Biological Maturation

As part of Capital Football NPL Competitions, players that are potentially disadvantaged from a physical perspective, due to later biological maturity, may be eligible to play in a lower age-category. Although players may be similar in terms of chronological age, their biological age can vary substantially, by as much as 5 years, due to the timing of their adolescent growth spurt. Late developers can be significantly disadvantaged from a physical standpoint (height, weight, speed, strength). To identify those players who may be late-developing players, Capital Football has implemented the below process.

Firstly, clubs and/or parents can self-assess a player’s maturity classification using the resources on this page. Should the player be deemed a late developer, they can be registered for the second step of the process, which is a verification assessment conducted by Nia from Southside Physio. Please see the video tutorials here from FNSW to assist in the correct measurements necessary to estimate the player’s biological maturation category. Accurate measurements of the player’s height, weight and their sitting height are required, in addition to the player’s date of birth, gender, and the date upon which the aforementioned measurements were collected.

The three short video tutorials provide information on how to conduct these measurements, which should be collected in metric units (cm and kg). The data recorded can then be inserted into the on-line calculator below. Please carefully follow the procedures in the videos and double-check that the data is inserted into the calculator appropriately, as subtle errors can have a significant effect on the results.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

The following information seeks to clarify the eligibility of players for the 2026 Season in relation to Biological Maturation Approved Players:

Players assessed as Late Developers:

• Any player that is assessed as a “late developer” will be given approval to play down an age grade at their club provided that the club has a position(s) available in the team that the player is seeking to register with.

Players Assessed as “on time developers” or “early developers”

• Any player that is assessed as a “on-time developer” or “early developer” will NOT be permitted to play down an age grade at their club.

Team Eligibility for 2026

Below are the age groups for which the Biological Maturation principle will apply for the 2026 season:

Current Squad Numbers:

• No club/team will be able to register a Player to play in an age grade below the player’s birth year if that player has been assessed as a “on time developer” or “early developer”.
• Each club will be permitted to register a maximum of one (1) approved “late developer” per team/age grade. For the avoidance of doubt, player’s classified as late developers must be allocated to and appear on the Player ID Sheets of the youngest squad, they are eligible to participate in.

In order for testing to be valid it will need to be conducted in the same year as the season.

• Testing in 2025 will not be eligible for the 2026 season, the test will need to be conducted in 2026.
• All testing must be conducted by CF’s provider, for 2026 this is Southside Physiotherapist to be considered valid.
  o Tests conducted by different providers will not be accepted.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOUR CHILD IS ELIGIBLE

Below you will be able to find Assessment Instructions to determine if a player is eligible for one of the testing days. Introduction Measuring Standing Height Measuring Seated Height Measuring Body Mass

Introduction

Measuring Standing Height

Measuring Seated Height

Measuring Body Mass

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

The below calculator will provide two results, the estimated age at peak height velocity (APHV) and the maturation category (early, on-time or late developer). The age at peak height velocity is an estimate of when the player did or is predicted to go through the most intensive phase of the adolescent growth spurt. Some players will have already been through the growth spurt, others are yet to do so. To categorise their maturation status, the APHV is cross-referenced with normative data for boys and girls. The age criteria used to categorise biological maturation is as follows:

Boys: APHV <13.5 = early APHV 13.5-14.5 = on-time APHV >14.5 = late

For Boys, an on-time maturer is someone who goes through PHV between 13.5 to 14.5 years of age. If a Player is assessed as having gone through PHV before 13.5 years of age, they will be deemed an early maturer (relative to the normal population) and will be required to play in their age group. If a Player is assessed as expected to go through PHV after 14.5 years of age, they will be deemed a late developer and will be entitled to play down one age group.

Girls: APHV <11.5 = early APHV 11.5-12.5 = on-time APHV >12.5 = late

For Girls, an on-time maturer is someone who goes through PHV between 11.5 to 12.5 years of age. If a Player is assessed as having gone through PHV before 11.5 years of age, they will be deemed an early maturer (relative to the normal population) and will be required to play in their age group. If the Player is assessed as expected to go through PHV after 12.5 years of age, they will be deemed a late developer and will be entitled to play down one age group.

Should the player be classified as a late developer, the player can register for an assessment with Canberra Physio Clinic. If confirmed as a late-developer by CF, the player has the option to register in a lower-age category, however we recommend that the technical directors, coaches, players and parents consider carefully the implications of competing at a lower age-category. In border-line cases where the player is close to the late-maturer cut-off (APHV >14.4 for boys, and > 12.4 for girls), players can also register for verification assessment by Canberra Physio Clinic.

Please Note: MEASURE THREE TIMES BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR MEASUREMENTS IN THE CALCULATOR BELOW.

BOOKING PROCESS

Testing for the 2026 Season will be conducted at Southside Physio at the Woden Clinic, Canberra Health Point Building, Unit 3 – Level 1/16 Wilbow St, Phillip ACT 2606. The 2026 dates that testing will be conduct are the following:

• 5th February 2026 5:00pm – 6:00pm
• 12th February 2026 5:00pm – 6:00pm
• 19th February 2026 5:00pm – 6:00pm
• 26th February 2026 5:00pm – 6:00pm

To organise a booking please do not phone or email the clinic directly, please contact Nia via the following email with your preferred day/time and phone number: nia@sspg.com.au

The cost of the testing will be $55 per person/player.

Please come prepared with the following information to your appointment:

• Player’s Full Name
• DOB
• Best Contact (Number and Email)
• FFA Number
• Club

The testing process, which is expected to take only 10 minutes, each individual will be measured for standing height, seated height and body mass.

• Players will then be categorised as an (a) early developer, (b) an on-time maturer, or (c) late developer.
• In order to ensure effective use of time, parents and guardians are able to use the tools on this page to identify if a player is eligible for the in-person testing with Southside Physiotherapy.
  – Please see ‘How to Determine if your Child is Eligible’ section for the information and resources to assist.

The outcome of the testing will be provided to CF, with the results and CF will provide a report of the outcome to clubs and the individual.

The following information seeks to clarify the eligibility of players for the 2024 Season in relation to Biological Maturation Approved Players:

Players assessed as Late Developers:

• Any player that is assessed as a “late developer” will be given approval to play down an age grade at their club provided that the club has a position(s) available in the team that the player is seeking to register with.

Players Assessed as “on time developers” or “early developers”

• Any player that is assessed as a “on-time developer” or “early developer” will NOT be permitted to play down an age grade at their club..

Team Eligibility for 2024

Below are the age groups for which the Biological Maturation principle will apply for the 2024 season:

Current Squad Numbers:

• No club/team will be able to register a Player to play in an age grade below the player’s birth year if that player has been assessed as a “on time developer” or “early developer”;
• Each club will be permitted to register a maximum of one (1)approved “late developer” per team/age grade. For the avoidance of doubt, player’s classified as late developers must be allocated to and appear on the Player ID Sheets of the youngest squad they are eligible to participate in.

Below you will be able to find Assessment Instructions to determine if a player is eligible for one of the testing days.

Introduction

Measuring Standing Height

Measuring Seated Height

Measuring Body Mass

The below calculator will provide two results, the estimated age at peak height velocity (APHV) and the maturation category (early, on-time or late developer).  The age at peak height velocity is an estimate of when the player did or is predicted to go through the most intensive phase of the adolescent growth spurt.  Some players will have already been through the growth spurt, others are yet to do so.  To categorise their maturation status, the APHV is cross-referenced with normative data for boys and girls.  The age criteria used to categorise biological maturation is as follows:

Boys:
APHV <13.5 = early
APHV 13.5-14.5 = on-time
APHV >14.5 = late

For Boys, an on-time maturer is someone who goes through PHV between 13.5 to 14.5 years of age. If a Player is assessed as having gone through PHV before 13.5 years of age, they will be deemed an early maturer (relative to the normal population) and will be required to play in their age group. If a Player is assessed as expected to go through PHV after 14.5 years of age, they will be deemed a late developer and will be entitled to play down one age group.

Girls:
APHV <11.5 = early
APHV 11.5-12.5 = on-time
APHV >12.5 = late

For Girls, an on-time maturer is someone who goes through PHV between 11.5 to 12.5 years of age. If a Player is assessed as having gone through PHV before 11.5 years of age, they will be deemed an early maturer (relative to the normal population) and will be required to play in their age group. If the Player is assessed as expected to go through PHV after 12.5 years of age, they will be deemed a late developer and will be entitled to play down one age group.

Should the player be classified as a late developer, the player can register for an assessment with Canberra Physio Clinic.  If confirmed as a late-developer by CF, the player has the option to register in a lower-age category, however we recommend that the technical directors, coaches, players and parents consider carefully the implications of competing at a lower age-category.  In border-line cases where the player is close to the late-maturer cut-off (APHV >14.4 for boys, and > 12.4 for girls), players can also register for verification assessment by Canberra Physio Clinic.

Please Note: MEASURE THREE TIMES BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR MEASUREMENTS IN THE CALCULATOR BELOW.

For all enquires please contact competitions@capitalfootball.com.au