RELATIVE AGE EFFECT IN FUTSAL IN MINAS GERAIS

Abstract

The effect of relative age, understood as the advantage obtained by athletes born in the beginning of the year of selection, is a signi?cant variable for the development of talents in several modalities. Therefore, the objective is to assess the quartile of birth of athletes of the minor league categories of futsal in Minas Gerais. The sample was composed by 510 athletes enrolled in federated competitions in 2009. The chi-square test was used in this analysis. There were signi?cant differences in the distribution of the quartiles of birth in four of the ?ve categories assessed, with a predominance of the ?rst and second quartiles. In conclusion, the effect of relative age is a factor which might in?uence the choice of futsal players in the base categories.