The findings seem to show that children born in the early months of the school year enjoy a double “autumn advantage” – we already know that they have an academic advantage and, now, they also seem to be better at sports, too. The authors of the study believe that the most likely explanation is that children born in autumn get more vitamin D over the summer months towards the end of pregnancy. John Steele, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said the quality of a young person’s introduction to sports at school can be “a major factor” in their sporting development. “Children that get a high-quality first experience will have greater agility, balance and coordination, and are more likely to develop an enjoyment of physical activity and be good at sports as they grow up”, he said.
What does Steele say is “a major factor” in the development of a child’s athletic abilities?
The child’s initial exposure to sports in school The enjoyment the children derive from sports The academic advantage of autumn-born children The extent to which their parents are interested in sports