Exercise is a potent stimulus for growth hormone (GH) release and a single bout of exercise can result in marked elevations in circulating GH concentrations. The magnitude of the GH response to exercise will vary according to the type, intensity and duration of exercise as well as factors such as the age, gender, body composition and fitness status of the individual performing the exercise. However, the mechanisms regulating GH release in response to exercise are not fully understood. This review considers the GH responses to sub-maximal and sprint exercise and discusses the factors that might affect GH release along with the mechanisms that have been proposed to regulate exercise-induced GH release.