Growth and maturity status of female table tennis players seeking authorization to compete in older age categories
15 affiliations
- 1Physical Education and Sport Center, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná Brazil
- 2Londrina State University, GEPEMENE (Edital 1, 2026), Londrina, Paraná Brazil
- 3Theory of Sports Department (Sport Science), Poznań University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland
- 4Department of Methodology of Recreation, Poznań University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland
- 5Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra Health School, Coimbra, Portugal
- 6SANFIL, Coimbra, Portugal
- 7Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth, Sports Medicine Center, Porto, Portugal
- 8University of Coimbra, FCDEF, Pavilhão III, Coimbra, 3040-156 Portugal
- 9University of Santo Tomas, Bogota, Colombia
- 10Universidade Lusófona, CIDEFES, Lisbon, Portugal
- 11Sporting Clube Portugal, COD (Center of Sports Optimization), Lisbon, Portugal
- 12Department of Physical Education (Laboratory of Investigation in Exercise - LIVE), Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- 13University of Coimbra, CIPER, Coimbra, Portugal
- 14Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX United States of America
- 15School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY United States of America
Abstract
Background: Given the relatively small number of female youth table tennis players in some competitive age categories in Portugal, participants increasingly request authorization to compete in older age groups. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the growth and skeletal maturity status, and the body composition of female table tennis players in three competitive chronological age (CA) groups: U11, U13 and U15.
Methods: The sample included 61 female table tennis players 9.0 to 16.4 years who underwent medical evaluation associated with requests to compete in CA categories. The players were classified as U11 (n = 13), U13 (n = 26), and U15 (n = 21) Variables included stature, body mass, skeletal age (SA) using Fels method, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, and estimates of fat mass and fat free mass. Based on SA minus CA), players were classified as late, on time, or early maturing. Characteristics were examined by competitive CA group and maturity status.
Results: Statures and weights of players ranged from < 10th to > 90th percentiles of the respective references, while means by competitive CA groups were generally above the respective reference medians. The trend in body size was consistent with advanced skeletal maturity status as SA was in advance of CA by approximately one year, on average, within each CA group. Fat-free mass increased across CA groups, while percentage fat mass was relatively stable at 20–22%. Maturity-related variation was considerable within and among the competitive CA groups.
Conclusion: Variation in growth and skeletal maturity status and in body composition of female table tennis players was considerable within and overlapped between adjacent competitive CA groups. Variation in growth and maturity status among youth players has implications for talent identification and training. Assessment of skeletal maturity status can facilitate the individualization of developmentally appropriate approaches in youth sports.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-026-01903-6.
Related
- [177Lu]Lu-edotreotide versus everolimus for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (COMPETE): a phase 3, multicentre, randomised, open-label, superiority trial
- High-capacity reversible data hiding in encrypted images using dual-stage bit-plane compression and CP-ABE-based recovery authorization
- Medico-legal integration of molnupiravir rapid deployment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Emergency use authorization, clinical evidence, and risk of viral mutagenesis
- Disparities in AI‐Based Prior Authorization for Head and Neck Reconstruction: A Large Language Model Analysis
- Radiographic Evaluation of Scoliosis in Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Patients: Associations Between Curve Severity, Localization, and Skeletal Maturity
BibTeX
@article{oliveira2026growth,
title = {{Growth and maturity status of female table tennis players seeking authorization to compete in older age categories}},
author = {Tomas Oliveira and Sylwia Bartkowiak and Jan M. Konarski and Magdalena Krzykała and Oscar M. Tavares and Rute Santos and Tiago D. M. Patrão and Inês Rodrigues and Jorge M. Celis-Moreno and João Valente-dos-Santos and Ricardo R. Agostinete and Rômulo Araújo Fernandes and Enio R. V. Ronque and Diogo V. Martinho and Manuel J. Coelho-e-Silva and Robert M. Malina},
journal = {BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s13102-026-01903-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-026-01903-6},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Growth and maturity status of female table tennis players seeking authorization to compete in older age categories
AU - Tomas Oliveira
AU - Sylwia Bartkowiak
AU - Jan M. Konarski
AU - Magdalena Krzykała
AU - Oscar M. Tavares
AU - Rute Santos
AU - Tiago D. M. Patrão
AU - Inês Rodrigues
AU - Jorge M. Celis-Moreno
AU - João Valente-dos-Santos
AU - Ricardo R. Agostinete
AU - Rômulo Araújo Fernandes
AU - Enio R. V. Ronque
AU - Diogo V. Martinho
AU - Manuel J. Coelho-e-Silva
AU - Robert M. Malina
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/30
JO - BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation
DO - 10.1186/s13102-026-01903-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-026-01903-6
AB - Background: Given the relatively small number of female youth table tennis players in some competitive age categories in Portugal, participants increasingly request authorization to compete in older age groups. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the growth and skeletal maturity status, and the body composition of female table tennis players in three competitive chronological age (CA) groups: U11, U13 and U15. Methods: The sample included 61 female table tennis players 9.0 to 16.4 years who underwent medical evaluation associated with requests to compete in CA categories. The players were classified as U11 (n = 13), U13 (n = 26), and U15 (n = 21) Variables included stature, body mass, skeletal age (SA) using Fels method, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, and estimates of fat mass and fat free mass. Based on SA minus CA), players were classified as late, on time, or early maturing. Characteristics were examined by competitive CA group and maturity status. Results: Statures and weights of players ranged from < 10th to > 90th percentiles of the respective references, while means by competitive CA groups were generally above the respective reference medians. The trend in body size was consistent with advanced skeletal maturity status as SA was in advance of CA by approximately one year, on average, within each CA group. Fat-free mass increased across CA groups, while percentage fat mass was relatively stable at 20–22%. Maturity-related variation was considerable within and among the competitive CA groups. Conclusion: Variation in growth and skeletal maturity status and in body composition of female table tennis players was considerable within and overlapped between adjacent competitive CA groups. Variation in growth and maturity status among youth players has implications for talent identification and training. Assessment of skeletal maturity status can facilitate the individualization of developmentally appropriate approaches in youth sports. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-026-01903-6.
SN - 2052-1847
ER -