Interactive Effects of Biological Maturation and Relative Age Effect on Talent Identification for U16 Elite Soccer Players
Yikang Gong, Weichao Jiang, Xiang Li, Yuan Li, Wei Zhang, Donghao Wang, Hua Wang, Chong Luo
This study examines how biological maturation and relative age effect influence talent identification in U16 elite soccer players, finding significant impacts of maturation on physical and performance metrics but not on selection criteria.
bioRxiv · Apr 6, 2026 · PreprintDevelopmental Biology