The influence of relative age and biological maturity on youth weightlifting performance
Author Identifier
G. Gregory Haff: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0676-7750
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Pediatric Exercise Science
Publisher
Human Kinetics
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
79414
Abstract
Purpose: Relative age effects and biological maturation are common biases within youth talent identification and development programs; however, their respective influence on youth weightlifting is unknown. Method: Skeletal age, determined from ultrasonography, and competitive total loads (kg) were collected in 49 national age group weightlifters (boys: n = 24, age = 13.8 [2.4] y; girls: n = 25, age = 13.2 [2.4] y). The discrepancy score between skeletal age and chronological age was used to determine maturity timing, and participants’ birth dates were classified into birth quartiles to examine relative age effects. Results: Chi-square analysis (χ2) showed that birth quartile distributions across the age groups were not significantly different from national norms; however, maturity biases were evident, with significantly more “early maturers” and significantly fewer “on time maturers” than expected (P < .05). Regression analyses indicated that a large amount of variance in weightlifting performance (ie, absolute combined total) could be explained by skeletal age in both boys (R2 = .73) and girls (R2 = .75). Conclusion: Biological maturation influences selection into weightlifting talent pathways to a greater extent than relative age. Maturation also has a strong influence on weightlifting performance and should be considered to facilitate both the identification and development of weightlifting talent.
DOI
10.1123/pes.2024-0083
Access Rights
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Comments
Morris, S. J., Oliver, J. L., Radnor, J. M., Hill, M., Haff, G. G., & Lloyd, R. S. (2025). The influence of relative age and biological maturity on youth weightlifting performance. Pediatric Exercise Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2024-0083