I also coach youth sports and kids born on the wrong side of the age-up date, on average, have a tougher time. Thats all. Its not the end of the world but swimming handles it better, imo.
I'm not a swim coach or parent but let's say hypothetically that swim season is March 1st through July 31st. Wouldn't a kid have a big advantage if their birthday is August 1st over those born on February 28th?
I also coach youth sports and kids born on the wrong side of the age-up date, on average, have a tougher time. Thats all. Its not the end of the world but swimming handles it better, imo.
I'm not a swim coach or parent but let's say hypothetically that swim season is March 1st through July 31st. Wouldn't a kid have a big advantage if their birthday is August 1st over those born on February 28th?
If those are the dates the season goes for, in the most extreme situation the older kid would have a 7 months advantage, while in track the most extreme case is 12 months and the average is 6.
The birthday bias is even worse in team sports where the best players in an age group get better coaching, opportunities, etc. Here is an article in the Irish Times about the problem in International Football (soccer). At least in T&F, there isn't too much sorting at an early age.
Great article. This concept is also covered by Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers. The age gap is quite significant in younger kids, but starts to narrow as they get into middle school and high school.
As the father of a daughter who now runs D1 XC and track who had a December birthday, I have a slightly different view on this. My daughter ran AAU and USATF from age 8 and I was the same as most parents. I would look at the age group results from 1 year younger and think "if only she had been born a month later she would have won her age group". However looking back now, I think her constantly having to run against kids older than her was an advantage. It pushed her to up her game to compete. Iron sharpens iron....
I also coach youth sports and kids born on the wrong side of the age-up date, on average, have a tougher time. Thats all. Its not the end of the world but swimming handles it better, imo.
I'm not a swim coach or parent but let's say hypothetically that swim season is March 1st through July 31st. Wouldn't a kid have a big advantage if their birthday is August 1st over those born on February 28th?
Swimming is a year round thing essentially but the main season for most is roughly Oct 1 thru March or April though certain championship meets occur later in the spring/summer.
Qualifying for higher level meets in swimming is also more time based, not as much place based. If you have the required time standard for your age group, you can enter. The disadvantage would be (I guess) if you had a birthday right before a big meet and your time was no longer adequate. That probably does happen but rarely I suspect and with long course and short course meets held at different times of the year, it wouldnt be a big deal.
Swimming in general is very time based. PRs and meeting certain time standards are much more of a focus than what place you might get.
I'm not a swim coach or parent but let's say hypothetically that swim season is March 1st through July 31st. Wouldn't a kid have a big advantage if their birthday is August 1st over those born on February 28th?
If those are the dates the season goes for, in the most extreme situation the older kid would have a 7 months advantage, while in track the most extreme case is 12 months and the average is 6.
Swimming handles it better.
It would actually be 2 years for usatf but that’s besides the point. But let’s take it as a year for now. If it’s a one year age group then the only way you are competing against a kid 12 months older is if one is born 12/31 and other is born 1/1 right? Or am I doing the math wrong?
It’s like that in every spot. A kid born in early January dominates. I am a November baby. I remember 12U. I turned 11 in November and was 12U running against 13 year olds who had January birthdays. Not fair but not matter where you put the birthday mark there will always be someone at a disadvantage and/or advantage.