I guess it's time to start talking about my next-in-line, Colton. He's 15 and has grown about 6" (to just under 6'2") in the past year. He has always been his team's top hitter, but now .....OMG...... what a train wreck. It's as if he just can't figure out how to work this new body. He's arms and legs all over the place. His swing has gone from nice and compact to .... it's hard to even describe.

He's a pitcher like big bro, but he's also a two-way player and of course wants to hit well. I've told him we've got all winter and that we'll just keep working to make those adjustments to the 'new you'.

Anyone have a similar tale to tell, and how did you work through it?

Grew 6 inches in 6 months at 17. Could barely walk without falling down. One day it was like someone turned on a switch and I was fast and coordinated.

Son #2 going through some of that now, 5 inches in last 9 months and still counting. 6'3" and probably has another 4 to 6 inches to go and he's 16.

Nothing anyone can do, just keep on keeping on and in my experience, it all comes back together rather quickly.

Going to agree with CPLZ. It is amazing how fast they come out of it once they are done. The added size/strength really helps. Keep working on mechanics and try to keep him off of the mound until his body gets settled out. In my experience, it is a great time to get hurt on the mound when you are growing like a loony and getting a lot more powerful and your mechanics fly out the window. More 3/4 speed bullpen and long toss, much less game time pitching IMO. Let all of his body parts catch up to where they are supposed to be.

My daughter grew fourteen inches in eighteen months concluding when she was fourteen. Coming out of the batter's box she looked like one of those cartoon characters where the legs are going 100mph and the body isn't moving. I sent her to a college speed camp the following summer. She enjoyed track training so much she quit basketball for track (****! ... let's see if Darn! works).

My son (15yo soph) grew seven inches in six months in the spring and summer following 8th grade. It didn't affect his speed. His mechanics went to hell. He had trouble hitting by fall ball. He was wild on the mound. Playing s****r that fall got his coordination back. I was walking with him this evening. I noticed we were almost eye to eye. I think he grew an inch last week. He's now 6 feet, 145. He was up to 150 and lost five pounds.

I was a very slow grower and so was my oldest son. Now my middle boy has grown so fast... he enjoyed a nice burst of power, but the Osgood-Schlatters has been pretty brutal.

We're still waiting!

Same thing happened to my son. His joints got stiff and he was running flat foot - or something. He is now about 6'5" - only growing 2 inches this year.

He is working with a personal trainer and is looking so much more coordinated. He is working on getting his swing back too. He is upset that he is having to relearn. (He went from hitting line drives in his sleep to chopping at the ball. Long arms mean a compact swing isn't what it used to be) His pitching has stayed strong. He has added velo and his curve and off speed are nasty. He had to be mindful of his release point a bit - but putting that weight and angle to work is pretty.

quote:

Originally posted by floridafan:
We're still waiting!

Krak, maybe take a few weeks off to help him "reboot".

I find this all so familiar and amusing.
When the growth spurt came on strong, my son couldn't hit or run anymore, though his pitching was fine and that is what he concentrated on.

Looking back, now, I am wondering if that is why they didn't let him play position for two whole years.

It all didn't come back until his senior year in HS. As fluid as he is on the mound, he still is a bit clumsy at times.

Where do you go to get the growth spurt?

Try holding down the Ctl, Alt & Delete .... It works on my computer when it gets spastic!

I'm about 6'2" so I don't have too much to complain about, and the only spurt I had was before 6th grade, although I continued growing after that. My growth seems to be slowing, but a recent x-ray revealed (according to my doctor) that my growth plates were definitely still open. Does that mean I'll still grow at the age of 17? None of my immediately family experienced any growth in this time period, but my uncle grew from 5'8" to 6'5" from junior to senior year. (It posed a problem when he got pulled over and was this massive man with a license saying he was 5'8 135)

Jpontiac- many males continue to grow until about age 25! If your growth plates aren't closed it usually means you are not done growing.

When my oldest son was 16, having knee problems, an x-ray showed his growth plates in legs were almost closed. He was 6'1" at the time. The docter said he probably wouldn't grow anymore. Lo and behold he grew another 1 1/2 inches because your spine can still grow despite the growth plates in legs being closed. He's now about 6'3" with size 14-15 feet. Makes it tough to buy shoes sometimes!

The funny thing is, a couple years ago I was told the growth plates in my feet were nearly closed. (I also wear size 14s, any bigger and I'd never get any shoes) I guess they don't all close at once.

More growth stories (have patience):

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6206007535/m/1901040203

BOFJr is just now starting to fill in and get his coordination back....well sort of.

The other thing I have noticed and have been told that tall kids (maybe any after a growth spurt) is that they can be very tight and need to stretch to keep their flexibility and to prevent injury.

quote:

Originally posted by BOF:

The other thing I have noticed and have been told that tall kids (maybe any after a growth spurt) is that they can be very tight and need to stretch to keep their flexibility and to prevent injury.

It takes some time for the soft tissue development to catch up... you literally grow over night. Another good reason for adequate rest.

Just found this to share...

Sports and Spurts
Surviving a growth spurt isn't easy. Limbs can grow at different rates, leaving teens uncoordinated, clumsy, and even weak. The clumsiness most likely stems from the body's nervous system trying to adjust to the growth of limbs, muscles, and nerve lengths.

During adolescence, the body grows so fast that connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments become tighter—sometimes becoming very tight. If young athletes don't stretch before and after playing sports, growth-related pain can occur, particularly in the knees and lower legs. Most teen athletes will experience discomfort in these areas until their bones stop growing.

During and immediately after growth spurts, students should avoid training on hard surfaces and monitor the intensity and duration of their workouts. It is also important to stretch regularly and perform low-level strengthening exercises. Heavy weights should be avoided.

Teen athletes who do not stretch or who train on hard surfaces run the risk of sports injuries. A sports injury is characterized by pain that increases slowly over several weeks. A sports doctor can answer questions about such injuries.

To locate a sports doctor, try the following organizations:

Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America



American College of Sports Medicine



American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Growth spurts can definately be painful and they can happen all over your body as you grow. Then it sometimes takes a while to get used to the new body a little. I caught some of my son's growing pains on video...

Growth Spurts

Well, maybe it wasn't that bad, but that is how I remember it.

Well,..they're sure wreaking havoc on the ol' food budget! Good grief!
I keep getting text messages from my college freshman ball player that say, " I'm STARVING!!! "

The off season workouts which consist of heavy weights, swimming, etc. seem to have converted him into a bottomless pit.
Cafeteria closes at 6:30 p.m.
From 8-12 midnight the kid cant seem to get enough to eat. We stocked him up with canned raviolies, hearty soups, mac-n-cheese, etc. but the supply is getting down to the slim pickin's.

Found out he has put 10+ lbs. of muscle since Fall ball ended ( which I'm sure he is happy about ) but apparantly his jeans are getting " kinda short ".
Last text message made some slight mention about his turfs feeling tight.

If anyone has a Moolah tree in their back yard,...care to share a twig?
I kinda thought this growth spurt thing stopped at 16. Boy Man, was I wrong.

Perhaps we will need two turkeys for Thankgiving and while I'm at it,
better double up on the deviled eggs,...triple the pies, and quadruple the mashed potatoes and gravy!
Oh my, oh my.

The good news: Putting the Christmas lights up on the house this year, just got a little easier.

Shortstopmon - I got your back. I'll send you some extra eggs and sides - maybe mashed potatoes and green beans, for a pie.

Can't help on the money tree. The Drought got mine last summer.