nutrition, 23(4), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.23751/pn.v23i4.12069
50. Ulbricht, A., Fernandez-Fernandez, J., Mendez-Villanueva, A., and Ferrauti, A. (2015). The relative age effect and physical fitness characteristics in German male tennis players. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 14(3), p634-642. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000001267
51. Wattie, N., Schorer, J., and Baker, J. (2015). The relative age effect in sport: A developmental systems model. Sports Medicine, 45(1), 83–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-014-0248-9
52. Wrang, C. M., Rossing, N. N., Diernæs, R. M., Hansen, C. G., Dalgaard-Hansen, C., and Karbing, D. S. (2018). Relative age effect and the re-selection of Danish male handball players for national teams. Journal of Human Kinetics, 63(1), 33–41. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2018-0004
53. Yapar, A., and Ince, M. L. (2014). Youth basketball player's experience, enjoyment and burnout levels in recreational and specialization context. Science and Sports, 29, S33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2014.08.068