Bio-banding in Sport: Applications to Competition, Talent Identification, and Strength and Conditioning of Youth Athletes

Abstract

ABSTRACT BIO-BANDING IS THE PROCESS OF GROUPING ATHLETES ON THE BASIS OF ATTRIBUTES ASSOCIATED WITH GROWTH AND MATURATION RATHER THAN CHRONOLOGICAL AGE. CHILDREN OF THE SAME AGE VARY CONSIDERABLY IN BIOLOGICAL MATURATION WITH SOME INDIVIDUALS MATURING IN ADVANCE OR DELAY OF THEIR PEERS. THE TIMING OF MATURATION HAS IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR COMPETITION, TALENT IDENTIFICATION, AND TRAINING. INCREASED AWARENESS AND INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT OF MATURATION HAS SPARKED A RENEWED INTEREST IN THE STUDY AND APPLICATION OF BIO-BANDING. THIS OVERVIEW DESCRIBES THE PURPOSE AND PROCESS OF BIO-BANDING, POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS, AND DESCRIBES SOME RECENT ADVANCES IN ITS APPLICATION IN YOUTH SPORTS.