Similar results have been found for US soccer players in the Olympic Development Program. The effect might only hold for male athletes though. I remember seeing a similar result for professional players in Europe. I am working from home today and don't have access to the references. I think that a search for "birth date and elite athlete" on Google Scholar will find some of that research.
Best Dennis -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] on behalf of Beth Benoit Sent: Tue 1/6/2009 9:30 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] using "Outliers" in the classroom What a perfect follow-up study, Jim. Interesting thought that older players (January - June birthdates) continue to play minor hockey till a later age than do the younger players (July - December birthdates) who tend to drop out of the sport. Hmmm...do you think this is a good subject pool though? It was only one hockey program, one season, almost 25 years ago: METHOD Subjects The team rosters of all players registered in the hockey program of the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association for the 1983-84 season comprised the sample for this study. Beth Benoit Granite State College New Hampshire On Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 8:15 PM, Jim Clark <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi > > Here's a nice study with data. > > http://www.socialproblemindex.ualberta.ca/RelAgeMinorHockeyCJBS.pdf > > Jim > > > James M. Clark > Professor of Psychology > 204-786-9757 > 204-774-4134 Fax > [email protected] > > Department of Psychology > University of Winnipeg > Winnipeg, Manitoba > R3B 2E9 > CANADA > > > >>> "Christopher D. Green" <[email protected]> 05-Jan-09 6:30 PM >>> > Beth Benoit wrote: > > > > The section I'm considering using is the claim that Canadian ice > > hockey players are more likely to be born in the first few months of > > the calendar year. I'll probably follow the same method as > > above, breaking students into groups to examine the roster I'll hand > > out, then giving them Gladwell's explanation. > > .... > > I'd also be interested in thoughts from our Canadian brethren about > > the concept of early birthdates being helpful to hockey success. > > Stephen, Chris? > > Funny, I had just heard this claim over Christmas from a relative of > mine. She said that something like half of NHLers are born in the first > three or four months of the year. But for all I know, she got this from > the Gladwell book (which I haven't read). > > The general claim makes some sense to me. When kids are young, the size > and coordination differences between those born in January and those > born in December can be quite noticeable. I'd be a little surprised, > however, if this continued on into the elite levels as strongly as is > claimed for three reasons: (1) Many professional hockey players are > mostly huge compared to the rest of us, and so they were probably never > small compared to their classes, even if they were a few months younger > then average. (2) It is not the case that once you're the best in your > class you always remain that way. For instance, I was just talking to > friends whose 14-yr-old daughter has been very good a volleyball until > now. She was also taller than most of her classmates, but this year she > her growth has slowed while many of her classmates have caught up or > passed her, so she is quite suddenly not as dominant as she has been up > to now. By the time one reaches elite levels of sport, I would expect > that much of the early advantage would be neutralized. (3) At elite > levels of a sport, sheer physical talent is an important factor. Most of > we ordinary mortals could not compete with them even if we practiced as > many hours a day as they do. > > Canada goes against Sweden for the world junior championship tonight! Go > Canucks! > > Chris > -- > > Christopher D. Green > Department of Psychology > York University > Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 > Canada > > > > 416-736-2100 ex. 66164 > [email protected] > http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ > > ========================== > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > -- "We will not learn how to live in peace by killing each other's children." - Jimmy Carter "Are our children more precious than theirs?" --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
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