Efeito relativo da idade em atletas brasileiros de futsal de alto nível

Abstract

The Relative Age Effect, which is the advantage gained by those born early in the selection year, is shown to be a factor which influences the development of a talent in several sports, which in its structure has the division of categories into age groups. The aim of the present study is to assess and identify the quartiles in professional players who played the Brazilian Futsal League in 2009. Data of 370 players were collected and analyzed using the chi-square test. Differences were found in the quartile distribution, with the predominance of first and second quartiles, and an under representation of third and fourth quartiles. It was therefore concluded that the relative age effect is a factor that could have an influence in player selection to futsal.