HOW - The benefit of using the Hylyght Growth Tracker

Growth

02/12/2024 – Hylyght

Table of Contents:

Hylyght helps sports experts in the 3 crucial steps to monitor growth and maturity

1. Measure your athletes correctly and efficiently

To monitor the growth and maturity of athletes, height and weight should be measured at least 4x per year (every 3 months). Hylyght facilitates the collection and management of data trough:

The dedicated test app

Thanks to the Hylyght test app, you can save data directly into the online platform from any device. By providing them with the right link, test leaders can add data to the platform without being able to access data.

Image of a smartphone sending (encrypted) data to the Hylyght platform (running on a laptop).
Figure 1: Test leaders can add data to the platform without being able to access data.

Advantages:

  • Direct input to the online platform
  • Simultaneous testing of multiple groups
  • Clear overview of athletes
  • Warning for unlikely values

No more:

  • Pen and paper measurements
  • Retyping results into Excel
  • Combining multiple files

Automated data collection

The Seca 268 device, for measuring length and weight.
Figure 2: The Seca 286 device, which can be connected to the Hylyght platform to enable automated data collection.

By connecting a Seca 286 device to the Hylyght platform, data collection can be automated.

Advantages:

  • Fast and accurate
  • Identification through QR or RFID

No more:

  • Manual measurement
  • Inter-rater variability

The online platform

Instead of using elaborate Excel files, use the online platform to safely store and manage all data.

Screenshot of Hylyght online platform.
Figure 3: use the online platform to safely store and manage all data.

Advantages

  • Secure back-up of all data
  • Easy access management
  • Scientific analysis
  • Smooth communication
  • Fully GDPR proof

No more

  • Elaborate Excel-files
  • Asking who has the data file
  • Searching which is the last version
  • Struggling with Excel functions
  • Issues to get information to parents and athletes

2. Assess the results according to the newest scientific standards

Data is just a bunch of numbers if you don't give meaning to them. The Growth Tracker calculates the relevant metrics and highlights important results.

Injury prevention & Bio-banding

Based on scientific literature, the Hylyght platform shows warning signs to indicate which athletes currently experience an increased risk for injuries.

The Hylyght Growth Tracker provides the maturity status of each athlete, and allows to sort them based on biological age or %PAH. This way the growth tracker facilitates the implementation of bio-banding.

Screenshot of the Hylyght result page for the growth tracker
Figure 4: Hylyght growth tracker result page (showing mock data)

Talent detection

In case the club also monitors physical fitness, results can be compared to benchmarks specific to the biological age of the athletes, which is essential for talent identification in adolescent athletes.

Screenshot of the result of two physical test with benchmarks on Hylyght online platform.
Figure 5: Results of two physical test, with benchmarks specific for the biological age of the athletes (mock data)

3. Guide your athletes using clear individual and team reports

Team reports

Team reports can be downloaded as a pdf and sent to the coaches. These reports provide a quick and easy overview for the coaches about the athletes in their team. The maturity report allows for easy bio-banding, and maturity specific training sessions, while the injury risk report indicates which athletes currently experience a growth spurt and therefore have an increased risk for growth-related injuries.

Screenshots of the Maturity and Injury Risk PDF Reports
Figure 6: Maturity Report (left) and Injury Risk Report (right). PDF's generated by Hylyght.

Individual reports

In case the club want to provide insights to the players and their parents as well, individual reports can also be downloaded as a pdf, or shared directly from the platform with athletes and parents. This report informs the athlete about his/her growth velocity and maturity timing.

Screenshots of the Growth Tracker Athlete Report
Figure 7: The Athlete Report informs the athlete about theirs growth velocity and maturity timing

Webinars and workshops

Finally, to stay up-to-date with the latest scientific findings on how to deal with growth and maturity, we also provide webinars and workshops for staff, athletes, and/or parents.