The Girton eLink

Taking Sport to New Heights

Sports Excellence

Bio-banding is the process of grouping athletes based on attributes associated with growth and maturation, rather than chronological age (e.g. under-15s). Children of the same chronological age vary considerably in biological maturation, where we can see that some individuals reach maturity before or after their counterparts. Because the timing of individual maturation can have great implications for training, competition, and talent identification, it is important to develop an effective method of assessing young athletes in which they are not subject to a maturity bias. 

 

Athletes in the Emerging Athlete Program underwent testing at the start of the year to determine their peak height velocity (PHV). The peak height velocity is simply the period of time in which an adolescent experiences the fastest upward growth in their stature (i.e. the time when they grow the fastest during their adolescent growth). Females appear to experience the onset of the adolescent growth spurt and peak height velocity earlier than males, though males appear to grow more during this period.

 

We then used this data to break our athletes into 4 distinct groups depending on their PHV.

 

  1. Pre-Adolescent (Greater than 12 months from PHV)
  2. Adolescent - Onset of the growth period (3.6 to 12 months from PHV)
  3. Adolescent - Growing at the fastest rate during the growth period (3.6 months prior to PHV and 6 months post PHV
  4. Post Adolescent- (Post 6 months PHV)

 

Each group participates in a 10 minute game weekly which is driven by the most appropriate / beneficial exercises for that maturation status. Some examples can be seen below.

 

1. Pre-Adolescent (Greater than 12 months from PHV)- Basic throw and catch games
1. Pre-Adolescent (Greater than 12 months from PHV)- Basic throw and catch games
2. Adolescent - Onset of the growth period- Increased neural demand
2. Adolescent - Onset of the growth period- Increased neural demand
3. Adolescent - Growing at the fastest rate during the growth period – Balance and coordination
3. Adolescent - Growing at the fastest rate during the growth period – Balance and coordination
4. Post Adolescent- Hypertrophy
4. Post Adolescent- Hypertrophy

 

Thus, understanding peak height velocity and monitoring athletes’ maturity offset is extremely important. Athletes who are in their growing phase (You probably already know as there is no food left in the house) need to modify their training programs to ensure we’re not doing too many exercises that require high coordination demands as their long-growing limbs always get in the way.

 

If you are considering Sports Excellence for your son or daughter please give me a ring or send me an email, I would be happy to discuss how this program may benefit them in their chosen sport.

 

Mr Ben Furphy

Sports Excellence Manager