Exploring proposed mechanisms of the relative age effect in Canadian minor hockey

The article presents research on the effects of relative age, a person's age compared to those in his peer group, on athletic ability in youth. A survey was conducted of youth hockey players in Canada in which players were evaluated for age, degree of physical maturity as measured by body size and actual playing time. The results indicated that elite youth hockey players are selected primarily by body type, with relative age having little effect on their abilities.