The gap in physical ability between children in the same class but born in different months was sometimes very wide. “For example, we found that a boy born in November can run at least 10% faster, jump 12% higher and is 15% more powerful than a child of the same age born in April. This is a huge physical advantage,” said Sandercock. These gaps could decide who became a top-level athlete because “selection into elite sports may often depend on very small differences in a person’s physical performance”. The study found that, when scores for the three kinds of fitness were put together, children born in April were the least fit, followed by children born in June.
What can small differences in physical performance determine?
Whether a person will become a professional athlete Whether a top-level sport is considered “elite” Whether a person can compete in a lower weight class Whether a person will develop an interest in sports