Relative age effect on Brazilian State Team volleyball championship

Introduction: The relative age effect in sports indicates that athletes born in the first quarters of the year have advantages in selection processes when compared to athletes born in others quarters. Although data on the effect of relative age in volleyball already exists, little is known about the youth categories in elite Brazilian volleyball. Objective: To analyze the relative age effect on the selection of athletes participating in the Brazilian State Team Volleyball Championships, under-16 and under-18 teams, in the first and special divisions, in the year 2024. Methodology: Data from 960 athletes extracted from the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation website were analyzed. The χ² test of independence was used to verify the association between the birth quarter and the variables sex, division, category, podium, and position. The Odds Ratio was calculated, and the effect size was determined from the Cramer's V value. Results: Athletes were more likely to be relatively older in the male sex category, the under-16 category and the special division when compared with the female sex category, the under-18 category and the first division, respectively. There was no association between the quarter of birth and podium or position. Discussion: The relative age effect may be related to the late maturation of male athletes, lower chronological age of younger age groups, and more developed sports practice environments. Conclusions: Relative age is a present and relevant factor in the recruitment of young athletes in Brazilian volleyball.