ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the characteristics of different developmental environments can also act as important secondary influences on the process of attaining sport expertise. While factors such as genetics and practice are primary influences in producing sport expertise, resources and environmental characteristics have been identified as important secondary factors that can constrain the influence of primary factors. The research outlined herein demonstrates that relative age and birthplace are widespread factors that influence the process of expertise development in sport. While relative age and birthplace are distinct secondary influences on expertise attainment, both factors ultimately influence who has a better chance to enter high-performance sport and who is exposed to resources that facilitate expertise development. One attempt to contextualize and explain different international spatial patterns has been to isolate what is of greater influence, birthplace or junior location where skill development takes place.
