Is your kid always the smallest one on the team?
It happens every year. The other kids grow like weeds over the summer. Your child returns from vacation... unchanged. And you can tell on the field:
- They get pushed off the ball
- They sit on the bench more
- They slowly lose interest
Here's the problem:
Size is king in youth athletics. More than it should be. And oftentimes the late bloomers are the ones who drop out before they ever get the opportunity to bloom.
The BIGGEST hurdle late bloomers have to overcome isn't size. It's quitting.
They don't have to be BIGGER. They just have to stay in the game.
Learn how to identify low growth velocity in children, the reasons late bloomers fall behind and 5 ways to keep your child playing while they catch up in height.
Let's jump in!
Here's what's inside:
- What Is Poor Growth Velocity In Kids?
- Why Late Bloomers Quit Sports
- 5 Ways To Keep Late Bloomers In The Game
What Is Poor Growth Velocity In Kids?
Growth velocity simply refers to how quickly your child grows in a year.
It's not about how tall they are right now. It's about the speed.
Beyond age 2, most children increase their height by about 2½ inches per year until their adolescent growth spurt occurs. Growth some years is slightly faster. Other years it is slightly slower. That's perfectly normal.
On the other hand, poor growth velocity in kids is when a child consistently grows at a slower than expected rate over several years, resulting in them dropping down the percentile curve.
Usually there is no cause for concern. Many children are late bloomers and experience puberty later than their peers, eventually catching up during their teenage years. However, gradual and continuous falling behind on the growth chart can be an indicator of an underlying medical issue such as growth hormone deficiency (a condition where the body does not produce enough growth hormone for a child to grow at a normal rate). That's why it's helpful to monitor your child's height over time and discuss any concerns with your doctor.
One important thing to keep in mind: Pediatricians can distinguish between late bloomers and true growth delays. Coaches (or parents) can't.
Why Late Bloomers Quit Sports
Kids are leaving sports early. Really early.
The average kid today will spend less than three years in a sport, quitting by age 11. That's precisely when gaps in kid development begin to skyrocket.
Think about it:
Two children on the same under 12 team can be up to 11 months apart in age. Throw in early puberty for one child and late puberty for the other... you could have a child who looks 14 playing beside a child who looks like they are only 10.
Guess who gets picked first?
Coaches (usually inadvertently) favour kids who are bigger and stronger. One large study with under-18 track athletes showed that early-born kids were 5 times as likely to be in the top-100 rankings as late-born kids. Small kids receive less playing time, less coaching and less confidence.
And the result?
They conclude, "this sport isn't for me" and quit. As of 2019, just 38% of children between the ages of 6 and 12 participated regularly in team sports, down from 45% in 2008.
Here's the sad part...
Some of those kids would have eventually caught up. Others would have surpassed the early bloomers. They just didn't hang around long enough to find out.
5 Ways To Keep Late Bloomers In The Game
The best news is this: You can keep your child in the sport until their body learns to catch up. Read through these tips, choose a couple that work for you and your family and commit to them.
Focus On Skills, Not Size
A late bloomer can't control their height. They CAN control their skills.
Ball skills, footwork, passing and reading the game don't require size. Then when the growth spurt finally comes, the talented kid with a new bigger body is deadly.
Explanation: Early bloomers rely heavily on size. When other kids catch up, they have less advantage. Late bloomers who learned skill-based winning keep that knowledge forever.
Pick The Right Sport (Or Position)
Height isn't advantageous in every sport. Certain sports/positions lend themselves well to smaller children. Here are a few:
- Swimming
- Martial arts
- Tennis
- Wingers and midfielders in soccer
Mixing it up with a couple of sports helps too. Kids who play multiple sports burn out less and gain more diverse skills.
Talk To The Coach
A short chat with the coach can go a long way.
Tell them your child is a late bloomer. Ask them how they determine playing time. Most quality coaches want every child to get better. They just need reminding that the littlest guy on the team now could be your MVP in three years.
If the coach only cares about winning at age 10... it may be time to move on.
Track Growth At Home
Here's a simple habit that makes a big difference.
Have your child stand up against the same wall every six months and measure their height. Mark down the date and number. After several years you'll get a good idea of how quickly they grew.
If your kid is barely growing or getting further behind their friends every year, bring those notes to your doctor. Growth velocity clues are a lot easier to assess when you have actual numbers to track.
Make It Fun Again
This one matters most.
Very few kids quit because they're small. They quit because it stops being fun. Remember:
- Celebrate effort over goals scored
- Praise small wins (a great pass, a smart play)
- Skip the "coaching" on the car ride home
- Let them play with friends their own size, too
Pretty obvious, right? When sport is enjoyable, kids participate. When kids participate, they have opportunities to catch up.
Bringing It All Home
It's hard being a late bloomer in kids' sports. They may be smaller, slower and sit on the bench more than their friends today. Today won't last forever though.
To quickly recap:
- Learn what normal growth looks like
- Watch for poor growth velocity in kids and talk to your doctor
- Focus on skills over size
- Choose sports and positions that fit
- Keep the coach in the loop
- Keep it fun
The cream always rises to the top. If you can keep your late bloomer in the game long enough, they will show you what they are made of... you might be amazed.
