Expert Statement on growth and maturation in youth sport, and the implications for health, performance and development

<jats:p>Youth sport systems remain predominantly organised according to chronological age, despite longstanding recognition that biological development during adolescence is highly variable within and between individuals. Within a single age group, differences in growth and maturation can equate to significant biological diversity, influencing physical performance, injury risk, selection, and developmental outcomes. While concepts such as maturity estimation, adjusted benchmarking and bio-banding are increasingly used, we are still learning about their wider benefits and applications. Growth, maturation and associated maturity strategies influence how athletes experience and respond to their youth sport environments in ways that influence their health, performance and development. Thus, they present the potential to inform talent systems and policy with multi-faceted benefits for youth athletes. This Expert Statement aims to discuss growth and maturation as a dynamic process embedded within complex sport systems, that influences how young athletes experience, interpret and respond to those environments in the contexts of both health and performance. Within this, it critically evaluates current approaches to injury risk, performance interpretation, and bio-banding, discussing integrated, context-sensitive models of practice. Accordingly, this statement reflects established and emerging perspectives on growth, maturation and associated maturity strategies to inform applied recommendations. Produced on behalf of the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences by Dr Jamie Salter MCASES, Dr Stacey Emmonds, Dr Adam Gledhill FCASES and Dr Tommy Lundberg.</jats:p>