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kathy tomlinson, ms.
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relative age effect

Submitted by kathy tomlinson, ms. on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 16:15.

The relative age effect adversely impacts children who have a birthday before the "cut-off" date. How do different sports arrive at these "cut-off" dates. Baseball has picked May 1 as their date. Does anyone know why it is May 1? Clearly children who have birthdays in the March/April dates are at a disadvantage. Why is it not on January 1? Anybody know or have any ideas of a way to equalize this RAE factor.


"school" age

Submitted by John Dee on Wed, 06/10/2009 - 18:23.

A few years ago, baseball used August 1 as a cutoff date for youth baseball players. I think the issue came up was that the summer birthday kids had to "play up" one year ahead because they were born in June or July. Very few born before May 1 send their kid that early so seemed to be a good compromise. In any of these age group things, their is going to be someone who it older and some younger. It's been my experience that it has to more with social maturity, not physical or athletic maturity.
I don't think there is a way to equalize the RAE factor. Kids develop at all different rates. The best way would be to place kids on teams at levels where they belong, but most people won't stand for that. Their kid has to be on the elite team.