EFFECT OF RELATIVE AGE IN THE BASKETBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SUB-17, SUB-19 AND OLYMPIC GAMES OF BRAZIL 2016

The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of RAEs and their relationship with sports performance in elite basketball players worldwide. The variables birth date, sex, height, position in the field and classification in the tournament of the men's and women's basketball teams of the U-17 World Cup 2016, the U19 of 2015 and the Olympic Games were recorded (Olympic Games) of Rio de Janeiro in 2016 (n=1044). There was a significant overrepresentation of players born in the first months of the year in the U-17 and U-19 male and female categories. However, no significant differences were observed in the absolute category. It was found a greater representation of players born in the first months of the year in the teams that obtained better results in the three championships analyzed, whereas these differences were not significant in those that obtained the worse results. In addition, there was a significantly skewed distribution of dates of birth in some game positions. This is the case of the position of Point Guard and Small Forward (male and female), Center (male) and Poer Forward (female). There were no significant differences between male and female categories as a function of height. These results should be considered by sports administrations and coaches, as the selection of talents based on early maturation could lead to the exclusion of players born at the end of the year.