Relative Age Effects and Place of Early Development Constrain Male Youth Italian Swimmers' Developmental Experiences

• Main Authors: Gabriele Morganti (Author), Adam Leigh Kelly (Author), Matteo Vitarelli (Author), Francesca Strassoldo di Villanova (Author), Bruno Ruscello (Author), Francesca Campoli (Author), Elvira Padua (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Italian swimming emphasizes the early specialization of selected children from approximately 6 to 7 years old. Such an approach often leads to selection biases (i.e., birth advantages), which may undermine swimmers' development and progression through the talent pathway. Accordingly, this study...