Physiology of growth and development. Its relationship to performance in the young athlete.

Proper grouping of children for sports is important for injury prevention and for fair competition. We have reviewed several of the classification systems presently used as well as the physiologic underpinnings of pubertal growth and development and the accrual of strength and power. It is during adolescence that the greatest physiologic differences exist mainly because of the wide variations in the timing and tempo of the pubertal growth spurt in normally growing boys and girls. Maturity-based categorization, especially in contact and collision sports, would heighten the competition and lessen rates of injury.