ABSTRACT
Relative age effects (RAEs) within sports refer to the overrepresentation of athletes born earlier in the selection year and the underrepresentation of those born later in the selection year. Research examining RAEs in women's and girls' rugby union remains limited in comparison to the male literature, whilst the impacts of RAEs on the youth-senior transition are yet to be explored in a female sport context. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine RAEs during entry into the women's and girls' premiership and international rugby union pathways in England, as well as to compare them to their respective senior cohort (n = 1367): (a) U18 England Rugby Centre of Excellence Player (n = 325) vs. Senior Premiership Player (n = 868), and (b) U18 England Player (n = 49) vs. Senior England Player (n = 125). Chi-square (χ2) analyses compared birth quarter (BQ) distributions against expected distributions. The findings revealed no significant difference in BQ distributions at either youth or senior levels, as well as no significant differences in the BQ distributions of those who were likely to transition from youth to senior levels (all p > 0.05). Importantly, though, descriptive statistics showed a skewed birthdate distribution in both U18 England Rugby Centre of Excellence Player (BQ1 = 30% vs. BQ4 = 20%) and U18 England Player cohorts (BQ1 = 33% vs. BQ4 = 18%). We highlight the gender-specific mechanisms that potentially explain the variations between male and female RAEs in rugby union, including developmental differences, sport popularity, and sociocultural norms. We also warn against a 'copy and paste' template from the male provision to ensure the recent growth of female rugby union does not fall victim to the same RAEs in the future.
ABSTRACT
Resumen Lagos-Hernández, R.I. et al. (2018). Perfil antropométrico e imagen corporal de escolares rugbistas de sexo femenino de la región de la Araucanía, Chile. PENSAR EN MOVIMIENTO: Revista de Ciencias del Ejercicio y la Salud, 16(2), 1-15. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar perfil antropométrico y su relación con el IMC e imagen corporal (IC) del total de escolares de sexo femenino de la Región de la Araucanía, Chile, que practican regular y competitivamente rugby 7. En relación a las participantes, se evaluaron 25 niñas que reunían los criterios de inclusión cuyas edades fluctuaron entre los 10 y 19 años (Media = 16.39 ± 2.81). Para efectos metodológicos se llevó a cabo una evaluación Antropométrica bajo los protocolos de la International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry protocols (ISAK , 2017) y se hizo una apreciación de la percepción de la IC a través de la observación de una serie de imágenes corporales siguiendo el protocolo de Montero, Morales, & Carbajal (2004). Los resultados mostraron que las escolares evaluadas presentan una composición corporal (CC) alta en tejido adiposo con un 33.9% y un porcentaje muscular de 39%. En relación a la clasificación antropomética, se puede señalar que manifiestan características endo-mesomorficas, además se pudo constatar que las escolares presentaron una percepción de la IC según IMC percibido, diferente de los niveles reales de IMC presentados, no apreciándose relacion estadísticamente significativa entre la CC, el somatotipo y la imagen percibida.
Abstract Lagos-Hernández, R.I. et al. (2018). Anthropometric profile and body image of female junior Rugby players from the Region of Araucanía, Chile. PENSAR EN MOVIMIENTO: Revista de Ciencias del Ejercicio y la Salud, 16(2), 1-15. The objective of this paper was to determine the anthropometric profile of female students of the Region of Araucanía, Chile, and its relationship with BMI (IMCA) and body image (IC). Participants included 25 girls ages 10 to 19 (mean = 16.39 ± 2.81) that practice rugby sevens on a regular and competitive basis. For methodological purposes, an anthropometric assessment was conducted using the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry protocols (ISAK, 2017), and an appreciation of CI perception was made by observing a series of body images following the Montero, Morales, & Carbajal protocol (2004). Results showed that the students' body composition (CC) was high in adipose tissue (33.9%) and their muscle percentage was 39%. Regarding the anthropometric classification, it can be noted that participants show endo-mesomorph characteristics and that their perceived body image differed from the actual BMI levels, not showing a statistically significant relationship between the body composition, the somatotype and the perceived image.
Resumo Lagos-Hernández, R.I. et al. (2018). Perfil antropométrico e imagem corporal de escolares do sexo feminino jogadoras de rugby da região de Araucanía, Chile. PENSAR EN MOVIMIENTO: Revista de Ciencias del Ejercicio y la Salud, 16(2), 1-15. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar o perfil antropométrico e sua relação com o IMC e a imagem corporal (IC) de todas as escolares da região de Araucania, Chile, que praticam regularmente o rugby 7 em carácter competitivo. Em relação aos participantes, foram avaliadas 25 meninas que atendiam aos critérios de inclusão cujas idades variaram entre 10 e 19 anos (média = 16,39 ± 2,81). Para fins metodológicos, foi levada a cabo uma avaliação antropométrica sob os protocolos da Society for Avancement in Kineanthropometric (ISAK, 2017) e feita uma apreciação da percepção do IC através da observação de uma série de imagens corporais seguindo o protocolo de Montero, Morales e Carbajal (2004). Os resultados mostraram que as estudantes avaliadas apresentam uma composição corporal (CC) elevada no tecido adiposo com 33,9% e um percentual muscular de 39%. Quanto à classificação antropométrica, pode-se destacar que se manifestam características endo-mesomórficas e, além disso, verificou-se que as escolares apresentaram uma percepção de IC de acordo com o IMC percebido, diferente dos níveis reais de IMC apresentados, não sendo apreciada uma relação estatisticamente significativa entre a CC, o somatótipo e a imagem percebida.
