The relationship between relative age effects and sex, age categories and playing positions in Brazilian National Handball Teams

Abstract Aims: This study investigated the existence of Relative Age Effect (RAE) in the selection process of male and female athletes in the Brazilian national handball teams according to age categories (U-18, U-21, and senior) and playing position (wings, backs, pivots, and goalkeepers). Methods: In order to determine RAE, athletes were divided based on their months of birth; quarters Q1 (January-March), Q2 (April-June), Q3 (July-September), and Q4 (October-December). Data were collected from the official Brazilian Handball Confederation (CBHb) website and included the athletes that participated in training and/or competitions composing the Brazilian national teams from 2014 to 2018. To determine the RAE on playing positions, age categories of male and female groups were pooled. Chi-squared tests were performed to investigate the RAE. Results: An over-representation of players born in Q1 and Q2 in the U-18, U-20, and senior categories of male teams and the U-20, and senior female teams were found. In the male teams, as the age category increased, RAE decreased, but still existed. Such distribution was reversed in the female athletes, with a higher RAE magnitude in the senior category as compared to U-18 and U-21. Additionally, it seems that RAE is dependent on the playing position only for male athletes (wings and backs) whereas RAE was found for all playing positions in female athletes. Conclusion: Overall, RAE was found in Brazilian national handball teams, but its magnitude and form of manifestation seem to be influenced by sex, category, and playing position.

Anthropometric characteristics of elite rhythmic gymnasts / Características antropométricas de gimnastas rítmicas de elite

The main aim of this study was to identify the morphological characteristics, to determine the tendency in the physical structure, differences and similarities according to categories based on age of the Chilean team of Rhythmic Gymnastics. We performed an anthropometric analysis of 60 gymnasts, fractioned by categories: preschoolers and schoolers (n= 11), junior (n= 28) and senior (n= 21). The anthropometric analysis was determined based on the study of the body composition, through pentacompartimental fractionation method (Kerr), somatotype (Heath & Carter) and the body mass index (Quetelet). The results showed significant differences between preschoolers and schoolers and higher categories (junior and senior) in the general anthropometric variables of body mass, height and BMI. Regarding the body composition, we only found significant differences in the percentage of muscle mass between the preschoolers and schoolers when being compared with the other two categories. In the study of somatotype, the prevalence of ectomorphic categorization was only found in the preschoolers and schoolers (meso-ectomorph), while in the junior category a mesomorph-ectomorph somatotype was observed and a central type in the senior category. We conclude that the morphology of the selected Chilean Rhythmic gymnastics depends on the category, as observed in the anthropometric characteristics related to the body composition and somatotype. Therefore, this factor is not useful in establishing a clearer tendency in the morph structure for this sport at a national level.

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue identificar las características morfológicas para determinar la tendencia de la estructura física, las diferencias y similitudes de acuerdo con las categorías basadas en la edad de la Selección Chilena de Gimnasia Rítmica. Se realizó un análisis antropométrico de 60 gimnastas, fraccionado por categorías: preescolares y escolares (n = 11), junior (n = 28) y senior (n = 21). El análisis antropométrico se determinó en base al estudio de la composición corporal, a través del método de fraccionamiento pentacompartimental (Kerr), del somatotipo (Heath & Carter) y el índice de masa corporal (Quetelet). Los resultados mostraron diferencias significativas entre los niños preescolares y escolares y las categorías superiores (junior y senior) en las variables antropométricas generales de masa corporal, altura e IMC. En cuanto a la composición corporal, sólo encontramos diferencias significativas en el porcentaje de masa muscular entre los preescolares y escolares, cuando se comparan con las otras dos categorías. En el estudio del somatotipo, la prevalencia de la categorización ectomórfica solamente se encontró en los niños preescolares y escolares (meso-ectomorfo), mientras que en la categoría junior se observó un somatotipo mesomorfo-ectomorfo y un tipo central en la categoría senior. En conclusión, la morfología de los seleccionados de gimnasia rítmica chilena depende de la categoría, como se observa en las características antropométricas, relacionados con la composición corporal y el somatotipo. Por lo tanto, este factor no es útil para establecer una tendencia clara en la estructura morfológica para este deporte a nivel nacional.