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4 Friday, February 16, 2018 brooklintowncrier.com Ever wondered what it takes to be an Olympian? If your child was born in January, you might have the making of a champion on your hands. Why? Research indicates that your birth month has a big impact on your chances of becoming an elite athlete. Researchers analyzed the birth dates of all 18,132 competitors at the 2008 Olympic Games and discovered there were more competitors born in the first quarter of the year than any other. Moreover, a study published in the online science journal PLOS ONE suggests the NHL is guilty of an age bias because it weighs its draft selections more heavily in favour of players born earlier in the year. The report found that 36 per cent of players drafted by NHL teams between 1980 and 2007 were born in the first quarter of those years (January to March) compared with 14.5 per cent of draftees who were born in the fourth quarter (October-December). Born early Research by Barnsley, Thompson, & Barnsley (1985; Morris & Nevill, 2006) suggests that elite athletes are more likely to be born in the first three months of the year. Overall, the findings seem to show that children born immediately after the cut-off date for their sports (typically Jan. 1) are usually bigger and more likely to be picked in their early years leading to a significant cumulative advantage over the years of participating in their sport. This is known as The Relative Age Effect which creates an advantage to those born earlier. To put it in perspective, consider the huge difference in development between two eight year olds born the same year. They're both trying out for a rep soccer team. Ally was born in January, Briana in December. The coach plans to choose athletes he thinks have the most potential. Ally is 11 months older and has developed more in strength, skill, and emotional maturity. Briana will develop these abilities over the next year. Ally makes the rep team and benefits from more training and higher competition. At tryouts the next year, Briana has played another year of house league and has caught up somewhat to where Ally was at tryouts last year. Yet Ally is now even further ahead thanks to the advanced training. Prevalent in physical sports It is most relevant in more physical team sports like hockey or soccer than non-contact sports where selection into elite levels begins as early age 10. The bias is to give older children more opportunities to succeed in sport. These older players may have as much as 11 months more physical and mental development than some of their younger teammates born later the same year. Over time, that cumulative effect can see the older athlete develop significantly more than those given less opportunity. This effect is even more pronounced on two-year age span teams, such as minor-major in hockey. What happens to Briana? If your child happens to have a younger relative age than other kids, she may look less skilled and less talented than her peers simply because she is less strong, less fast, and perhaps less athletic at this age and stage of maturation. However, your child might have the potential to become the greatest player in history by age 18. But if she gets cut at age 8, and subsequently put in a program with less training, she will miss the most important years of development. She might just drop out of the sport altogether. Does this mean your December born child is destined for a life of riding the bench or house league? Not necessarily… Next issue: How Canada's Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) program is influencing sport and your coaches' decisions. WORSHIP DIRECTORY WORSHIP DIRECTORY Burns Presbyterian Church 765 Myrtle Rd West (just 4 minutes north of Brooklin) 10am Worship, Kids Zone Fun & Nursery Care "Discovering God, Sharing God's Love" 905.655.8509 www.Burnschurch.org St. Thomas' Anglican Church 101 Winchester Road East Sunday Services: 8:30 and 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Program (10:30am) Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Communion and Healing Service 905-655-3883 www.stthomasbrooklin.ca Brooklin United Church 19 Cassels Rd. E. Sunday Services at 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Care www.brooklinunited.ca 905-655-4141 Come catch the Spirit! Renaissance Baptist Church of Brooklin 40 Vipond Road (Just West Of Library) Sunday Worship & Kids Program 10:30 a.m. 905-655-4554 www.brooklinrbc.ca We're here for Brooklin! Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown A Brooklin Toddler's Random Thoughts "What a day!" Are January babies more likely to be Olympians? (Part One of Three) Community Calendar If you have a community not-for-profit event you would like included in the calendar, please email it to editorofBTC@gmail.com with the subject line "calendar." Priority will be given to Brooklin events. Some editing may occur. Fri., Feb. 23: 4:00 - 5:00 pm (4th Friday of each month) Teen Leadership Council at Brooklin Library Whitby Library's Brooklin Branch seeks Teen Leadership Council members to share ideas & assist with special events and programs. Grade 9-12 students earn community service hours. Snacks provided. No registration required. For information, email teenservices@ whitbylibrary.ca. Wed., Feb. 28: 7:30 pm - Brooklin Horticultural Society Membership Evening Featuring: Diane Stackhouse & Brian McLatchie: "Making of a Country Garden" Brooklin United Church, 19 Cassels Road East Explore a variety of perennials in garden areas such as an old barn foundation garden, a shade garden, and a small vegetable garden. Arrive early for draw tickets, & enjoy refreshments (please lug-a-mug). New members are welcome! For more information, contact Kathy @ 905-430-7213, kathyallam@hotmail.ca Sun., March 4: 11 am - 6 pm: Hurry Up and Wait: Thinking about Thinking with HD In support of individuals and families impacted by Huntington disease Asking for a $5 donation at the door Visit: hscevents.ca/DurhamInfo for more information and to RSVP. presented by Jim Pollard and Bright Spots in Research and Dr. Tamara Maiuri Dellagio Hall, 1801 Dundas Street West, Whitby, ON Sun., March 4:. 7:00 pm - Brooklin Pub Quiz Night $15 per person for a team of 4-8. Teams of 6 are best. Team gets a platter of wings and fries and a mug of beer. Winning team receives a $10 gift certificate per person to the Brooklin Pub. All proceeds to Pulmonary Hypertension of Canada. Hints: 1. LEGO 2. Tripitaka Mon., April 9: 7-9 pm: Shine On: An Exciting Event for Women "Real Women - Extraordinary Circumstances - Inspiring Stories" $15/person - $100/person for VIP tickets Deer Creek Golf and Banquet Facility 2700 Audley Rd. N., Ajax Email: shineonindurham@gmail.com Sat., April 14: 7-11 p.m.: Mayor's Community Fundraiser Central Library, 405 Dundas Street West, Whitby Join Mayor Don Mitchell for an evening of food, friends, entertainment and music in support of the Mayor's Community Development Fund, benefiting local community groups, events and initiatives. Tickets on sale now! mayorscommunityfundraiser.eventbrite.ca $85 per person or $150 per couple. For more information, contact: WhitbyMayorsFundraiser@gmail.com Wed., Mar. 7: 12-1:30pm - Community Seniors' Luncheon At Burns Church (Myrtle Rd W.) Soup, sandwiches and games/euchre/crokinole Building wheelchair accessible RSVP 905-655-8509 (carpool avail.) www.burnschurch.org Mondays: 6:30-7 pm: French Family Storytime: Children and their caregivers can join Madame Sue for weekly French Family Storytime! A half hour of French stories and songs, with a dash of English! Drop in at Central Library's Children's Program Room Tuesdays: 7:25 pm: Brooklin Toastmasters Club Practice public speaking at Brooklin Community Centre & Library. Contact John Johnstone at jajhj@sympatico.ca or phone 905-683-4439 or Patricia Romano at promano257@outlook.com or phone 905-626-7055. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays Community Care Durham (CCD) Basic Foot Care at St. Thomas' Anglican Church. 905-668-6779 Mon.-Fri. CCD delivers hot or frozen meals. To order: Karen Andrews 905-668-6779 Happy Family Day We will take care of your entire family (infants to seniors) We can direct bill to most insurance companies.