The relative age effect in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA): a mixed methods approach

ABSTRACT

Background

Background: In the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Talent Academies (TAs) and senior teams cater for high-performing players. However, only two previous studies have quantified the relative age effect (RAE; i.e., a selection bias favouring those born near the beginning of the cut-off date) in these cohorts. Additionally, no studies have explored stakeholder understanding of the RAE using qualitative methods.

Aim

This study aimed to: (a) quantify the RAE in TAs and senior teams, and (b) investigate stakeholder perspectives of the talent development environment, providing practical insight into the RAE.

Methods

A mixed methods sequential explanatory study design was employed. Phase one involved a retrospective analysis of longitudinal data for the frequency and distribution of births using TA (n = 12,445) and senior (n = 8,752) players. Phase two comprised two focus groups of key stakeholders [coaches (n = 4) and Talent Development Leaders (n = 4)] at TA and senior level.

Results

Analysis revealed a significant difference between TA birth quarter (BQ) distributions compared with expected distributions (P < 0.001; BQ1 = 30.4% vs. BQ4 = 17.6%), whereas at senior level, there were no significant differences observed (χ2 (df = 3) = 3.812, P = 0.282). In phase two, inductive analysis revealed three higher-order themes: (a) understanding of the RAE, (b) selection criteria, and (c) player characteristics.

Conclusion

The GAA are encouraged to reflect on the practice of chronological age band grouping, investigate possible solutions to limit the effects of the RAE, and offer support programmes to educate key stakeholders.

KEYWORDS:

• Gaelic games
• RAE
• talent identification
• selection criteria
• player development
• coach decision making

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. At senior grade, counties field only one team in Gaelic football and hurling, while within the Talent Academy system counties may field multiple teams in each age group (U14-U17) in both playing codes.

2. In this study, Talent Development Leader refers to full time employees of the GAA who are responsible for the organisation and implementation of player and coach development programmes (Talent Academies) in their counties.

3. In this instance, experience refers to the number of years the TDL has been employed within the GAA and has had oversight over his counties Talent Development Programme. Coaches experience has been quantified by the number of years they have been actively coaching within the GAA at any level.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.