The reference shelf

Youth Sports Benchmarks & growth references

By the My Athlete Research Team · Reviewed by Zach Jacobson, Founder · Published: August 26, 2026 · Last updated: August 26, 2026

Most "average for age" numbers on the internet come with no source at all. Every number on these pages is computed from named public data — starting with the CDC Growth Charts (2000) — with the method stated on the methodology page and the reference population labeled. Where no legally-clear youth data exists, we say so instead of inventing a number.

Growth & height

Height Percentile Calculator

Ages 2–19, boys and girls. Runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is transmitted.

Average height, age by age

Age 6 Age 7 Age 8 Age 9 Age 10 Age 11 Age 12 Age 13 Age 14 Age 15 Age 16 Age 17 Age 18

Measure it right, read it right

How to Measure Height Accurately at Home

The CDC survey protocol, adapted for a wall at home — and the mistakes that quietly add half an inch.

How to Read a Percentile Chart

What a percentile says, what it doesn't, and why the curve over time beats any single number.

Methodology

The datasets, the math, and the publishing rules — including what we deliberately don't publish.

What's coming

Weight references, fitness-test references built on U.S. national survey data, and per-sport testing guides — each added only when a legally-clear public source exists for the numbers. This shelf grows carefully on purpose.

Page last reviewed: August 26, 2026. Reference data: CDC Growth Charts (2000), a U.S. reference population.

This is general information, not medical advice. Every child grows and develops on their own timeline — these numbers describe large groups in a reference population, not your child. They can’t diagnose anything, and a number above or below a range is not by itself a reason for concern. If you have questions about your child’s growth or development, talk with your pediatrician or another qualified health professional. Training decisions belong with your athlete’s coach.

One number tells you where they are today.

The part that actually matters is the same measurement, repeated over a season — the record of measured change over time. That's what My Athlete keeps, across 18 sports, alongside every assessment your athlete does.

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