How to Calculate the Maturity Offset (Age of PHV)

This document provides a simple step-by-step guide to estimate the maturity offset. It is to be used in
combination with the Science for Sport maturity offset calculator Excel workbook. If you do not possess this
workbook already, then it is available for free at:
www.scienceforsport.com/peak-height-velocity
Equipment Requirements:
You must obtain the following equipment before conducting any testing:

Digital weighing scales (capable of measuring to the nearest 0.1kg)

Wall-mounted stadiometer
Bench or Seat (approximately 50cm) this is required to accurately measure sitting height.

Athletes Details
The following details and anthropometric measures that need to be taken from the athlete:

Date of Birth
Body mass (kg)
Standing height (cm)
Sitting height (cm)

Test Procedure
Step #1: Body Mass (kg)
Note: this must be done in lightweight clothing and with no shoes or accessories (e.g. jewellery or mobile
phones).
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2.
3.
4.

Check the scales is reading zero (0.00kg).

Ask the child to stand on the weighing scales and record their weight to the nearest 0.1kg.
Ask the child to step off the scales
Repeat this twice to obtain two readings. If the two measures differ by more than 0.4kg then a third
reading must be taken the two closest readings are then used during the calculation.

Step #2: Standing Height (cm)

Standing height, or stature is the maximum distance from the floor to the vertex* of the head. This is
measured using the stretch stature method.

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1.
2.
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6.
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The athlete should be instructed to stand with their back, buttocks, and heels against the
stadiometer.
Their feet must be placed together, flat on the floor, and with no shoes or socks on.
Place subjects head in the Frankfort plane (Figures 1 & 2). Place your hands far enough along the line
of the subjects jaw to ensure that upward pressure is transferred through the mastoid process.
Instruct the athlete to take a deep breath and hold it.
Keeping the head in the Frankfort plane, gently lift the head upward through the mastoid process. At
the same time, firmly place the headboard down onto the vertex of the athletes head pressing the
hair down as much as possible.
Ensure the feet have not raised off the floor and that the head is maintained in the Frankfort plane.
Record the measurement at the end of the athletes deep inward breath record to the nearest
0.1cm.
Ask athlete to step away from the stadiometer.
Repeat this process another time to ensure two accurate measures. If the two measures differ by
0.4cm or more, then repeat a third time and calculate the average measure of the three readings.

*the vertex is defined as the highest point on the skull when the head is held in the Frankfort plane (Figure 2).
This position is when the imaginary line joining the orbitale to the tragion is perpendicular, or at a right angle,
to the long axis of the body as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1. Measuring stretch stature

Figure 2. Position of the

head in Frankfort plane

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Step #3: Sitting Height (cm)

Sitting height is the maximum distance from the base of the sitting surface (e.g. bench) to the vertex* of the
head (Figure 3). This is measured using the stretch stature method.
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2.
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6.
7.
8.
9.

Instruct the athlete to sit on the bench or level platform with their hands resting on their thighs.
Note: the test administrator MUST obtain the height of the bench or the level sitting surface to
calculate the maturity offset e.g. if the sitting bench is 50cm in height from the floor, then this must
be recorded.
Instruct the athlete to take a deep breath and hold it.
Keeping the head in the Frankfort plane, gently lift the head upward through the mastoid process. At
the same time, firmly place the headboard down onto the vertex of the athletes head pressing the
hair down as much as possible.
Ensure the athlete does not contract the gluteal muscles nor push with their legs.
Ensure that the head is maintained in the Frankfort plane.
Record the measurement at the end of the athletes deep inward breath record to the nearest
0.1cm.
Ask athlete to step off the bench and away from the stadiometer.
Repeat this process another time to ensure two accurate measures. If the two measures differ by
0.4cm or more, then repeat a third time and calculate the average measure of the three readings.
If using a floor stadiometer the observed height minus the bench/platform height is the sitting height.

Figure 3. Measurement of sitting height

Step #4: Leg Length (cm) this value is pre-calculated when using the accompanying Excel workbook.

Science for Sport - The Home of Athletic Performance