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CC-S is supported by Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities [FJC2018-037925-I]. EGA is supported by grants from the Sp anish Ministry of Science and Innovation (RYC-2014-16390). JM-G is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (FPU14/06837). In addition, this study was further supported by the University of Zaragoza (JIUZ-2014-BIO-08), and by the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES). Additional funding from the SAMID III network, RETICS, funded by the PN I+D+I 2017-2021 (Spain), ISCIII-Sub-Directorate General for Research Assessment and Promotion, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (Ref. RD16/0022), the EXERNET Research Network on Exercise and Health in Special Populations (DEP2005-00046/ACTI).
Analysis of institutional authors
Cupeiro, RocioAuthorRojo-Tirado, Miguel AAuthorPeinado, Ana B.AuthorBenito, Pedro J.Corresponding AuthorThe relative age effect on physical fitness in preschool children
Publicated to:Journal Of Sports Sciences. 38 (13): 1-10 - 2020-07-02 38(13), DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2020.1746559
Authors: Cupeiro, Rocio; Rojo-Tirado, Miguel A; Cadenas-Sanchez, Cristina; Artero, Enrique G; Peinado, Ana B; Labayen, Idoia; Dorado, Cecilia; Arias-Palencia, Natalia M; Moliner-Urdiales, Diego; Vidal-Conti, Josep; Conde-Caveda, Julio; Mora-Gonzalez, Jose; Vicente-Rodriguez, German; Benito, Pedro J
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Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the existence of a relative age effect (RAE) on physical fitness of preschoolers. Anthropometry and physical fitness were assessed in 3147 children (3-5 years old) using the PREFIT battery. Based on the birth year, participants were divided into 3year groups (3-, 4- and 5-years). Within each year group, 4quarter groups were created: quarter 1, preschoolers born from January to March; quarter 2, from April to June; quarter 3, from July to September; quarter 4, from October to December. The MANCOVA analysis revealed a main effect of year group (Wilks' lambda = 0.383; F-10,F-5996 = 369.64; p < 0.001, eta(2)(p) = 0.381) and of quarter (Wilks' lambda = 0.874; F-15,F-8276.6 = 27.67; p < 0.001; eta(2)(p) = 0.044) over the whole battery of tests. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the existence of RAE at the preschool stage. In general, performance improved as the relative age increased (i.e., those born in quarter 1 performed better than those in the other quarters). Individualization strategies should be addressed within the same academic year not only in elementary or secondary years but also in preschoolers.
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Quality index
Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel
The work has been published in the journal Journal Of Sports Sciences due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2020, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.
From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.44. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)
This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:
- Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.71 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
- Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 8.11 (source consulted: Dimensions Aug 2025)
Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-08-25, the following number of citations:
- WoS: 20
- Scopus: 22
Impact and social visibility
Leadership analysis of institutional authors
This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Sudan; United States of America.
There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (CUPEIRO COTO, ROCIO) .
the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been BENITO PEINADO, PEDRO JOSE.