ABSTRACT

Background: Children born at the beginning of the year may be cognitively, emotionally, and physically more advantageous than those born at the end of the year.

Aim: This study aims to determine whether there is a relative age effect (RAE) on the total scores and its components of the gymnasts in their routines, competing in the 1st Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships Individual All-Around Ranking-Apparatus Qualification in 2019.

Methods: 138 gymnasts from 61 countries participated in this competition and 61 gymnasts competed in each apparatus. The total scores (TS) and its components in gymnasts' competition routines were analyzed according to gymnasts' age groups (13, 14, and 15 years old) and period of birth [Group I (those born in the first six months of the year), Group II (those born in the last six months of the year)]. Differences and percentages of change between the two periods were examined. A total of 732 scores (Difficulty, Execution, and Total Scores) were evaluated. Descriptive statistics and the One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Test analysis were used for statistical evaluation.

Results: When the TS and its components were examined in all age groups and all routines, no significant difference was observed between Group I and Group II in terms of RAE.

Conclusion: It is thought that considering the RAE in talent selection and orientation programs, participation in sports activities and performance evaluation may be useful for athletes, coaches, and administrators.

Keywords: Rhythmic gymnastics, competition performance scores, relative age effect, gymnast