Re-balancing the Relative Age Effect Scales: Meta-analytical Trends, Causes, and Corrective Adjustment Procedures as a Solution

Abstract

In making the case to re-balance relative age participation and attainment inequalities in sport (i.e. Relative Age Effects [RAEs]), the chapter highlights findings from meta-analytical studies conducted in male and female contexts. Second, this chapter identifies normative growth, and maturational-associated growth, between youth sport participants as the most likely underlying root causes, leading to RAEs. Informed by meta-analytical findings and root causes, the final part of the chapter presents “corrective adjustment procedures,” as a novel, feasible solution to RAEs for particular sport contexts. Here an explanation of their applications to date, implications, as well as challenges and limitations is provided