The Relative Age Effect in Elite Sport: The French Case

International audienceThe relative age effect (RAE) is considered as a common phenomenon in elite sport. However, it was not observed systematically in previous research and the mechanisms likely to generate or to limit such an effect remain misunderstood. In this paper we aimed at checking the prevalence of the RAE in French professional championships, taking into account the potential influence of sex. Among all investigated sports, no statistically significant RAE was found, except for male ice hockey. For male handball and rugby union a trend was detected but the RAE did not appear statistically significant. In line with previous studies, no significant RAEs were found in female elite sports. The results are discussed with regard to the potential mechanisms underlying RAE