Bio-banding in youth ice hockey: a system that groups players based on their biological maturity rather than their chronological age. The study investigates the impact of bio-banding on player perception, coach selection preferences, and the relationship between maturity and physical performance.
Join us as we:
● Examine the uneven distribution of maturity timing across different player positions, and what this might reveal about player strategies and coaching biases.
● Hear how players themselves perceive bio-banding, from those who played against more mature opponents to those who faced off against less mature competition.
● Uncover the surprising finding that coaches often favored smaller, later-maturing players in their selection process.
● Discuss the potential benefits of bio-banding for both early and late maturing players, fostering long-term athletic development and challenging traditional notions of talent identification.
● Analyze the "underdog hypothesis" and how it may explain why late-maturing players might develop unique skills to compete with their more physically developed peers.
● Consider the practical implications of integrating bio-banding into youth hockey, potentially at earlier ages like U11 or U12, to maximize its impact and promote a more equitable and developmentally focused training environment.
Tune in to learn more about bio-banding and its potential to revolutionize the way we approach player development in youth ice hockey.
Main source: A pilot study on bio-banding in male youth ice hockey: Players’ perceptions and coaches’ selection preferences
Oliver Lindholm, Erik Niklasson, John Lind, Daniele A. Cardinale, Tommy R. Lundberg
PLoS One. 2024; 19(8): e0308676. Published online 2024 Aug 12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308676
PMCID: PMC11318913

This episode explores a fascinating study on the impact of biological maturity on success in Swedish ice hockey players. Drawing on 20 years of data from certified ice hockey high schools, junior national teams, and the NHL, researchers discovered a surprising trend. While early maturation provides an advantage in junior success, reaching the NHL, the pinnacle of adult success, is inversely related to advanced maturation.
● The study analyzed 4787 male players from Swedish ice hockey high schools between 1998 and 2017, along with their junior national team and NHL participation records.
● Researchers used "percentage of adult height (%AH)" as a non-invasive measure of biological maturation.
● Players selected for the U16 national team (junior success) showed a bias towards early maturation, with 30% being early maturers compared to 19% late maturers.
● However, more late-maturing players (40%) achieved adult success (NHL participation) compared to early-maturing players (25%). NHL players also demonstrated significantly later maturation than non-NHL players.
● The study suggests a shift in maturity bias as players age. Early maturers might dominate in the initial stages due to physical advantages, but as the focus shifts from physical prowess to skill and tactical proficiency, later maturers have a higher conversion rate to the NHL.
● The research highlights the importance of considering biological maturation in talent identification and player development. Implementing maturity assessments could help optimize training programs for both early and late maturers, allowing them to reach their full potential.
● Strategies like "bio-banding," where players are grouped based on their maturity level rather than chronological age, are discussed as potential solutions. This approach could provide late-maturing players with more opportunities to develop their skills and leadership qualities while challenging early-maturing players to refine their technical abilities.
This episode provides valuable insights for coaches, clubs, and parents involved in youth ice hockey, emphasizing the importance of fostering long-term athlete development that considers individual differences in biological maturation.
Main source: Who Reaches the NHL? A 20-Year Retrospective Analysis of Junior and Adult Ice Hockey Success in Relation to Biological Maturation in Male Swedish Players
Erik Niklasson, Oliver Lindholm, Marlene Rietz, John Lind, David Johnson, Tommy R. Lundberg
Sports Med. 2024; 54(5): 1317–1326. Published online 2024 Jan 9. doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01985-z
PMCID: PMC11127826

This episode examines ice hockey injuries in the United States, comparing injury rates and patterns between high school boys and collegiate men and women over multiple seasons.
● Men’s collegiate ice hockey has the highest overall injury rate compared with boys’ high school and women’s collegiate ice hockey. This could be due to several factors, including the greater intensity of play and the larger size and speed of collegiate players.
● Injury rates are consistently higher in competitions than in practices across all levels. The injury rate in collegiate men’s ice hockey competitions is lower than previously reported, while the rate in women’s collegiate ice hockey competitions is higher than in a previous report. The reasons for these discrepancies are unclear.
● In collegiate women’s ice hockey competitions, 38% of all injuries result from contact with another person, despite body checking being illegal. This suggests that enforcing rules related to player contact could help reduce injuries.
● A higher percentage of injuries in boys’ high school ice hockey are attributed to checking compared to men’s collegiate ice hockey. This raises the question of whether rules aimed at reducing or eliminating checking could help to decrease the incidence of injuries.
● Concussion rates vary compared to earlier research. The concussion rate is higher in collegiate men and lower in collegiate women, which could be due to changes in concussion management policies and education efforts. The concussion rate in high school boys is lower than in collegiate men.
● The study was limited to data from high schools with certified athletic trainers and NCAA institutions. Therefore, the results may not be generalizable to other playing levels or institutions. Additionally, the study did not consider certain factors that could influence injury risk, such as previous injuries and the use of injury prevention programs.
This episode provides valuable insights into the epidemiology of ice hockey injuries across different levels of play. It highlights the need for ongoing research to develop effective injury prevention strategies specific to each level of competition.
Main source: The First Decade of Web-Based Sports Injury Surveillance: Descriptive Epidemiology of Injuries in US High School Boys' Ice Hockey (2008–2009 Through 2013–2014) and National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's and Women's Ice Hockey (2004–2005 Through 2013–2014)
Robert C. Lynall, Jason P. Mihalik, Lauren A. Pierpoint, Dustin W. Currie, Sarah B. Knowles, Erin B. Wasserman, Thomas P. Dompier, R. Dawn Comstock, Stephen W. Marshall, Zachary Y. Kerr
J Athl Train. 2018 Dec; 53(12): 1129–1142. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-176-17
PMCID: PMC6365065