Abstract

This study analyses the relative age effect on teenage handball players. To do this data on the gender, date of birth and specific position of 149 under-15 and under-17 players from various teams in the 2015-16 season were analysed by making comparisons and studying the differences using χ2  and Z testing procedures and the Bonferroni method. The analysis of results by birth quarter revealed the absence of statistically significant differences in terms of gender and specific playing position. Likewise, analysis by odd or even year of birth showed that although there were no statistically significant differences in the specific playing position, there were according to the player’s gender. Therefore a relative age effect in the players analysed does not seem to be confirmed considering specific positions, but there is one in relation to the player’s gender if this is analysed based on odd or even years of birth. This would confirm that all the young people in the categories examined participate regardless of their degree of maturity.