Relative age effects (RAEs) appear consistently prevalent throughout the youth basketball literature. However, the selection into and successful transition out of a national talent pathway in basketball is yet to be explored. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to explore the influence of relative age, gender, and playing time based on the selection into the Regional Talent Hubs and Basketball England youth teams (U16, U18, and U20) and the successful transition into the England National Senior Teams. Participants who were selected into the male (n = 450) and female (n = 314) Basketball England Talent Pathway were allocated into one of three cohorts: (a) Regional Talent Hubs (U12 to U15; n = 183), (b) England National Youth Teams (U16, U18, and U20; n = 537), and (c) England National Senior Teams (n = 44). A chi-square test was used to compare the birth quarter (BQ) distributions of each cohort against the expected distributions, with a Cramer’s V (Vc) used to interpret effect sizes. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were also calculated to compare the likelihood of each BQ being represented. Males revealed significant RAEs across both the Regional Talent Hubs (p < 0.001, Vc > 0.29, OR = 10) and England National Youth Teams (p < 0.001, Vc > 0.17, OR = 3.1). In comparison, females only had significant RAEs in the Regional Talent Hubs (p < 0.001, Vc > 0.29, OR = 2.3). Despite RAEs being prevalent throughout youth levels, there were no significant differences in the BQ distribution based on playing time and those who made the successful transition to the England National Senior Teams. These findings demonstrate the potential mechanisms of RAEs in basketball, as well as the impetus to explore more equitable competition structures within the England Basketball Talent Pathway.

中文翻译：

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篮球中的相对年龄效应：探索国家人才路径的选择和成功转型

相对年龄效应 (RAE) 在青少年篮球文献中一直普遍存在。然而，国家篮球人才路径的选择和成功过渡还有待探索。因此，本研究的主要目的是根据区域人才中心和英格兰篮球青年队（U16、U18 和 U20）的选择以及成功过渡到英格兰青年队，探讨相对年龄、性别和上场时间的影响。英格兰国家高级队。被选入男性 ( n = 450) 和女性 ( n = 314) 篮球英格兰人才途径的参与者被分配到三个队列之一：(a) 区域人才中心（U12 至 U15；n = 183），(b)英格兰国家青年队（U16、U18 和 U20；n = 537)，以及 (c) 英格兰国家高级队 ( n = 44)。卡方检验用于将每个队列的出生季度 (BQ) 分布与预期分布进行比较，并使用 Cramer's V (Vc) 来解释效应大小。还计算了优势比 (OR) 和 95% 置信区间以比较每个 BQ 被表示的可能性。男性在区域人才中心 ( p < 0.001, Vc > 0.29, OR = 10) 和英格兰国家青年队 ( p < 0.001, Vc > 0.17, OR = 3.1) 中显示出显着的 RAE 。相比之下，女性在区域人才中心中只有显着的 RAE ( p< 0.001，Vc > 0.29，OR = 2.3)。尽管 RAE 在整个青年阶段都很普遍，但基于上场时间和成功过渡到英格兰国家高级队的人的 BQ 分布没有显着差异。这些发现证明了 RAE 在篮球中的潜在机制，以及在英格兰篮球人才途径中探索更公平竞争结构的动力。