Is being older an advantage when it comes to sport? The Academy finds out.

Children born between these dates are called 'early bird' developers because many will start to mature physically quicker than younger children in the same year.

Dave Richardson of Liverpool John Moores University, was part of a team that investigated whether your birthdate has a bearing on sporting success.

Research showed that from the footballers that played for England during World Cup campaigns between 1986 and 1998, one in two were 'early bird' children.

England's World Cup babies

Less than one in three were born between January and April and less than one in four between May and August.

What does this mean?
It supports the suggestion that these early maturers, who have got bigger, stronger and faster than others in their school year have a sporting advantage.

They are then more likely to go on and represent their school or district.

For instance, if you were born one day earlier, on the 31 August, you would have been in the year below and effectively 12 months behind in your development!

Why is this?
Kids with an age advantage are more likely to be noticed by better teams or clubs, receive better coaching and play their sport at a higher level of competition.

According to Richardson's studies, many coaches will look out for the kids that can cope physically with the demands of competition.

That coach will be thinking in the short term about winning the local schools cup, and will pick the current stand-outs.

Some smaller and less mature contenders with longer-term potential will miss out.

Slight height advantage!

Everton's Wayne Rooney has an incredible physique to match his ability, which has allowed him to 'fast track' through to the Everton first team and realise his potential early on.

In fact, most of the footballers with an age advantage in the studies tended to be strikers and goalkeepers.

The bigger kids will always win then?
Fortunately, there are many other factors that determine what will make someone successful in their sport such as technique, determination, intelligence and speed.

Few make the grade

It's up to a good coach to spot them.

What happens when late maturers catch up?
Problems can arise for early maturers when coaches and parents focus all of their attention on their training at the expense of areas such as their schoolwork.

Eventually smaller, less mature kids build up their strength and speed and the age advantage is lost.

This leaves the early developer with little to fall back on and a feeling of failure.

This is extremely common in football with so many youngsters 'with potential' failing to make the grade with clubs.

Many find the step-up to more senior levels in sport too much without the physical advantage they enjoyed before.

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