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The Office of Sport in collaboration with Dr Shaun Abbott & Professor Stephen Cobley (The University of Sydney) has developed an online calculator to estimate the biological maturity status of developing athletes.

The Maturity Status Calculator and the estimations it provides, serves as a guide to assist stakeholders in their awareness of an athlete’s maturational status and subsequent fit of opportunity and support.

Developed for coaches, parents, teachers and sporting organisations the calculator is useful to inform: 

  • their understanding of the current physical maturational status of an athlete and their related capacity, capability, performance (physical, technical etc.) and vulnerability
  • inclusive talent selection and confirmation opportunities and processes factoring in an athlete’s maturational status and future potential
  • the right match of training focus, prescription and load and competition for an athlete’s maturational status.

Before using the Maturity Status Calculator

Before using this calculator, it is highly recommended that you read the Office of Sport's Biological Maturation Resource for Sporting Stakeholders and watch the Future Champions Masterclass on Athlete Maturation featuring Dr Shaun Abbott and Prof. Stephen Cobley (The University of Sydney).

Based on world class evidence and expertise, the Maturity Status Calculator provides an estimate of an athlete’s Years from Peak Height Velocity and Percentage of Predicted Adult Height.

Years from Peak Height Velocity

Please note - As the estimate is most accurate around the actual (observed) PHV event, it is recommended that the PHV equations are utilised between the ages of 12-16 years for boys and 10-14 years for girls (Abbott & Cobley, 2023).

Percentage of Predicted Adult Height

Please note, that this estimate is merely a prediction and as Abbott & Cobley (p. 44-45, 2023) state, there are variations in final adult height predicted values during peak growth periods (i.e., 14-15.5 years in boys and 11.5-12.5 years in girls are typically ± 3.1 cm and 2.3 cm respectively - Khamis & Roche, 1994).

Accuracy of the measurements

Measurements inputted into the calculator is of critical importance, especially with regard to sitting height. Large errors in measurement will lead to error in estimation.

Like any estimation method, it is important to acknowledge that these estimates do have some margins of error associated with them and the estimates should not be used in isolation to identify or select or deselect athletes.

View the measurement protocols

Use the Maturity Status Calculator

Masterclass webinar

Watch the Future Champions Masterclass on Athlete Maturation featuring presented by Dr Shaun Abbott and Prof. Stephen Cobley (The University of Sydney)
Watch the webinar

Growth and Maturation webinar


This webinar explains how to estimate an athlete's maturational status using the new Maturity Status Calculator.

Watch the webinar

Resources

The Office of Sport has developed a Biological Maturation Resource for Sporting Stakeholders

View Biological Maturation Resource

Video resources

The Office of Sport and Sydney University have developed a series of videos that demonstrate the measuring technique for the Maturity Status Calculator.

Video 1 - Intro & Standing Height

Video 2 - Body Mass Measurement

Video 3 - Sitting Height Measurement

Infographic resource

The Office of Sport has developed simple infographics to assist in the development of athletes maturation.

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