Introduction The aim of this paper was to discuss the skeletal growth of children and juvenile athletes and to compare and analyze the different growth types. The study investigated physical states, bodily function, and physical quality between children and juvenile athletes in the same age group . This information will help trainers to understand the characteristics of growth in children and juvenile athletes during training and selection. Methods The subjects consisted of 195 male and female athletes aged 12-16 years in the Shenyang Physical training school. Participants were evaluated for bone age, body shape and movement abilities. Results 1) In terms of different growth type proportion, propensity accounts for 32.31%, normalcy accounts for 67.39%, and there were no obvious differences in the late-maturing category. 2) In 12 year old girls, there were 19 body shape targets for determining early versus normal development. There were significant differences in body weight, seat height, chest measurements and abdominal fat. 3) The body shape targets pertaining to 14 year old girls show that the lower limbs are especially long. Conclusions In the selection process of children and juvenile athletes, more attention should be paid to their skeletal growth with a focus on those that develop normally. There is a difference among the age groups in terms of growth types. The difference in body shape is significant, but the differences in movement abilities are small. There is no obvious difference in body shape targets in the younger period, but the differences in the movement ability targets are significantly obvious.
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