Youth sports can be thrilling, rewarding, and full of ups and downs; both literally and figuratively. As parents ourselves, we will be the first to admit that kids aren’t exactly the most coordinated lot out there. Yet, for most child athletes, the skills and abilities acquired from seasonal sports play can make all the difference in their overall performance. Nevertheless, there are natural events that can throw a monkey wrench into even the most adept athlete.
Imagine, if you will, that one moment, your child is dominating the soccer field or nailing gymnastics routines, and the next, they seem off-balance, slower, somehow. Perhaps they are just not performing the way they used to. For many parents, this can be a confusing or even alarming situation to encounter. Rest easy, concerned parents, we’re here to allay those concerns.
But here’s the truth that many parents might not realize right away: these performance dips are often a natural part of growing up. We’re talking about growth spurts—those sudden periods where kids shoot up in height or fill out physically. These are very real parts of a child’s development and they can have a big impact on that child’s coordination, strength, endurance, and even their confidence. This is why it is so crucial for parents to understand what’s happening during these times. Parents who are educated and aware of the pitfalls of growth spurts are better able to support their young athletes through these temporary challenges.
In this article, we will take a kid-friendly but parent-focused look at what growth spurts are, how they affect athletic performance, and what you as a parent can do to help your child during these rapid phases of development. By the time we are done, you will have the tools you need to make sure your kid stays happy, healthy, and confident during these important phases.
What Is a Growth Spurt?
When we say growth spurt, we’re not just talking about some Alice in Wonderland cookie nonsense, we are discussing a very real, usually very rapid increase in height and/or weight in a child. These spurts usually happen during specific periods of a child’s life, but they aren’t always predictable. Indeed, such periods are often driven by natural changes in hormones and body development and sometimes, environmental factors.
The two most common stages for growth spurts are:
- Early Childhood (ages 1–5) – These growth spurts tend to be steady and consistent with growth years.
- Puberty (roughly ages 9–16) – Most parents are aware that puberty comes with its fair share of challenges…unfortunately, it is also when most of the big growth spurts happen.
During puberty, kids can grow 2 to 4 inches (or more) in a single year; so be prepared to buy new clothes and shoes from time to time. Boys tend to hit their growth spurts a little later than girls, but every child is different and spurts can happen in their own time. Also, while some kids will just grow gradually, others grow in sudden bursts; there’s really no way of knowing. This is why we are here, to help parents navigate these changes; even if they don’t know when to expect them.
It should also be noted that growth spurts involve more than just getting taller. Bones lengthen, muscles stretch, limbs get longer, and weight can shift dramatically. All of this can throw off the balance and coordination your child once had—even if it’s just a temporary inconvenience.
How Growth Spurts Affect Athletic Performance
How do growth spurts affect athletic skill and performance? Well, let’s say your child was sprinting with speed and accuracy one month, and the next, they’re stumbling or missing the ball. What happened and more importantly, how do you deal with it?
Growth spurts can affect athletic performance in several ways:
Changes in Balance and Coordination
When limbs grow quickly, it takes time for a child’s brain and body to re-sync. Kids may feel “awkward” or clumsy during this time, which can affect any number of commonly-played children’s sports like gymnastics, skating, or basketball; all of which rely heavily on coordination.
Muscle Imbalance and Flexibility Loss
Did you know that bones sometimes grow faster than muscles can stretch? They can! This type of irregular growth can cause tightness in areas like the hamstrings, calves, and back. The result of which is less flexibility and more muscle soreness.
Decreased Speed and Power
Even though kids are getting bigger, their muscles might not yet be strong enough to keep up with that physical size change. Thus, until their strength catches up with their new size, they may temporarily feel slower or weaker.
Increased Risk of Injury
Other growth-related changes can make joints and muscles more prone to overuse or strain. The most common issues includes Osgood-Schlatter disease (knee pain), Sever’s disease (heel pain), and general growing pains.
Emotional Frustration
What would puberty be without some measure of emotional instability? In addition to heightened hormones, kids may feel discouraged if they suddenly struggle in a sport they used to excel in. Confidence can take a hit, especially if they start to compare themselves to peers; which they are undoubtedly want to do. Moreover, if they start to compare themselves to kids who are not experiencing the same changes, they might start to feel different, weird, or distant. They aren’t different or weird and they shouldn’t feel distant, but that doesn’t stop it from happening.
The important thing that parents and kids need to understand through all of this is that it is all absolutely normal. The best thing parents can do is help their child understand what’s happening to them and reassure them that they haven’t lost their abilities—they’re just adjusting to a growing body; the same way that every one of their peers will eventually have to get used to their own!
How to Spot a Growth Spurt
Continuing with the theme of this article, growth spurts are often unexpected happenstance! They can come on quickly and will sometimes catch families off guard as a result. Here are some signs that your child might be in the middle of one:
- Pants are suddenly too short
- Shoes getting tight more quickly than usual
- Their growing appetite means they’re eating you out of house and home
- They are evincing an increased tiredness or need for sleep
- They have frequent complaints of soreness in their legs or joints
- They are displaying awkward movements or showing a noticeable drop in sports performance
Remember that every child grows at their own pace, but if you notice a combination of these signs along with performance dips, it could be a signal that a growth spurt is already occurring.
Tips for Parents: Supporting Your Child Through Growth Spurts
Now that you know what’s happening to your child, what can you do about it? Well, you can’t stop it, that’s for sure. Nevertheless, there are some practical, parent-friendly tips to help your child navigate the ups and downs of athletic performance during growth spurts.
Be Patient and Encouraging
As with any change, the trick is to show your patience and the wisdom of your age. Let your child know that these performance dips are normal, especially during these circumstances. Use supportive language and focus on effort over outcomes. Celebrate small victories and remind them that their body is just catching up with itself. Say things like:
“You’re not off your game—you’re learning to play with a new body. That takes time, and you’re doing great.”
Adjust Training and Expectations
Keep the dialogue open, not just with your child but with their sports support team. Talk to coaches about maybe scaling back on intense training during growth spurts. By focusing on fundamentals, flexibility, and form rather than competition, you can reduce the risk of injury and rebuild any shaken confidence.
Prioritize Rest and Recovery
Perhaps you remember how much you slept during puberty. We all went through it, even if we don’t remember it. The truth is, growing takes energy. Parents will want to make sure their child is getting enough sleep and not overtraining. Encourage rest days, warm-ups, and cool-downs whenever time allows for it; and if it doesn’t, make time!
Fuel the Growth
Proper nutrition is going to be essential during these times. A balanced diet should include lean protein, complex carbs, calcium, and plenty of water is what is needed now. This combination of nutrients helps support bone growth and muscle repair.
Use Cross-Training and Fun Movement
Let your child try other sports or physical activities while they are experiencing a growth spurt. This ensures that they don’t stress the same muscles. Swimming, biking, yoga, or even dance can help them stay active and coordinated without pushing too hard in any one direction.
Stay in Touch with Health Professionals
If pain or performance issues linger longer than you or your child can bear, check in with a pediatrician, sports therapist, or orthopedic specialist. These folks have seen it all and are trained to be able to provide guidance and relief. Sometimes growing pains mimic injuries, so it’s good to get a professional opinion if you aren’t exactly sure.
Special Considerations: Girls, Boys, and Early or Late Bloomers
Remember, not all kids grow the same way. Parents need to understand how different patterns of growth affect performance as this can help them to respond with more empathy and better insight.
Girls
Girls tend to hit puberty earlier a little earlier than boys, around 9–11 years old. This can also mean changes in body shape and weight before others in their peer group. As a result, young girls might feel self-conscious or awkward about their new selves, especially in aesthetic sports like gymnastics or dance.
Boys
Boys often hit growth spurts later (around 11–13 or beyond) and when they do, they hit it hard! They may gain height or weight rapidly but still might struggle with coordination. Additionally, some boys also develop muscle strength later than expected, which can affect performance in power-based sports.
Early or Late Bloomers
Some kids grow early, others late. This can be tough socially and competitively. Early bloomers might shine temporarily, while late bloomers may get discouraged. Don’t worry in either case, though. Long-term, late bloomers often catch up—sometimes even surpassing their peers.
As a parent, it falls to you to remind your child that sports success isn’t a race. Each body is on its own timeline.
Long-Term Perspective: It All Evens Out
The long and short of it is that, as kids grow into teens and teens grow into adults, their bodies eventually settle into balance. Eventually, strength catches up with height, coordination returns, and the skills they built early on can come back even stronger than they were before puberty hit.
For parents, it can be hard in the moment to watch them struggle through the uncertainty, ungainliness, and awkwardness of a growth spur. This can be especially difficult if they’re used to excelling at the physical. In these instances, all we can do is remind them that champions aren’t made during easy times—they’re made when they are challenged. If they learn to adapt, stay patient, and trust the process, they will become what they were meant to be and who they want to be!
All we have to do is keep showing up. Keep cheering them on. Keep reminding them (and yourself) that growth takes time. And through it all, we need to remind them and ourselves that the love of the game lasts forever, even if childhood slowly changes.
Cultured Athlete Says…
As you can see, growth spurts might be unpredictable, but they are an amazing, natural part of childhood and adolescence. Yes, they can be challenging—but with understanding, support, and patience, parents will be able to help their children navigate performance dips, shaken confidence, and any awkwardness they might encounter. With the proper reassurance, kids can then emerge stronger, taller, and more confident in who they are as both athletes and individuals. Every stretch, stumble, and awkward phase is part of their story. And even if it’s hard, it’s one worth celebrating.
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