RESUMO

Aim:The aim of this paper is to verify how cities' demographic rates and Human Development Index (HDI), as well as the birthdate of Brazilian elite soccer players influenced their identification and development.Methods:The sample was comprised of 5,359 players from the Brazilian Serie A Soccer Championship between 2003 and 2019. Players' birthdate and birthplace data were collected, as well as the HDI from their hometowns. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, Pearson correlation and linear regression tests were performed.Results:Results indicated that players born in the first semester of the year, in cities with a demographic rate of up to 100,000 inhabitants and HDI above 0.501, are more likely to play at the highest level (Serie A) of Brazilian soccer. Correlations were observed between birth quartile and HDI (r = -.059; se = 0.04; p < 0.001), birth quartile and demographic rates (r = -063, se = 0.03; p < 0.001), and between HDI and demographic rates (r = 0.458; se = 0.02; p < 0.001). The linear regression method yielded a valid model that included all three variables in this study (F(2) = 9.512; p < 0.001).Conclusion:Based on these findings, it is possible to conclude that birthdate, demographic rate and HDI are important factors in the identification and development of soccer players in Brazil.

Assuntos

Desempenho Atlético , Futebol , Aptidão , Brasil/epidemiologia , Demografia , Humanos

RESUMO

The relative age effect (RAE), within the sporting scope, refers to the possible advantages of participation and performance of athletes born in the first months of the year of selection in relation to others within the same age category. The aim of the present study was to investigate the RAE in girls' volleyball players participating in the U-18 World Championship, analysing the differences between the medal teams and other teams in the tournament, and considering this phenomenon in relation to the continents. Data collection was obtained from the website of the International Volleyball Federation with a sample made of 1654 youth players in the last six world championships (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017). A greater representation of athletes born in the first months of the year of all the world championships was observed. In the comparison among the continents, it was observed that in Africa, there was a more equal distribution of quartiles compared to America, Asia and Europe. It should be noted that there was a higher percentage of medalist athletes born at the beginning of the year in comparison to the countries that placed in the last three positions of the championship. Therefore, in U-18 female volleyball, there is an advantage to have the closest birth age at the beginning of the competitive biennium.