GROWTH, MATURATION AND DEVELOPMENT:
GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS TO YOUNG ATHLETES
Robert M. Malina5
INTRODUCTION
“Growing up” is the universal business of children and adolescents. The path from
infancy to adulthood involves three interacting processes: growth, maturation and
development. The terms are often treated as synonymous; yet, they are three distinctive
tasks in the daily lives of children and adolescents.
Growth refers to the increase in the size of the body as a whole and of its parts. Thus, as
children grow, they become taller and heavier, increase in lean and fat tissues, increase in
size of organs, and so on. Heart volume and mass follow a growth pattern like that for
body weight, while the lungs and lung functions grow proportionally to height. Different
parts of the body grow at different rates and different times. This results in changes in
body proportions, i.e., relationship of one part of the body to another. The legs, for
example, grow faster than the trunk during childhood; hence, the child becomes
relatively longer-legged.
Maturation refers to progress towards the biologically mature state. It is an operational
concept because the mature state varies with body system; all tissues, organs and systems
eventually reach maturity though the definition of maturity varies for each. Studies of
growing children commonly focus on sexual and skeletal maturation and the timing of
the adolescent growth spurt in height. Maturation, i.e., the process of maturing, should
be viewed in two contexts, timing and tempo.
Timing refers to when specific
maturational events occur, e.g., age at the beginning of breast development in girls, the
age at the appearance of pubic hair in boys and girls, or the age at maximum growth
during the adolescent growth spurt.
Tempo refers to the rate at which maturation
progresses, e.g., how quickly or slowly the youngster passes from initial stages of sexual
maturation to the mature state. Timing and tempo vary considerably among individuals.
5
PhD, FACSM, Professor Emeritus, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education,
University of Texas at Austin; Research Professor, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX
email: rmalina@skyconnect.net
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Development refers to the acquisition of behavioral competence, i.e., the learning of appropriate
behaviors expected by society. Thus, as children experience life at home, school, church, sports,
recreation, and other community activities, they develop cognitively, socially, emotionally,
morally, and so on. They are learning to behave in a culturally appropriate manner.
The three processes, growth, maturation and development, occur simultaneously and interact
to influence self-concept, self-esteem, body image, and perceived competence. Coaches need
to be aware of these interactions. How a youngster is coping with his/her sexual maturation or
adolescent growth spurt, for example, may influence his/her behaviors, including sport-related
behaviors and performance. The demands of sport are superimposed upon those associated
with normal growth, maturation and development. A mismatch between demands of a sport
and those of normal growth, maturation and development may be a source of stress among
young athletes and may precipitate stressful interactions with parents and coaches.
GROWTH IN BODY SIZE
Height and weight (body mass) are the two body dimensions most commonly used to monitor
the growth of children and adolescents. With age, children are expected to become taller and
heavier. The growth status (size attained at a given age) and progress (rate of growth) of a
child are usually monitored relative to growth charts (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts.htm). These charts are a reference for comparison. These
are based on a nationally representative sample of American children and adolescents. The
charts include several curves which indicate the distribution of heights and weights (percentiles)
at a given age. Thus, a child at the 25th percentile for height is taller than 25%, but is shorter
than 75% of the children of the same age and sex. Growth charts provide a means of
evaluating the size attained by a child compared to others of the same age and sex.
Height and weight increase gradually during childhood. By about 9 - 10 years of age in
girls and 11 - 12 years of age in boys, the rate of growth in height begins to increase.
This marks the beginning of the adolescent growth spurt, a period of rapid growth that
is highly variable among individuals. The rate of growth increases until it reaches a peak
(age at maximum growth increment or peak height velocity); then it gradually decreases
and growth in height eventually stops. Girls, on average, start their growth spurts, reach
peak height velocity, and stop growing about two years earlier than boys. Nevertheless,
when the growth spurt starts, when the peak or maximum rate of growth during the
spurt is reached, and when growth stops are very variable among individuals.
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The growth spurt in body weight begins slightly later than that of height. Body weight is a
composite of many tissues, but is most often partitioned in terms of its lean (fat-free) and fat
components: body weight = fat-free mass (FFM) + fat mass (FM). FFM has a growth pattern like
that for body weight and experiences a clear adolescent spurt. FM increases more gradually
during childhood and adolescence.
Guidelines for expected changes in height, weight and body composition are shown in Table 1.
Other body dimensions follow a growth pattern similar to that for height and weight (see
Malina, Bouchard and Bar-Or, 2004, for a more detailed overview of the growth of other body
dimensions and systems, and the impact of variation in biological maturation).
MATURATION
The maturity status and progress of children and adolescents are ordinarily viewed three ways:
skeletally, sexually and somatically. Maturation of the skeleton focuses on the bones of the
hand and wrist, which generally reflect the remainder of the skeleton. An X-ray of the hand
and wrist is needed to assess skeletal maturation. As such, the method often has limited utility
outside the clinical setting. It is, however, a valuable method that is useful throughout childhood
and adolescence, and is also used along with height at a given age to predict adult height.
Sexual maturation is based on the development of the breasts and pubic hair in girls and the
testes and pubic hair in boys. Assessment of sexual maturity status is ordinarily done at clinical
examination by a physician. Such assessments, however, are limited to the pubertal years, i.e.,
there are no overt indicators of sexual maturity prior to the appearance of the secondary sex
characteristics. Age at menarche, the first menstrual period, is the most commonly used
indicator of sexual maturity in girls.
Somatic (body) maturation is based on the timing of the growth spurt in height, i.e., the
inflection in the growth curve leading to maximum growth in height during adolescence. The
maximum rate of growth during the spurt is called peak height velocity (PHV) and age at PHV
is an excellent maturity indicator. It is available only in longitudinal studies in which the height
of the individual is measured on a regular basis from about 9 through 16 - 17 years of age.
Although this indicator of maturation is valuable, it has limited utility unless longitudinal data
are available. At times estimates of age at PHV are based on modelling of cross-sectional data.
This provides an estimate only for the sample; it has no validity when applied to individuals and
does not permit causative statements regarding the timing of PHV.
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The most obvious feature of biological maturation during adolescence is puberty or sexual
maturation. The first overt sign of sexual maturation in girls is usually the initial development of
the breasts, followed by the appearance of pubic hair. The first overt sign of sexual
maturation in boys, on average, is the initial enlargement of the testes, followed by the
appearance of pubic hair. Each of these secondary sex characteristics goes through a series
of changes as the individual passes from childhood through puberty to maturity. They are
usually assessed at clinical examination. Monitoring these characteristics requires sensitivity
to the youngster involved.
Age at menarche is limited to girls since male puberty has no corresponding, overt
physiological event. Menarcheal status, i.e., has menarche occurred or not occurred, and age
at menarche in individual girls can be obtained with a careful and sensitive interview. At
times it may be appropriate to interview the girl's mother. The average age at menarche for
American girls, based on the last national health survey from 1988 to 1994, is 12.4 years of
age, although normal variation ranges from 9 - 17 years of age. There is also ethnic variation
(see Malina et al., 2004).
Guidelines for ranges of normal variation in sexual maturation are summarised in Table 2. It
is important that those working with young athletes be aware of such variation.
Performance varies with the timing of maturation (see below). Moreover, sexual maturation
per se and variation in timing has significance for behavioral development of the individual
adolescent.
Sexual maturation in boys is accompanied with marked gains in muscle mass and strength,
and broadening of the shoulders relative to the hips. In girls, it is accompanied by smaller
gains in muscle mass and strength, by a widening of the hips relative to the shoulders, and by
gains in fatness. The net result is sex differences in strength, physique and body composition
in late adolescence and young adulthood. Sexual maturation also influences behavioral
development, for example, increased self-consciousness about overt manifestations of sexual
maturation and concern with weight gain in girls; late maturation, strength deficiency and
self concept in boys; relationships with the opposite sex; and so on.
DEVELOPMENT
Development of behavioral competence proceeds simultaneously in several domains cognitive, social, emotional, moral and motor. Since many youngsters begin participation in
36
organised sport at about 5 - 6 years of age and continue in sport through adolescence,
coaches should be aware of the many behavioral changes that occur during childhood
and adolescence. The period between the preschool years and adolescence is often
called middle childhood. It approximately spans formal entrance into school (first grade)
to the onset of puberty (which, as indicated above, is variable in timing) and often
includes entry into organised sport.
Competence gradually develops in several behavioral domains during middle childhood,
approximately the elementary school years. However, two features are especially significant.
First, the child gradually refines his/her self-concept: Who am I? How do I feel about
myself? Where do I fit in? and so on. Second, the child learns many skills, including
cognitive-related skills like reading, writing and number manipulation, and interpersonal
behaviors and relationships that underlie social, emotional and moral competence, e.g.,
sharing, cooperation, honesty, sensitivity to others, etc. In the development of behavioral
competence, the child often evaluates himself or herself. They very often ask, Am I doing
OK? Do you still love me? Two primary sources of feedback in this self-evaluative process
are adults, specifically parents, teachers and coaches, and peers, their playmates and
teammates. It is essential that adults working with children be aware of their developing
sense of self and the ongoing process of self-evaluation.
It is during middle childhood that the peer group emerges as a source of support, criticism and comparison in handling the many challenges associated with an emerging sense
of behavioral competence. Peer group activities occur in many settings, and children
have multiple peer groups, both formal as in school, church and organised sport, and
informal as in neighborhoods and playgrounds. The significance and strength of peer
groups increase with age during middle childhood. The organised sport setting, especially
team sports, is a major source of peer group experiences for many children.
Middle childhood is followed by adolescence. The transition into adolescence and from
adolescence to adulthood is a period of major changes physically and behaviorally. The
developmental tasks of adolescence are many, but three stand out. First, it is a period of
physiological learning as the youngster copes with the physical and physiological changes
associated with the growth spurt and sexual maturation. The youngster must learn to
understand and accept the changes, to accept his/her body, and to adapt to masculine
and feminine roles. A major concern of adolescents is their physical appearance. Second,
it is a period of new relationships with age peers. During middle childhood, peer groups
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were largely same sex. During adolescence, youngsters develop relationships with age
peers of both sexes, so that they have a major concern for social acceptance. And, third, it
is a period of striving for independence. The youngsters strive for emotional independence
from parents and other adults as they prepare for adult roles. Hence, it is a time of
emotional peaks and valleys, of self-doubt, of changes in self-esteem, and of changing
interests. Many youngsters experience a decline in self-esteem as they go through the
developmental tasks of adolescence, especially during the transition from childhood into
adolescence. It is no surprise that many youngsters drop out of sport between 12 and 14
years of age. The demands of normal adolescence may play a role in this decision.
Adolescence in some cultures is a drawn out process, whereas in others there are distinct
and even formal rituals associated with adolescence and puberty. Adolescence appears to
be a time of confusion and insecurity for many, including young athletes, as they strive for
independence on the path to adulthood.
MOTOR COMPETENCE
The acquisition of proficiency in movement or motor behaviors is a major developmental
task of childhood. Motor activities can be viewed as patterns and skills. Pattern refers to
the basic elements of specific movement behaviors, e.g., walking pattern, running pattern,
jumping pattern, and so on. Skill refers to the accuracy, economy and efficiency of
movements. All children eventually learn to run, jump, throw, skip, hop, and so on; however,
all do not perform these movements with the same degree of skill. A primary responsibility
of teachers and coaches is to guide the skill development process from basic movement
patterns to skillful performance under conditions specific to a sport.
During the preschool years and extending into middle childhood, children develop
competence in a variety of basic or fundamental movements or movement patterns.
These are the foundation upon which other skills and sport-specific skills are built. The
basic human movement pattern is independent walking. With the refinement of the
walking pattern, the child’s control of his/her locomotion abilities improves so that a
considerable amount of independent movement is possible. Other movement patterns
include locomotor (running, jumping, hopping, galloping, skipping), projection
(throwing, kicking, striking), and reception (catching) skills, among others. There is
considerable variation among individual children in the rate of progress through the
sequence of changes for each movement pattern.
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Boys tend to develop movement patterns of overhand throwing and kicking earlier than
girls, whereas girls tend to patterns of hopping and skipping earlier than boys. Other skills
(running, jumping, catching and striking) show similarity between boys and girls, but there is
variation in when all of the basic elements of a movement pattern are present. Movement
pattern is a general concept and does not necessarily indicate skillful performance. Skill
implies precision, accuracy and economy of movement. Once the basic pattern is there,
guided practice and instruction facilitate the development of skill.
As already noted, many children enter organised youth sports programs at 5 or 6 years of age
and many have not yet sufficiently developed mature movement patterns at this time. One of
the objectives of youth sports programs, however, is to teach skills so that it is imperative that
teachers and coaches of children entering a sport have an understanding of the developmental
sequences and, more importantly, have knowledge of how to provide an environment in
which the developing movement patterns can be nurtured and improved.
Movement patterns are refined through appropriate instruction and practice, performance
quality improves, and the basic patterns are integrated into more complex movement
sequences and skills required for specific games and sports. The transition from basic movement
patterns to more complex sports skills depends upon individual differences in
neuromuscular maturation, earlier experiences and opportunity for movement, and the quality
of instruction and practice. A “proficiency barrier” may exist for those children who do not
have such opportunities for instruction and practice. Key players in this process are teachers
and coaches who should be able to meet the developmental needs of young athletes though
appropriate instructional sequences and guided practice opportunities. It is essential that
teachers and coaches know how to observe the movements of a child in order to effectively
teach movement skills relevant to soccer. All too often, individuals tend to focus on the end
product or outcome of a movement.
MOTOR PERFORMANCE
The development of proficiency in basic movement patterns is accompanied by improved levels
of performance which can usually be quantified. These are outcomes of the performance of
tasks done under specified conditions, e.g., the distance or height jumped (power), the distance
a ball is thrown (power and coordination), the time elapsed in completing a 30-yard dash
(speed) or a shuttle run (speed and agility), the number of sit-ups performed in 20 seconds
(abdominal strength), the force expressed against a fixed resistance (strength), and so on.
39
Data are available for a number of tasks which provide a good indication of performance
changes with age from childhood through adolescence. Performances on standardised
tasks improve with age during childhood, and boys perform, on average, better than
girls. There is considerable overlap between the sexes during early and middle childhood.
With the onset of adolescence, the performances of boys accelerate, while those of
girls improve to about 13 - 14 years of age and then level-off or improve only slightly.
The overall pattern of age- and sex-associated changes in a variety of performance
tasks during childhood and adolescence is summarised in Malina et al. (2004).
Performance during adolescence is influenced in part by individual differences in the
timing of the adolescent growth spurt. In boys, performances in a variety of tasks show
well-defined adolescent spurts. Measures of static strength (grip, arm pull), power
(vertical jump), and functional strength (flexed arm hang) show their peak gains, on
average, after the time of maximum growth in height. On the other hand, presently
available data suggest that measures of speed and agility (shuttle run), speed of arm
movement (as in the number of times two plates, 20 cm in diameter and separated by
60 cm, are tapped in 20 seconds), and lower back flexibility (sit and reach) show their
peak gains before the time of maximum growth in height. The trends for measures of
strength and power are similar in timing to those for body mass and muscle mass, both
of which experience their maximum growth after peak height velocity. The earlier
adolescent spurts for running speed and lower back flexibility may be related to
growth of the lower extremities. Height is comprised of the legs, trunk, neck and head,
and the legs experience maximum growth first. Thus, boys have relatively longer legs
for their heights early in the adolescent spurt and this may influence running speed and
lower trunk flexibility.
Data relating performances of girls to the adolescent spurt are not extensive. Like
boys, girls show an adolescent spurt in static strength of the arm and power (vertical
jump) after maximum growth in height.
The magnitude of the growth spurt in
strength, however, is only about one-half of the maximum gain in boys. In contrast,
presently available data for flexibility and speed tasks contrast the trends for boys in
that both show maximum gains after maximum growth in height of girls. When
performances of girls are related to the time before and after menarche, there are no
consistent trends. Menarche, however, is a late maturational event which occurs after
peak height velocity. Major gains in growth and performance have already occurred.
40
GROWTH AND MATURITY STATUS OF YOUNG ATHLETES
In order to evaluate the potential influence of training for sport on growth and maturation,
it is important to be familiar with the selective or exclusive nature of many sports and
with the growth and maturity characteristics of young athletes in a variety of sports.
Some sports selectively choose or exclude youth on the basis of body size during childhood.
The role of body size becomes more important in other sports later in childhood and
during the transition into adolescence. At this time, size is closely related to biological
maturity status. This section summarises current information on the height and weight,
and the biological maturity status of young athletes in several of sports.
Size Attained
Athletes of both sexes and in most sports have, on the average, heights that equal or
exceed reference medians. Gymnastics is the only sport that consistently presents a profile
of short height in both sexes. Average heights for most samples of gymnasts are near the
10th percentiles of reference data. Figure skaters of both sexes also present shorter
heights, on average, though data are less extensive than for gymnasts. It must be noted
that the trends are based on group means. Given the wide range of normal variation
among individuals and variation associated with individual differences in biological
maturation, there are exceptions to the trends indicated in mean values.
Body weights present a similar pattern. Young athletes in most sports tend to have body
weights that, on average, equal or exceed the reference medians. Gymnasts, figure skaters
and ballet dancers of both sexes consistently show lighter body weight. Gymnasts and
figure skaters have appropriate weight-for-height, while ballet dancers have low
weight-for-height. A similar trend in indicated in female distance runners.
Body Composition of Young Athletes
Child and adolescent athletes have less relative fatness (percentage body fat) than nonathletes of the same age and sex. Male athletes and non-athletes both show a decline in
percentage body fat during adolescence, but athletes have less relative fatness at most
ages. Female athletes also have a lower percentage body fat than non-athletes, especially
during adolescence, and it appears that the differences between female athletes and nonathletes are greater than the corresponding differences in males.
41
Relative fatness,
on the average, does not increase much with age during adolescence in female
athletes, while it does in non-athletes. Although athletes tend to have less fat than
non-athletes, there is variation among athletes and among different sports.
Maturity Status of Male Athletes
With few exceptions, male athletes in a variety of sports tend to be average (on time)
or advanced (early) in biological maturation. Other than gymnasts, who show later
skeletal maturation, there is a lack of late maturing boys who are successful in sport
during early and mid- adolescence (about 12 - 15 years of age).
In some sports, advanced maturity is more apparent in adolescence. For example,
among youth football (soccer) and ice hockey players, a broad range of skeletal maturity
is represented among participants 10 - 12 years of age, i.e., boys with both late and
advanced skeletal ages are almost equally represented. However, among players 13 16 years of age, late maturing boys (skeletal age behind chronological age by more
than one year) are minimally represented. Thus, with advancing chronological age and
presumably experience, boys advanced in biological maturity are more common
among adolescent players in football (soccer) and ice hockey. This may reflect selection
or exclusion (self, coach, sport system, or some combination), differential success of
boys advanced in maturity, the changing nature of the games (more physical contact
may be permitted in older age groups with an advantage for larger, stronger, more
mature boys), or some combination of these factors.
On the other hand, later maturing boys are often successful in some sports in later
adolescence (16 - 18 years of age), e.g., track, basketball. This is associated with the
catch-up in biological maturity and late adolescent growth, i.e., all youth eventually
reach maturity, and with the reduced significance of maturity-associated differences in
body size and performance of boys in late adolescence.
Maturity Status of Female Athletes
Most discussions of biological maturation of female athletes focus on the age at menarche,
which is a late event during the adolescent growth spurt and puberty. Mean ages at
menarche in North American and European girls vary between 12.5 and 13.5 years.
However, the age range within which menarche may normally occur is 9 through 17 years.
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Later mean ages at menarche are often reported in athletes in many, but not all,
sports. There is confusion about later ages at menarche in athletes, which is related, in
part, to the fact that most of the information is derived from recalled (retrospective)
ages reported by college age and older athletes. Such data include potential error
associated with accuracy of memory or recall.
When the distribution of recalled ages at menarche in large samples of athletes and
non-athletes of the same chronological age and from similar social backgrounds are
considered, there is considerable overlap between samples. The distribution for athletes
is simply shifted to the right, or later ages, by about one year or so. However, there are
both early and late maturing athletes and non-athletes; it is just that there are more
later maturing athletes than non-athletes.
Information on the age at menarche in adolescent athletes, i.e., teen-age athletes, is
very limited. Reliable information is derived from status quo surveys and longitudinal
studies. Use of the retrospective method with adolescent athletes excludes those who
have not yet attained menarche and thus biases the mean age at menarche for the
sample. If an average of 13.0 years is accepted for North American and European girls,
about 95% of girls will attain menarche between 11.0 and 15.0 years. Most samples of
adolescent athletes have mean ages at menarche within the range of normal variation.
Only several samples of gymnasts and ballet dancers have mean ages at menarche
older than 15.0 years. Both of these activities have extremely selective criteria which
tend to favor the late maturing girls.
Sample sizes in studies of adolescent athletes are generally small, and studies in which
the athletes are followed from prepuberty through puberty are often limited to
smaller, select samples. A potentially confounding issue in such studies is selective
drop-out. For example, do earlier maturing girls selectively drop-out of gymnastics or
figure skating? Or, do sports like gymnastics, figure skating and ballet select for late
maturing girls, or do these sports systematically eliminate early maturing girls?
Training, Growth and Maturation
It is often assumed that regular physical activity, including training for sport, is important
to support normal growth and maturation. However, just how much activity is needed
to support normal growth and maturation, however, is not known.
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It must be noted that physical activity is not equivalent to training for sport. Sport is
one context of physical activity; others include play, transport, physical education, and
so on. However, systematic physical activity is a major component of training for sport
and the frequency, intensity and volume of training varies considerably among sports.
Some have even suggested that sport training has a stimulatory or accelerating influence
on the processes of growth and maturation, while others have suggested that systematic training for some sports may have potentially negative influences on these processes.
Growth in Height and Weight
Sport participation and training for sport have no apparent effect on growth in height
(how tall a child is at a given age) and the rate of growth in height (how much a child
grows in a year) in healthy, adequately nourished children and adolescents. With few
exceptions, athletes of both sexes in a variety of sports have, on average, heights that
equal or exceed data for non-athletes. Short term longitudinal studies of athletes in
several sports in which the same youngsters are followed on a regular basis over time,
e.g., volleyball, diving (see above), distance running, basketball, indicate rates of
growth in height that, on average, closely approximate rates observed in the nonathlete children and adolescents. Growth rates are well within the range of normally
expected variation among youth.
In contrast to height, body weight can be influenced by regular training for sport,
resulting in changes in body composition. Training is associated with a decrease in
fatness in both sexes and occasionally with an increase in fat-free mass, especially in
boys. Changes in fatness depend on continued, regular activity or training (or caloric
restriction) for their maintenance. When training is significantly reduced, fatness tends
to accumulate. On the other hand, it is difficult to separate specific effects of training
on fat-free mass from expected changes that occur with normal growth and sexual
maturation during adolescence. This is especially so in boys who almost double their
estimated fat-free mass during adolescence (Table 1).
Biological Maturation
Does regular training for and participation in sport influence the timing and tempo of
biological maturation? As noted, there is a wide range of normal variation among youth in
the timing and tempo of biological maturation which are highly individual characteristics that
often show a tendency to run in families, i.e., familial lateness or earliness. The following
summarises general trends for young athletes.
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Skeletal Maturation. Training does not influence the rate skeletal maturation. Short
term longitudinal studies of boys and girls in several sports indicate similar gains in skeletal
maturation in both athletes and non-athletes; on average, skeletal age proceeds in concert
with the child's chronological age. It should be noted that in later adolescence, differences
in maturity status among participants at younger ages are reduced and are eventually
eliminated as skeletal maturity is attained by all individuals.
Somatic Maturation. Available data indicate no effect of training for sport on the
timing of maximum growth (age at peak height velocity) and on growth rate in height
during the adolescent spurt in boys and girls. It has been suggested that intensive
training may delay the timing of the growth spurt and stunt the growth spurt in female
gymnasts. These data are not sufficiently longitudinal to warrant such a conclusion.
Many confounding factors are not considered, especially the rigorous selection criteria
for gymnastics, marginal diets and/or dietary manipulation, psychosocial atmosphere
of the training environment including overbearing coaches, among others. In contrast,
data suggest an important role for constitutional and familial factors in the short
stature and later maturation of young female and male gymnasts.
Sexual Maturation. Longitudinal data on the sexual maturation of either girls or boys
who are regularly active or training for sport are not extensive. The available data are
largely cross-sectional so that it is difficult to make clear statements on potential
effects of training for sport. Limited longitudinal data indicate no effect of training on
the timing and progress of breast and pubic hair development in girls, on the age at
menarche, and on the timing and progress of genital and pubic hair development in
boys.
Most discussions of the potential influence of training on sexual maturation focus on
the later ages at menarche which are often observed in females athletes. Training for
sport is indicated as the factor which is responsible for the later mean ages at
menarche, with the inference that training “delays” the onset of this maturational
event.
The presently available data do not permit such a conclusion.
Although
menarche occurs, on average, later in athletes than in non-athletes, other factors that
are known to influence the timing of menarche are not considered. For example,
there is a familial tendency for later menarche in athletes. Other factors include diet
(especially uncontrolled dieting), number of children in the family, household
composition, and others.
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Training and Specific Tissues
Bone (skeletal), muscle and fat (adipose) tissues are three primary components of
body composition.
The skeleton is the framework of the body and the main
reservoir of minerals.
Skeletal muscle is the major work-producing and
oxygen-consuming tissue, while adipose tissue represents energy in stored form.
Skeletal. Regular physical activity and training during childhood and adolescence
are associated with increased bone mineral content. The beneficial effects are more
apparent in weight bearing (e.g., running, soccer, gymnastics) than non-weight
bearing (e.g., swimming) activities. Of particular importance to physical activity
and the integrity of skeletal tissue is the observation that bone mineral levels
established during childhood and adolescence may be an important determinant of
bone mineral status in adulthood.
In contrast to the positive influence of physical activity and training on bone
mineralisation, excessive training associated with changes in the menstrual cycle in
some, but not all, post-menarcheal adolescent athletes may be potentially
associated with loss of bone mineral if the alterations in menstrual function persist
for some time. Most of the data dealing with this issue are derived from adult athletes
who have been intensively training in their given sport, usually distance running,
for a long time. It should also be noted that variation in menstrual cycles after the
onset of the first menstruation (menarche) in adolescent girls is the rule rather than
the exception. It ordinarily takes about two to three years for menstrual cycles to
become "regular". The adolescent girl needs assurance and understanding as she
adjusts to the physiological changes of puberty.
Skeletal Muscle. Information on the effects of physical activity on skeletal muscle
tissue is derived largely from short-term, specific training studies of small samples.
Increase in muscle size or muscular hypertrophy is associated with high-resistance
programs, such as weight or strength training in adolescent boys, and may not
occur or may occur to a much lesser extent in preadolescent boys and girls, and in
other forms of training. There is no strong evidence to suggest that fiber type
distribution in children and adolescents can be changed as a result of training.
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Information on changes in the metabolic properties of skeletal muscle with training
in children and youth is not extensive. Limited data suggest that regular training
has the potential to modify the activities of oxidative enzymes (those involved in
prolonged activities as in distance running) and glycolytic enzymes (those involved
in bursts of activity as in sprinting) in early and late adolescent boys. The changes
are specific to the nature of the training program, i.e., endurance or sprint. However,
after cessation of training, enzymes return to pre-training levels, which indicates an
important feature of training studies. Changes in response to short-term programs
are generally not permanent and depend upon regular activity for their maintenance.
An important question that needs further study is: How much activity is needed to
maintain the beneficial changes associated with training?
Adipose. Active children and young athletes generally have thinner skinfolds compared
to reference samples. It should be noted that individual skinfolds change differentially
during growth, e.g., skinfolds on the extremities and not those on the trunk generally
decline during adolescence in boys.
The trend is similar for relative fatness
(percentage fat). Regular physical activity and/or training is necessary to maintain
these beneficial effects on relative fatness. When training stops, relative fatness
increases. Just how much physical activity or training is essential to maintain lower
levels of fatness in youth is not known.
Summary
Given the presently available data, intensive training for sport has no negative effect
on growth and maturation. In the few young athletes who may present problems
related to growth and maturation, factors other than training for sport must be more
closely scrutinised. In many cases of short stature, the shortness is familial, i.e., short
parents tend to have short children. Shortness may also be related to late maturation,
which may also be familial. In some sports, the growth of the young athletes may be
compromised by marginal or poor nutritional status, and occasionally by disordered
eating. If intensive training for sport during childhood and adolescence influences
growth in height and biological maturation, it most likely interacts with or is
confounded by these factors and perhaps by others so that a specific influence of
training may be difficult to extract. In adequately nourished individuals, growth in
height and biological maturation are under genetic control. On the other hand,
regular training for sport has the potential to favorably influence body composition by
increasing bone mineral and skeletal muscle, and decreasing fatness.
47
SUGGESTIONS FOR THOSE WORKING WITH YOUNG ATHLETES
Models of developmental programs for young athletes, especially those in the former socialist
countries of Eastern Europe (e.g., USSR, DDR, Romania) which have been extended to many
regions of the world, commonly partition the process into several levels or age periods, each
with specific training objectives in a given sport, for example, 5 - 8 years, 9 - 13 years,
14 - 18 years, adult. Ages, of course, are arbitrary given individual differences in growth,
maturation and behavioral development. A summary of growth, maturity and developmental
characteristics associated with the three age groups in childhood through adolescence is
given in Tables 4 through 6. The ages are only approximate, given individual differences in
growth, maturation and development.
The models underlying developmental programs for young athletes imply sensitive phases
for trainability - the responsiveness of individuals to systematic instruction, practice and training,
for example, trainability of perceptual motor characteristics, components of performance
(endurance, strength, speed, and flexibility), affective/cognitive characteristics related to
learning and the coaching environment, and physiological systems. Variation among individuals
in how they respond to specific instructional, practice and training situations is considerable.
Sensitive phases are believed to be periods during which the specific components should be
emphasised, based upon the premise that children are more responsive to instruction and
supervised practice and to training at these ages. The existence of sensitive phases or critical
periods, however, has not been established with certainty.
Variation within and between individuals in growth, maturation and development is the
rule. The marked changes in body composition are of specific concern, especially to adolescent
girls and also many coaches. Motor performance may be influenced by an especially rapid
growth spurt in both sexes. Relationships between peers may influence social behaviors and
in turn relationships with coaches. Several suggestions for those working with young
athletes in dealing with the physical, behavioral and motor changes associated with the
transition into and during the adolescent growth spurt and sexual maturation are
summarised subsequently.
Teachers, coaches and parents working with youth in the context of sport should be aware of the
biological and behavioral demands of “growing up” especially during the transition into adolescence
and during the adolescent growth spurt and sexual maturation. The following highlights some
of the major changes and offers some suggestions for those working with youth.
48
Individual Differences
• The timing and tempo of growth and maturation during adolescence are highly
individual characteristics. This individuality is especially apparent with regard to
when (timing) changes in growth, maturation and performance occur and to the
rate (tempo) at which these changes occur.
• This individuality in maturation is also apparent in comparisons of individuals
of the same age who differ in maturity status.
Individual differences in
maturation are reflected in size, body build, strength and performance.
• The adolescent needs reassurance that he/she is "normal", i.e., not different
from his/her peers. This need most often occurs in youngsters who are
extremely early or extremely late in maturation. Above all, coaches should not
make fun of them; peers often do, especially in locker rooms. The adolescent
is very sensitive to the growth and maturational changes that are occurring,
and must learn to adjust to them. Adolescence is a period of physiological
learning. He/she needs the support of understanding adults to transcend these
changes with a positive view of self.
Adolescent Concerns for Body Weight and Shape
• Given changes that occur in body composition during later childhood and
adolescence, avoid comments about body weight, especially in girls who in our
culture are being taught that "thin is in". Adolescent girls are very sensitive to
weight changes associated with growth and maturation, and do not need to
be reminded of them.
• Be careful in using size and weight as cut-points in sports. This especially
affects late maturing youngsters who need to be given the opportunity to
participate and to keep working at improving skills, and who need to be
reassured that they will eventually grow and mature.
• Pay attention to the child's eating behaviors and diet. A well-balanced diet is
essential to support the needs of growth and maturation, in addition to those
specific to physical activity and regular training for sport. Megavitamins are
not a replacement for a well-balanced meal.
Be aware of the use of
antihistamines to suppress diet.
Coaches should be aware of expected developmental changes and should also be
aware of how developmental changes may influence performance. Some examples are
indicated subsequently:
49
• Since growth in height occurs before growth in body mass and strength, there
may be temporary periods during which a boy or girl may appear to "outgrow
his/her strength". The youngster needs reassurance that his/her strength will
eventually catch up.
• There may be intervals during which a skill may temporarily decline compared to
performances prior to the growth spurt, or there may be intervals during which
skills may not improve as quickly. These may be associated with rapid changes in
body proportions during the adolescent growth spurt, or changes in body composition
associated with sexual maturation. The legs, for example, experience their grow
spurt before the trunk does, which temporarily alters the position of the center
of gravity. Or, accumulation of fatness during puberty increases the mass that
must be projected in sports such as gymnastics and diving.
• Changes in body composition and development of the hips, particularly in girls,
also may influence performance. The adolescent girl needs to be nurtured
through these changes in a positive manner with appropriate instruction and
practice in movement and sport-specific skills.
Coaching Young Athletes
• A coach must, on one hand, challenge and improve the abilities of the
youngster, and, on the other hand, must still keep the sport fun.
• Some youngsters may make remarkable progress as they enter an elite program
so that the coach (and perhaps the parent and athlete) would like to accelerate
progress within the sport. Coaches (and parents) need to recognise problems
associated with moving up too fast in a sport.
• Coaches should regularly monitor the environment of their elite training program.
Be aware of coach behaviors and feedback given to the young athletes. Is the
feedback instructional, or demeaning and threatening? Are there pressures
related to diet, weight regulation, weight training, and conditioning regimens
that may be inappropriate for the youngster and potentially harmful? Do the
young athletes have any say about when and how much they practice and
compete?
• Let your athletes participate to some extent in decision-making processes.
• Remember, participation in sport should be fun and enjoyable; it should not be
a job. Listen to your young athletes!
• Young athletes are children and adolescents and …they have the needs of
children and adolescents - they are not miniature adults!
50
LITERATURE CITED AND RECOMMENDED READING
1. Beunen, G. and Malina, R.M. (1988). Growth and physical performance relative to the
timing of the adolescent spurt. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 16:503-540.
2. Beunen, B. and Malina, R.M. (2008). Growth and biologic maturation: Relevance to
athletic performance. In Hebestreit, H. and Bar-Or, O. (Ed.), The Young Athlete, 3-17,
Blackwell, Malden, MA.
3. Beunen, G., Malina, R.M., and Thomis, M. (1999). Physical growth and maturation of
female gymnasts. In Johnston, F.E., Zemel, B., and Eveleth, P.B. (Ed.), Human growth in
context, 281-289, Smith-Gordon, London.
4. Coelho e Silva, M. and Malina, R.M. (Ed.). (2004). Children and Youth in Organized
Sports. Coimbra: Coimbra University Press.
5. Goncalves, C.E., Cumming, S.P., Coelho e Silva, M.J., Malina, R.M. (Ed.). (2007). Sport and
Education. Coimbra: Coimbra University Press.
6. Malina, R.M. (1983). Menarche in athletes: A synthesis and hypothesis. Annals of Human
Biology, 10, 1-24.
7. Malina, R.M. (1994). Physical growth and biological maturation of young athletes.
Exercise and Sport Science Reviews, 22, 389-433.
8. Malina, R.M. (1996). The young athlete: Biological growth and maturation in a biocultural
context. In Smoll, F.L., Smith, R.E. (Ed.), Children and Youth in Sport: A Biopsychosocial
Perspective, 161-186, Brown and Benchmark, Dubuque, IA.
9. Malina, R.M. (1998). Growth and maturation of young athletes: Is training for sport a
factor. In Chang, K.M. and Micheli, L. (Ed.), Sports and Children, 133-161, Williams and
Wilkins, Hong Kong.
10. Malina, R.M. (1999). Growth and maturation of elite female gymnasts: Is training a
factor. In Johnston, F.E., Zemel, B., Eveleth, P.B. (Ed.), Human Growth in Context, 291-301,
Smith-Gordon, London.
11. Malina, R.M. (2008). Skill acquisition in childhood and adolescence. In H. Hebestreit, H,
and Bar-Or, O. (Ed.), The Young Athlete, 96-111. Blackwell, Malden, MA
12. Malina, R.M., Beunen, G. (2008). Growth and maturation: Methods of monitoring. In H.
Hebestreit, H. and Bar-Or, O. (Ed.). The Young Athlete, 430-442. Blackwell, Malden, MA.
13. Malina, R.M., Bouchard, C. and Bar-Or, O. (2004). Growth, Maturation, and Physical
Activity, 2nd edition, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.
14. Malina, R.M. and Clark, M.A. (Ed.). (2003). Youth Sports: Perspectives for a New Century,
Coaches Choice, Monterey, CA.
15. Sroufe, L.A., Cooper, R.G., DeHart, G.B. and Marshall, M.E. (1992). Child Development: Its
Nature and Course. McGraw-Hill, New York.
51
Table 1. Guidelines for expected changes in height, weight and body composition
Pre-Adolescence or Pre-Puberty (about 6 - 10 years of age)
Children are expected to grow, i.e., increase in weight and height. Although there is
much variation among individuals, children gain, on average, about 5 - 8 cm (2 - 3 inches)
per year and about 2 - 3 kg (5 - 7 pounds) per year between 6 and 10 years of age. As
adolescence and puberty begin, growth rates increase, first in height and then in weight.
Adolescence and Puberty
Adolescence is characterised by the growth spurt and sexual maturation. It is a time of
considerable variation in when events occur and the rate at which children pass through
them. The following highlights average trends that characterise the growth spurt:
•
GIRLS - begins around 9 - 10 years of age
- reaches maximum around the 12th birthday
- growth rate then slows, but growth continues to about 16 - 18 years of age
•
BOYS - begins around 11 - 12 years of age
- reaches maximum around the 14th birthday
- growth rate then slows, but growth continues to about 18 - 20 years of age
•
Growth in height continues into the early 20s in some girls and boys
•
There is considerable variation among individuals in
TIMING - when the adolescent spurt occurs, and
TEMPO - rate of progress through the spurt
•
Body weight, fat-free mass and muscle mass have adolescent spurts that occur, on
average, several months after the maximum rate of growth (i.e., the spurt)
in height.
•
During the interval of maximum growth in height (about 11 - 13 years in girls and
13 - 15 years in boys), girls gain about 7 kg (15 pounds) in fat-free mass while boys
gain double this value, 14 kg (31 pounds); girls gain a bit more fat than boys
during the interval of the growth spurt, 3 kg (6 pounds) versus 1.5 kg (3 pounds).
•
In a sense, "First you stretch them and then you fill them out" during the growth
spurt.
Adapted from Malina et al. (2004).
52
Table 2. Guidelines for normal variation in sexual maturation
GIRLS
•
The first overt sign of sexual maturation of girls is the initial enlargement of
the breasts, but it is occasionally preceded by the appearance of pubic hair.
It occurs, on average, at about 10 years of age, but may occur before 9 years
in about 10% of the girls and not until after 12 years in another 10% of
the girls.
•
Mature breast development occurs, on average, between 14 and 15 years of
age, but the mature stage may occur as early as 12 years in some girls and
not until 16 - 17 years of age in others.
•
Progress from initial to mature breast development is highly variable among
girls. Some girls may pass through the process in 2 years, while others may
take 5 or more years.
•
Menarche, the first menstrual period, is a rather late maturational event of
puberty. It ordinarily occurs after maximum growth in height (peak height
velocity). Average age at menarche for American girls is 12.4 ± 1.0 years with
ethnic variation.
BOYS
•
Initial enlargement of the genitals (testes and penis) is usually the first overt
sign of sexual maturation in boys, but it make be preceded by the appearance
of pubic hair. It occurs, on average, about 11 years of age, but may occur
around 9 years in about 10% of the boys and not until after 13 years in another
10% of the boys.
•
Mature genital development occurs, on average, at about 15 years of age, but
maturity may occur as early as 13 years and after 18 years.
•
Progress from initial to mature genital development is highly variable among
boys. Some boys may pass through the process in 2 years, while others may
take about 5 or more years.
Adapted from Malina et al. (2004).
53
Table 3. Guidelines for changes in physical performance during childhood and adolescence
•
Performances in tasks requiring strength, power, speed, endurance, agility, and
coordination tend to increase, on average, with age.
Sex differences are
relatively small on most tasks during middle childhood.
•
With the onset of the adolescent growth spurt, most performance items show
an accelerated rate of development, more so in boys than in girls. In many tasks,
performances of girls increase, on average, only slightly during adolescence
compared to the increases in boys. It should be emphasied, however, that with
practice and appropriate instruction, the performances of adolescent girls
continue to improve.
•
In contrast to performance items, flexibility tends to decline, on average, from
childhood until the early stages of the adolescent spurt, and then increases in
later adolescence. Girls are more flexible than boys at all ages. Note, however,
that flexibility tends to be joint-specific.
Flexibility exercises (stretching) may
have the potential to offset the decline noted with age.
•
Performance tasks also show well-defined adolescent spurts in boys. In a sample
of Belgian boys followed from 12 through 18 years of age, static strength (arm
pull), power (vertical jump) and functional strength (flexed arm hang) show peak
gains after maximum growth in height (peak height velocity), while flexibility
(sit and reach), speed and agility (shuttle run) and speed of arm movement (plate
tapping) show peak gains before maximum growth in height.
•
Arm strength shows peak gain after maximum growth in height in girls, but the
peak gain in strength is only about one-half of that in boys. Data on growth
spurts in other performances of girls are not consistent.
•
Aerobic power (VO2max) shows a clear adolescent spurt in boys and girls.
It
occurs at about the same time as the adolescent growth spurt in height.
Adapted from Malina et al. (2004).
54
Table 4. Childhood, ~ 5 - 8 years of age
Growth and Maturation
•
This is a period of steady growth in body size, although some children may
experience a small growth spurt in height during this interval.
•
The legs are growing faster than the trunk so that the child appears to be
relatively longer-legged for his/her height. As a result, the center of gravity
gradually descends. At the same time, the abdominal musculature becomes
better defined and stronger, contributing to a less pronounced (flatter)
lumbar curve.
•
Overt manifestations of biological maturation are not apparent, but
children do in fact differ in their biological maturity status.
Children
advanced in maturation are generally taller and heavier than those who are
slower in maturation.
•
Size
differences,
in
turn,
may
influence
performances
on
tasks
requiring strength, speed and power.
Cognitive Competence
•
Cognitive skills become elaborated as children show longer attention spans
and increased problem solving ability.
•
Children are able to handle multiple pieces of information; however, they
have difficulty handling abstract or hypothetical questions.
•
A major factor limiting the cognitive competence of young children is their
lack of knowledge and experience using their developing skills.
55
Social Competence
•
Children are expanding their understanding of self, i.e., self-concept
formation.
•
Children are interested in others, and often use other children as a reference
of comparison in making self-evaluations and in defining themselves in terms
of groups to which they belong.
•
The peer group emerges as an important influence on children's behaviors.
They are generally same-sex groups. Children have a strong sense of security
in the group and in organised group activities.
•
Given this sense of the group, children can learn a good deal from each other,
which
emphasises
the
potential
importance
of
cooperative
learning
environments.
Motor Competence
•
By these ages, the majority of children have developed the basic movement
patterns. Note, however, that some children have not yet mastered the basic
movement patterns at theses ages and would benefit from systematic
instruction and practice under the supervision of qualified teachers/coaches.
•
Performance in a variety of strength, speed, and power tasks improves more
or less proportionally to gains in body size. Balance and coordination tasks
also improve.
•
Children are very responsive to systematic instructional and training programs
for the development of movement skills at these ages.
Information dealing with cognitive and social development was adapted from Sproufe
et al. (1992). The other information is from Malina et al. (2004).
56
Table 5. Transition from childhood to adolescence, ~ 9 - 13 years of age
Growth and Maturation
•
Variation in growth and maturation are considerable due to individual
differences in the timing and tempo of the adolescent growth spurt and
sexual maturation.
•
This individuality is especially apparent with regard to when (timing) changes
in growth and maturation occur and to the rate (tempo) at which these
changes occur.
•
This individuality is also apparent in comparisons of individuals of the same
age who differ in maturity status.
Individual differences in maturation
are reflected in size, body build, strength and performance.
•
Girls, on average, often have a size advantage over boys, given the
earlier onset of the adolescent spurt and sexual maturation.
•
Changes in size and body composition in the transition to adolescence impact
body image.
Cognitive Competence
•
Cognitive skills become more elaborated as children show longer attention
spans and increased problem solving ability, and are able to handle multiple
pieces of information.
•
Logical thinking skills and hypothetico-deductive reasoning, and the ability to
think about abstract concepts emerge during early adolescence.
•
Cognitively building abstract concepts upon more concrete concepts is
important to diving. The young diver must be able to translate instructions
from coaches into mental images of specific components of a dive.
57
Social Competence
•
The strength of the peer group increases. The group is a focal point and is
a means of establishing independence from adults.
•
Individual differences in the onset of the growth spurt and puberty influence
relationships with others and definition of the social self.
•
A major social developmental task that emerges at this time is the formation
of personal identity, i.e., accepting the self as worthy and different from
others.
•
There is a gradual shift from identifying with same sex peers to learning roles
in heterosexual situations.
Motor Competence
•
Strength and motor performance, on average, improve with age.
•
Individual differences in the timing and tempo of the growth spurt and
sexual maturation exaggerate differences among children in strength
and motor performance. This is especially apparent among children of the
same age who differ in maturity status.
•
Youth 9 - 13 years of age are responsive to systematic instruction and training
of specific motor skills, especially more complex skills associated with diving,
and to systematic, supervised strength training programs. Specific instruction
for girls should perhaps be emphasised early in this age range given the earlier
transition of girls into the growth spurt and puberty.
Responsiveness to
aerobic training programs increases towards the end of this period
(about 12 - 13 years of age).
Information dealing with cognitive and social development was adapted from Sproufe
et al. (1992). The other information is from Malina et al. (2004).
58
Table 6. Adolescence and the transition to adulthood, ~ 14 - 18 years of age
Growth and Maturation
•
The growth spurt and sexual maturation have already occurred in the
majority of girls by these ages. Many boys are in still in the growth spurt
and sexual maturation.
•
By about 17 - 18 years of age, the majority of girls and boys are biologically
mature or are approaching maturity. A small number of youngsters will
continue to grow in stature into the early 20s, males more so than females.
•
Changes in body composition are major.
Girls accumulate proportionally
more fat tissue, while boys accumulate more lean tissue.
Cognitive Competence
•
Progress in logical thinking, hypothetico-deductive reasoning, and handling
of abstract concepts continues.
•
Enhanced abstract thinking is the basis for the ability for introspection. It is
also the basis for emerging relationships between cognition and emotions.
•
These cognitive skills expand the adolescent's ability to reason about moral
and ethical issues.
59
Social Competence
•
The formation of personal identity becomes crystalised, which contributes to
establishing independence, i.e., the self as an independent person.
•
The older adolescent's sense of self becomes more integrated, which
contributes to better understanding of the uniqueness of each individual
and to the ability to reconcile personal inconsistencies.
•
Social relationships become more important.
evaluation and identify formation.
These contribute to self-
Relationships with the opposite
sex are especially important.
•
There is increased acceptance of an adult role in different groups.
Motor Competence
•
Proficiency in strength and motor skills continues to increase, on average, in
boys.
•
On average, the strength and motor performances of girls tend to reach a
plateau at these ages.
In young female athletes who are systematically
training for a sport, strength and motor performances often improve into late
adolescence.
Information dealing with cognitive and social development was adapted from Sproufe
et al. (1992). The other information is from Malina et al. (2004).
60