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The Clumsy Phase: What Parents Need to Know About Peak Height Velocity (PHV)

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:04:35 GMT

Have you ever watched your highly coordinated, technically gifted child suddenly look like they have forgotten how to run or dribble? One week they are gliding past defenders, and the next, they are tripping over the ball and struggling with basic agility.

As a parent, this can be incredibly confusing and even a little frustrating.

You might wonder if they have lost focus, if their cleats are the wrong size, or if they are losing interest in soccer.

Before you replace their gear or have a stern talk about effort, there is a scientific concept you need to know: Peak Height Velocity (PHV)

What is Peak Height Velocity?

Peak Height Velocity, or PHV, is the period during adolescence when an athlete experiences their fastest upward growth. It is the core scientific marker of the classic "growth spurt."

During this window, athletes don't just grow; their biological structure is rapidly shifting. Understanding when this is happening is one of the most critical aspects of youth sports science, as it impacts everything from performance on the field to injury risk off it.

The Science of "Adolescent Awkwardness"

The sudden clumsiness you see on the field is a very real physiological phenomenon. Here is exactly what is happening under the surface:

Bones Grow First: During PHV, a player's bones grow at an accelerated rate.
Muscles and Tendons Lag Behind: The muscles and tendons do not grow at the same speed. They are forced to stretch tightly across these newly lengthened bones.
The Brain is Playing Catch-Up: Because the limbs are suddenly longer and the center of gravity has shifted, the brain's internal map of the body is suddenly outdated. Motor control, coordination, and spatial awareness temporarily decline while the nervous system recalibrates to this "new" body.

Reading the Growth Curve Correctly

To track this phase, sports scientists look at growth velocity. When you look at a standard growth tracking visual, the curve charts the rate of growth against a player's age.

It is a common misconception to expect the massive spike in growth to happen later as they mature. In reality, the visual curve peaks right in the middle of these critical youth and early adolescent years. The curve shoots upward as they hit maximum growth velocity, and then slopes downward as they get older and approach their mature adult height. Recognizing that this peak happens exactly when they are in the thick of their youth soccer development is crucial for setting the right expectations.

Protecting The Players: Injury Risks During PHV

Because muscles and tendons are stretched incredibly tight during this phase, youth athletes are highly susceptible to overuse injuries, specifically traction apophysitis . This is when a tight tendon pulls away from the immature growth plate of the bone. The two most common in youth soccer players are:

Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Pain and swelling just below the kneecap.
Sever’s Disease: Pain and inflammation in the heel (extremely common due to the hard impacts of running in cleats).

'The clumsy phase is not a decline in talent; it is an investment in their adult body. With patience, proper recovery, and the right mindset, your child will emerge from PHV stronger, faster, and ready to take their game to the next level.'

Actionable Steps for Parents

If your child is in the middle of their PHV window, here is how you can support them:

Educate your child in PHV: When a child understands that the clumsiness, fatigue, or sudden growth spurts they're experiencing have a name and a reason — rather than feeling like a personal failing — it changes how they cope with that period. They can recognise it as a normal, temporary phase every young athlete goes through, and approach it with patience rather than frustration or self-doubt."
Prioritize Mobility Over Intensity: Stretching and foam rolling during this phase can help tight muscles accommodate rapidly growing bones.
Monitor Workload: If they are experiencing heel or knee pain, they may need to temporarily reduce their training volume. Playing through growth plate pain only prolongs the issue.
Adjust Expectations: Remind your child (and yourself) that this awkward phase is temporary. Focus on praising their effort and tactical understanding rather than getting frustrated by temporary technical mistakes.

Parents who wish to monitor their child's Peak Height Velocity, below is a PHV calculator. This will give you an indication of where your child is on their growth spurt journey

Any parents wishing to reach out on this topic or any others, please feel free to contact me at ryan.bowen@mifc.org

Keeping Our Players Safe: The Ultimate Guide to Soccer Cleats on Artificial Turf

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:16:46 GMT

As we gear up for practices and tournaments, we want to talk about a piece of equipment that is critical to our players' safety: their cleats .

Because many of our games and practices take place on artificial turf, it is incredibly important to understand that not all cleats are created equal . In fact, research shows that wearing the wrong type of cleats on artificial turf can drastically increase the risk of severe lower-body injuries, particularly to the knees and ankles.

Here is everything parents and coaches need to know to make the safest footwear choices for our young athletes.

The Hidden Danger of Turf: "Cleat Lock" 

To understand why cleat choice matters, we have to look at how a shoe interacts with the ground. When a player wearing aggressive cleats plants their foot to make a sharp cut on natural grass, the soil and grass will eventually tear and give way, safely releasing the foot.

Artificial turf, however, is made of highly durable plastic fibers and rubber infill that do not yield or tear. If a player wears aggressive cleats on turf, their foot can become anchored or "locked" into the ground during a pivot. Because the turf refuses to give way, all of that twisting force is sent directly up the leg to the ankle and knee joints, often resulting in severe injuries like Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears

A Crucial Note for Our Female Athletes
This information is especially critical for the girls in our club. Female athletes naturally exhibit different landing and cutting mechanics, and they sustain ACL injuries at much higher rates than males. Alarmingly, epidemiological data shows that female soccer players experience an 18% higher risk of ACL injury when playing on artificial turf compared to natural grass . Wearing high-traction, aggressive cleats on turf can easily exceed a female athlete's ligament capacity during a state of fatigue, drastically increasing this risk.

The Golden Rule: "More is Best, Round is Sound!"

When shopping for cleats to use on artificial turf, we want to maximize comfort and safety by following a simple club motto: "More is best, round is sound!"

Here is what that means and how it applies to the different types of cleats on the market:

1. Avoid "FG" (Firm Ground) Cleats with Blades Firm Ground (FG) cleats are the most common shoes in the store, but they are built specifically for natural grass. They typically feature 10 to 12 long, widely spaced cleats, often in the shape of blades or chevrons.

The Danger: On artificial turf, these long blades act like anchors. They cannot fully penetrate the hard backing of the turf, leading to instability, and their bladed shape actively resists rotation, creating a massive risk for "cleat lock". We strongly advise against wearing bladed FG cleats on artificial turf.

2. Look for "AG" (Artificial Grass) Cleats AG cleats are specifically engineered for modern synthetic turf.

The Benefit: They feature more cleats (often 20 or more) that are shorter, hollowed, and round (conical). This high number of short cleats distributes the player's weight evenly across the foot, reducing joint stress and preventing painful pressure points. Most importantly, the round shape allows the foot to pivot and release safely from the turf, preventing knee and ankle injuries.

3. "TF" (Turf) Shoes are Great for Younger Kids Turf shoes feature a flat rubber sole covered in small rubber nubs.

The Benefit: They offer excellent, safe traction on artificial surfaces without the risk of the foot getting stuck. For our younger players (ages 6-10) whose growing feet are sensitive to pressure, TF shoes are incredibly comfortable and one of the safest options available.

Your Quick Shoe-Shopping Checklist

Next time you are at the sporting goods store, keep this quick checklist handy:

Check the Label: Look for the letters AG (Artificial Grass), MG (Multi-Ground), or TF (Turf) on the box.
Check the Bottom: Flip the shoe over. You want a high number of short, perfectly round/circular cleats.
Avoid the Blades: If the cleats look like long rectangles, triangles, or sharp chevrons, put them back on the shelf—they are too aggressive for turf.

By choosing the right cleats, we can help prevent injuries, keep our kids comfortable, and ensure they spend the season out on the field having fun. Let’s have a safe and fantastic season!

Any parents wishing to reach out on this topic or any others, please feel free to contact me at ryan.bowen@mifc.org

Proven Player, Proven Coach: Erin Vaughan Joins MIFC & EFC West

Tue, 05 May 2026 03:19:15 GMT

MIFC & EFC West Welcome Experienced Coach & Director, Erin Vaughan

MIFC & Eastside FC are excited to announce the addition of accomplished coach and former international player Erin Vaughan to its coaching staff. Vaughan joins the club after most recently serving with Washington Surf, bringing more than two decades of coaching experience and a high-level playing background in both England and internationally with Wales.

“ We’re thrilled to bring Erin into our program, ” said Sean Morris , MIFC Director of Soccer & Community, and Director of Eastside FC West Maroon. “ She has an incredible ability to connect with players while pushing them to grow, and her desire to form a strong community connection within a club—particularly for female players—really stands out. That aligns perfectly with the ethos of both Eastside FC and Mercer Island FC. Her energy is contagious, and her experience at the highest levels is evident in how she teaches the game. ”

A former Aston Villa Ladies player and Wales international, Vaughan has built a strong reputation in the Pacific Northwest for developing technically sound, confident players who understand the game. Her coaching philosophy centers on “possession with a purpose,” blending technical excellence with decision-making and team play.

“Erin is exactly the kind of person and coach we want at Eastside FC,” said Tom Bialek , Director of Soccer. “She’s passionate, driven, and deeply committed to player development and the game. She understands how to balance competitiveness with long-term growth, and she’s going to make an immediate impact across the club.”

At Eastside FC, Vaughan will lead and develop the girls program within Eastside FC West Maroon teams, and coaching for the U11 and U12 age groups, while also serving as head coach for GU9 and leading the Girls Junior Program at MIFC.

Please join us in welcoming Erin to our club, as she works to make an impact to our community and competitive programs alike!

Introducing: Eastside FC West

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:17:37 GMT

MIFC & Eastside FC Enter a New Partnership for the 2026/27 Season & Beyond

MIFC, XL, and Eastside FC are thrilled to announce a new, but familiar, partnership to create a fresh entity, Eastside FC West. This collaboration reinforces the EYSA, our governing association, and provides clear and unparalleled pathways for players, ranging from the recreational level, all the way to the top competitive youth level available.

Both clubs have aligned philosophies and missions for prioritizing player needs, holistic development of the complete person, and providing tools and life skills through the sport to enable them to excel and be champions in life. This new framework sets the foundation to strengthen our existing connection to EFC and the EYSA, and build a platform to provide growth and strength across the association.

MIFC Director of Soccer & Community, Sean Morris, commented on the partnership:

" I’m thrilled about the opportunity this new, but familiar, partnership represents. When we learned that BUFC was exiting our XL partnership, we saw it as a moment to step back and re-evaluate how we could best serve our players and our community at every level. Through conversations with Eastside FC leadership, it quickly became clear that we share the same core principles: prioritizing player well-being, development, and access to meaningful opportunities across all competitive standards.

We’re equally energized by the chance to strengthen MIFC’s ties within the Mercer Island community and deepen our relationship with EYSA. As a community-based club with 61 years of history, our focus has always been on creating a clear, sustainable pathway that truly serves Mercer Island players. From micro soccer and juniors through rec, select, and beyond, our commitment remains simple: soccer should be accessible, welcoming, and meaningful for everyone who wants to play.

This partnership provides a strong platform to grow at the grassroots level while also expanding internal, high-level pathways, particularly for our girls’ program, with direct access to the ECNL pathway through Eastside FC. I couldn’t be more excited about this next step forward, as it allows us to better support our most competitive players while continuing to build stability, opportunity, and a strong sense of community across all MIFC programs. "

Stay tuned for more information and updates, as we take this exciting step forward!

MIFC Announces Alex Quinlan Scholarship

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 20:16:59 GMT

MIFC Announces the Alex Quinlan Memorial Scholarship

The Alex Quinlan Scholarship is awarded annually to memorialize Alex and honor his commitment to community and Mercer Island FC. Scholarship(s) are awarded to graduating MIFC seniors. Nominees should exemplify Alex’s love of the Mercer Island community, joy in playing soccer, hard work on and off the pitch, and ability to foster positive team spirit and encourage others.

Carrying a value of $500 per winner, with 4 winners per year, the scholarship is available to high school seniors who are involved with MIFC as either a player, volunteer coach, or referee who live to be role models and leaders in the MI community.

Award Criteria/Qualifications

1. Must be a senior on an MIFC team, a HS coach of younger MIFC team or working in a community program, or a HS senior referee recognized by the club

2. Eligibility for the scholarship is not dependent on the awardee attending college

3. Nominees do not have to have been a team leader or captain, but they must have fostered a team spirit and inspired and encouraged their teammates

4. Involvement with the club on and off the field – coaching a younger Recreational team, refereeing youth games, working at Winter Sharpness/Spring Academy/Micro soccer clinics

Process for Applying/Identifying Deserving Seniors

1. Complete the online application form to submit to MIFC.

2. Nominees can be put forward by paid and volunteer coaches, team managers, as well as MIFC staff and administrators.

3. Successful applications will be determined by the MIFC staff, administrators, and select members from the MIFC Board of Directors.

Application Form

Communication of Winners

Winning candidates will be informed via email, as well as being recognized via the MIFC website and social media channels, to highlight and recognize their contributions to the MI community, and deserved award!

MIFC Hires Director of Soccer & Community

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 22:37:22 GMT

MIFC Hires its First Ever Director of Soccer and Community

We're thrilled to announce that Sean Morris is joining MIFC as our new Director of Soccer and Community. As we celebrate our remarkable 60th year, it's incredible to reflect on the journey from our humble beginnings as a volunteer-run organization to the thriving club we are today.

Over the decades, we've witnessed a surge in soccer interest, prompting us to enhance our coaching and player development strategies. The introduction of paid trainers and coaches has been pivotal in elevating our programs over the past decade, allowing us to better serve our community of players. The MIFC Board has been pleased with the progress we’ve made. Our small community program has evolved into an incredible soccer experience ranging ages and levels of commitment.

We are incredibly excited to introduce Sean Morris as Director of Soccer and Community. Sean Morris brings a wealth of experience to MIFC, having competed at top levels locally and internationally, representing esteemed teams such as Seattle University, Seattle Sounders, and Portland Timbers. His tenure overseas in Europe and New Zealand has provided him with a unique perspective on player development and community development.

Despite his elite soccer background, Sean remains grounded in the belief that soccer is a game meant to be enjoyed by all, regardless of age, skill level, or background. His commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive soccer experience aligns perfectly with our club's values.

Sean's Qualifications Include:

- UEFA A License

- MBA in Elite Management

- NZF Elite Youth A License

- NZF Juniors A License

MIFC Hosts 60th Anniversary Event

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 16:46:04 GMT

MIFC 60th Anniversary

MIFC is proud to celebrate 60 years of serving the community. From the early roots as an entirely volunteer-based organization, to what it has become to not only retain those strong volunteer community elements, but also encompass the competitive soccer options. The MIFC community can stand proud of this incredible milestone, and our heartfelt thanks and appreciation goes out to everyone who made this possible, and continues to this day.

A Momentous Occasion

On September 22nd, nearly 400 people from across the community joined MIFC in celebrating this achievement. Special thanks to Pagliacci Pizza, SoccerCity, Brad Evans, Pete Fewing, the Drill Team, MIHS Band, Color Guard, MerryMakers, MIHS student volunteers, and Seattle Sounders FC for coming together to create an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Here is to the next 60 years of MIFC!

MIFC Holds Annual AGM

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:46:04 GMT

MIFC Annual AGM

MIFC hosted the annual AGM at the Mercer Island VFW on November 17, 2024. It was a terrific and well-attended event, allowing the club the chance to celebrate the seniors who will be departing the club after graduation, our amazing Rec Coaches, volunteers, and confirm the MIFC Board positions up for election. Thank you to everyone who came out!

Celebrating Greg Snyder

As many know, Greg Snyder has completed his time as the MIFC Board President. An unrivaled character in the community, Greg has served as board president for over 6 years, been a board member for even longer, and been a key contributor the the MIFC community for years beyond. A personality that is admired and respected by all, Greg was rightfully celebrated by the community as he steps aside to allow the new board president, Scott Leber, take over as MIFC continues to grow. We all owe Greg many thanks for all his years of caring and effort, and he will be missed.