Biol Sport. 2026;43:393–403
1. Malina RM, Bouchard C, Bar-Or O. Growth, maturation, and physical activity. 2nd ed. Champagne, IL: Human Kinetics; 2004.
2.
Swain M, Kamper SJ, Maher CG, Broderick C, McKay D, Henschke N. Relationship between growth, maturation and musculoskeletal conditions in adolescents: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2018; 52(19):1246–1252. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098418.
3.
Wik EH. Growth, maturation and injuries in high-level youth football (soccer): A mini review. Front Sports Act Living. 2022; 4:975900. Published 2022 Nov 1. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.975900.
4.
Parry GN, Williams S, McKay CD, Johnson DJ, Bergeron MF, Cumming SP. Associations between growth, maturation and injury in youth athletes engaged in elite pathways: a scoping review. Br J Sports Med. 2024; 58(17):1001–1010. Published 2024 Sep 4. doi: 10.1136 /bjsports-2024-108233.
5.
Wolf RM, Long D. Pubertal Development. Pediatr Rev. 2016; 37(7):292–300. doi: 10.1542/pir.2015-0065.
6.
Drobnic F, Albanell M, Pi R, Til L, Hernández G, Mónaco M. Guía de Revisión Médica del Futbol Club Barcelona. Certificado de Aptitud Deportiva. Barcelona: FC Barcelona; 2011.
7.
Tanner JM. Growth at adolescence. 2nd ed. Oxford, UK: Blackwell; 1962.
8.
Malina RM, Beunen G, Wellens R, Claessens A. Skeletal maturity and body size of teenage Belgian track and field athletes. Ann Hum Biol. 1986; 13(4):331–339. doi: 10.1080 /03014468600008511.
9.
Matsudo SMM, Matsudo VKR. Self-assessment and physician assessment of sexual maturation in Brazilian boys and girls: Concordance and reproducibility. Am J Hum Biol. 1994; 6(4):451–455. doi: 10.1002 /ajhb.1310060406.
10.
Huang B, Hillman J, Biro FM, Ding L, Dorn LD, Susman EJ. Correspondence Between Gonadal Steroid Hormone Concentrations and Secondary Sexual Characteristics Assessed by Clinicians, Adolescents, and Parents. J Res Adolesc. 2012; 22(2):381–391. doi: 10.1111 /j.1532-7795.2011.00773.x.
11.
Mónaco M, Verdugo F, Bodell M, Avendaño E, Til L, Drobnic F. Prevalencia de anomalías genitales en futbolistas jóvenes [Prevalence of genital anomalies in young football players]. An Pediatr (Barc). 2015; 82(1):e181–e183. doi: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2014.07.007.
12.
Mónaco M, Sanz Lopez F, Gutiérrez Rincón JA, Montoro Ronsano JB, Ibañez Toda L, Rodas G. Prospective study of maturation and injury in elite handball academy. Could ‘maturational status’ be a risk factor for injury incidence in different handball team categories? Apunts Sports Med. 2024; 59(221):100433. doi: 10.1016 /j.apunsm.2023.100433.
13.
Etzel CM, Meghani O, Owens BD, Kocher MS, Field AE. Predictors of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in Adolescents and Young Adults. Orthop J Sports Med. 2024; 12(9):23259671241272699. Published 2024 Sep 19. doi: 10.1177 /23259671241272699.
14.
Janssens KA, Rosmalen JG, Ormel J, et al. Pubertal status predicts back pain, overtiredness, and dizziness in American and Dutch adolescents. Pediatrics. 2011; 128(3):553–559. doi: 10.1542 /peds.2010-2364.
15.
Chevalley T, Bonjour JP, van Rietbergen B, Ferrari S, Rizzoli R. Fractures during childhood and adolescence in healthy boys: relation with bone mass, microstructure, and strength. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011; 96(10):3134–3142. doi: 10.1210 /jc.2011-1445.
16.
Mónaco M, Rincón JAG, Ronsano BJM, Whiteley R, Sanz-Lopez F, Rodas G. Injury incidence and injury patterns by category, player position, and maturation in elite male handball elite players. Biol Sport. 2019; 36(1):67–74. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2018.78908.
17.
Linder MM, Townsend DJ, Jones JC, Balkcom IL, Anthony CR. Incidence of adolescent injuries in junior high school football and its relationship to sexual maturity. Clin J Sport Med. 1995; 5(3):167–170. doi: 10.1097 /00042752-199507000-00006.
18.
Caine D, Cochrane B, Caine C, Zemper E. An epidemiologic investigation of injuries affecting young competitive female gymnasts. Am J Sports Med. 1989; 17(6):811–820. doi: 10.1177/0363 54658901700616.
19.
Tenforde AS, Sayres LC, McCurdy ML, Sainani KL, Fredericson M. Identifying sex-specific risk factors for stress fractures in adolescent runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013; 45(10):1843–1851. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182963d75.
20.
Decloe MD, Meeuwisse WH, Hagel BE, Emery CA. Injury rates, types, mechanisms and risk factors in female youth ice hockey. Br J Sports Med. 2014; 48(1):51–56. doi: 10.1136 /bjsports-2012-091653.
21.
Rauh MJ, Nichols JF, Barrack MT. Relationships among injury and disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density in high school athletes: a prospective study. J Athl Train. 2010; 45(3):243–252. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-45.3.243.
22.
Dut R, Akgül S, Dönmez G, Ulkar B, Kanbur N, Derman O. Adolescent male soccer players have higher growth rates and risk of injury is associated with biological maturity. Turk J Pediatr. 2023; 65(6):990–1001. doi: 10.24953 /turkjped.2023.140.
23.
Towlson C, Salter J, Ade JD, et al. Maturity-associated considerations for training load, injury risk, and physical performance in youth soccer: One size does not fit all. J Sport Health Sci. 2021; 10(4):403–412. doi: 10.1016 /j.jshs.2020.09.003.
24.
Catalunya Gd. Protocol d’activitats preventives i de promoció de la salut a l’edat pediàtrica. Barcelona In: Salut Dd, ed: Generalitat de Catalunya; 2008.
25.
Physicians AAoF, Pediatrics AAo, Medicine ACoS, Medicine AMSfS, Medicine AOSfS, Medicine AOAoS. Preparticipation Physical Evaluation. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2019.
26.
Rosen DS. Physiologic growth and development during adolescence. Pediatr Rev. 2004; 25(6):194–200. doi: 10.1542/pir.25-6-194.
27.
Prader A. Testicular size: assessment and clinical importance. Triangle. 1966; 7(6):240–243.
28.
Fuller CW, Ekstrand J, Junge A, et al. Consensus statement on injury definitions and data collection procedures in studies of football (soccer) injuries. Br J Sports Med. 2006; 40(3):193–201. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2005.025270.
29.
Rae K, Orchard J. The Orchard Sports Injury Classification System (OSICS) version 10. Clin J Sport Med. 2007; 17(3):201–204. doi: 10.1097 /JSM.0b013e318059b536.
30.
Gail MH, Benichou J. Encyclopedia of epidemiologic methods. John Wiley & Sons; 2000.
31.
Frome EL, Checkoway H. Epidemiologic programs for computers and calculators. Use of Poisson regression models in estimating incidence rates and ratios. Am J Epidemiol. 1985; 121(2):309–323. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje .a114001.32.
32.
Marshall WA, Tanner JM. Variations in the pattern of pubertal changes in boys. Arch Dis Child. 1970; 45(239):13–23. doi: 10.1136/adc.45.239.13.
33.
Wik EH, Chamari K, Tabben M, Di Salvo V, Gregson W, Bahr R. Exploring Growth, Maturity, and Age as Injury Risk Factors in High-Level Youth Football. Sports Med Int Open. 2024; 8:a21804594. Published 2024 Jan 8. doi: 10.1055/a-2180-4594.
34.
Monasterio X, Gil SM, Bidaurrazaga-Letona I, et al. The burden of injuries according to maturity status and timing: A two-decade study with 110 growth curves in an elite football academy. Eur J Sport Sci. 2023; 23(2):267–277. doi: 10.1080 /17461391.2021. 2006316.
35.
Le Gall F, Carling C, Reilly T. Biological maturity and injury in elite youth football. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2007; 17(5):564–572. doi: 10.1111/j.1600 -0838.2006.00594.x.
36.
Jones S, Almousa S, Gibb A, et al. Injury Incidence, Prevalence and Severity in High-Level Male Youth Football: A Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2019; 49(12):1879–1899. doi: 10.1007 /s40279-019-01169-8.
37.
Robles-Palazón FJ, López-Valenciano A, De Ste Croix M, et al. Epidemiology of injuries in male and female youth football players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022; 11(6):681–695. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs .2021.10.002.
38.
Buchheit M, Mendez-Villanueva A, Simpson BM, Bourdon PC. Match running performance and fitness in youth soccer. Int J Sports Med. 2010; 31(11):818–825. doi: 10.1055 /s-0030-1262838.
39.
Bult HJ, Barendrecht M, Tak IJR. Injury Risk and Injury Burden Are Related to Age Group and Peak Height Velocity Among Talented Male Youth Soccer Players. Orthop J Sports Med. 2018; 6(12):2325967118811042. Published 2018 Dec 11. doi: 10.1177 /2325967118811042.
40.
Materne O, Chamari K, Farooq A, et al. Injury incidence and burden in a youth elite football academy: a four-season prospective study of 551 players aged from under 9 to under 19 years. Br J Sports Med. 2021; 55(9):493–500. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102859.
41.
Granados A, Gebremariam A, Lee JM. Relationship Between Timing of Peak Height Velocity and Pubertal Staging in Boys and Girls. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2015; 7(3):235–237. doi: 10.4274/jcrpe.2007.
42.
Materne O, Chamari K, Farooq A, et al. Association of Skeletal Maturity and Injury Risk in Elite Youth Soccer Players: A 4-Season Prospective Study With Survival Analysis. Orthop J Sports Med. 2021; 9(3):2325967121999113. Published 2021 Mar 31. doi: 10.1177 /2325967121999113.
43.
Monasterio X, Cumming SP, Larruskain J, et al. The combined effects of growth and maturity status on injury risk in an elite football academy. Biol Sport. 2024; 41(1):235–244. doi: 10.5114 /biolsport.2024.129472.
44.
Johnson A, Doherty PJ, Freemont A. Investigation of growth, development, and factors associated with injury in elite schoolboy footballers: prospective study. BMJ. 2009; 338:b490. Published 2009 Feb 26. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b490.
45.
Brukner P, Khan KM. Brukner & Khan’s Clinical Sports Medicine. 4th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2012.
46.
Monasterio X, Gil SM, Bidaurrazaga-Letona I, et al. Injuries according to the percentage of adult height in an elite soccer academy. J Sci Med Sport. 2021; 24(3):218–223. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.08.004.
47.
Kvist O, Luiza Dallora A, Nilsson O, et al. A cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging study of factors influencing growth plate closure in adolescents and young adults. Acta Paediatr. 2021; 110(4):1249–1256. doi: 10.1111 /apa.15617.
48.
Costa e Silva L, Silva AL, Teles J, Fragoso I. Study on the Influence of Physical Activity Intensity and Maturation on Sports Injuries in Children and Adolescents. Applied Sciences. 2024; 14(22):10632. https://doi.org/10 .3390/app142210632.
49.
Beunen GP, Rogol AD, Malina RM. Indicators of biological maturation and secular changes in biological maturation. Food Nutr Bull. 2006; 27(4 Suppl Growth Standard):S244–S256. doi: 10.1177/15648265060274S508.
50.
Dias Filho AC, Cruz PRCD, Ribeiro PRF, Riccetto CLZ. Testicular volume and Tanner stage: determinant factors for testicular torsion. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2022; 20:eAO6605. Published 2022 Apr 20. doi: 10.31744/einstein _journal/2022AO6605.
51.
Johnson D, Williams S, Bradley B, Cumming SP. Can we reduce injury risk during the adolescent growth spurt? An iterative sequence of prevention in male academy footballers. Ann Hum Biol. 2023; 50(1):452–460. doi: 10.1080 /03014460.2023.2261854.
52.
Bergeron MF, Côté J, Cumming SP, et al. IOC consensus statement on elite youth athletes competing at the Olympic Games: essentials to a healthy, safe and sustainable paradigm. Br J Sports Med. 2024; 58(17):946–965. Published 2024 Sep 4. doi: 10.1136 /bjsports-2024-108186.
Copyright: Institute of Sport. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons CC BY License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.