When to Repeat & Track Changes

Why Regular Measurement Matters

Growth is dynamic. While a single assessment provides a valuable snapshot, trends over time reveal the most meaningful insights.

A single measurement tells you where a child is today. Multiple measurements show:

• Direction of change — is growth accelerating or stabilising?
• Transition phases — when did they enter or exit PHV?
• Individual patterns — how does their growth compare to previous periods?

This longitudinal view helps explain changes in confidence, coordination, or performance that might otherwise seem mysterious or concerning.

Recommended Assessment Frequency

Every 3–4 months is the ideal frequency for tracking developmental changes. This interval is:

• Frequent enough to catch important transitions like entering or exiting PHV
• Spaced enough to show meaningful change (growth happens gradually, not day-to-day)
• Practical for families to maintain without becoming burdensome

More frequent assessments (monthly) may be appropriate during suspected rapid growth phases or if coordinating closely with coaches around training adjustments.

Less frequent assessments (6+ months) may miss key developmental windows and reduce the accuracy of growth rate calculations.

What Tracking Over Time Reveals

By re-assessing every 3–4 months, MatCalc can identify:

Critical transitions:

• When a child enters PHV (growth accelerates)
• When they reach peak velocity (fastest growth rate)
• When they exit PHV (growth begins to slow)

Explanation for changes:

• Why coordination might temporarily decrease
• Why energy levels or recovery needs have shifted
• Why performance may plateau or dip

Improved accuracy:

• Growth predictions become more precise with more data points
• Error margins narrow as patterns become clearer
• PAH estimates refine over time

This historical context provides reassurance and reduces anxiety about short-term variations.

How MatCalc Helps Track Changes

MatCalc stores historical data and visualises trends, making it easy to see how development unfolds over months and years.

The platform provides:

• Growth rate charts showing acceleration and deceleration patterns
• Timeline markers of significant developmental events
• Comparative views showing current status relative to past assessments
• Context for conversations with coaches and healthcare providers

By tracking changes over time, MatCalc improves accuracy and gives parents a clearer, calmer picture of development — without over-analysing day-to-day variation.

This perspective shift — from snapshot to story — is where the real value emerges.

Practical Tips for Tracking

Set a reminder: Schedule assessments in advance (e.g., first weekend of every quarter).

Be consistent: Measure at the same time of day when possible, as height can vary slightly throughout the day.

Record contextual notes: Note significant life events, injuries, or training changes that might provide useful context later.

Don't obsess over small changes: Focus on the overall trend, not individual data points. Normal biological variation means measurements will fluctuate slightly.

Share with your child: Involve them in understanding their own development. This builds body awareness and reduces anxiety about changes.

Use insights, don't fixate: The goal is informed perspective, not constant monitoring. Check-ins every few months are sufficient.