Current Events > why are younger people generally better than older people in sports?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Not better so to speak but more like can perform better. WHy do athletes eventually fall off a cliff despite training, lifting, practice, etc?
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the body can only handle so much
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Isn't a person's physical peak at 25 or 26? Or something like that
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Cause old people are quitters.
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Because old people lose the ability to maintain their body the same way a younger person can
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Is this a serious question?

Prime for athletes is generally 27 - 32.

Athletes that take care of themselves and their bodies can compete at a high level until 37 - 40.

The body breaks down over time. That is a fact of life.
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But how can a player be at an all star level but the next year completely drop off? Like, fully out of the rotation?
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your body starts to catch up with you and starts degrading as you reach old age.

Kinda sucks that we're only in our prime for a few years out of a 100 year lifespan. 0-25 we're growing, 25-32 we're the best we will ever be, and 33-death is when we break down
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Admiral_Zero posted...

But how can a player be at an all star level but the next year completely drop off? Like, fully out of the rotation?

Generally you suffer a slew of minor injuries through a season, and at a certain age your body can't recover like it used to.

Peyton Manning for example.
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Difference between a pro and semi pro is being that tenth of a second faster, or 1/100 of a second faster hand eye coordination. When you're playing with the absolute best even the smallest drop in efficiency seems gigantic
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byron posted...

Admiral_Zero posted...

But how can a player be at an all star level but the next year completely drop off? Like, fully out of the rotation?

Can you give a specific example?

Kevin Garnett
Deron Williams
Paul Pierce
Shaq
Rasheed Wallace
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Back in the Middle Ages people got married off as teens for a reason - they had a good chance of dying by their 30s.
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because they try harder
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Not everybody can do everything all the time in their life. Some do, but those are usually more particular cases of just being that damn good for so long.
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I've been playing sports at a high enough level throughout my 20s and I'm 30 now. I can say that I definitely need more recovery time between workouts if I don't want to get injured or have problems. I also have to stretch religiously and ice off once in a while too to get rid of inflammation. When I was in my early 20s I didn't need as many days off or have to do any of this. It catches up to you.
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The wear and tear on the body adds up. Injuries become more plaguing. Physical peak is in the 20s, so even if you're a microsecond faster in your 20s, that can make all the difference in the world of professional athletes. Etc. Etc.

Athletes that play really well in their 40s are a marvel. Tim Duncan, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning (before he fell off)...

Kobe could still be playing if his body didn't just give out on him. But he exerted himself for many years, played in so many playoff games, it was kind of inevitable.

LeBron James is another freak. How does he continue to play like that at 33?
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DarkProto05 posted...

LeBron James is another freak. How does he continue to play like that at 33?

I'm afraid he's gonna drop off like Kobe did. He's had to carry the load his whole career... always played deep into the playoffs... I'd be amazed if he can make it playing to 37.

Another thing people don't think about is that your reflexes start to slow down as you age as well.
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Duwstai posted...

Difference between a pro and semi pro is being that tenth of a second faster, or 1/100 of a second faster hand eye coordination. When you're playing with the absolute best even the smallest drop in efficiency seems gigantic

This.

Let's take a wide receiver at the combine.

If someone runs a 4.3, that's awesome. If they run a 4.8, that's slow as fuck.

Literally 0.5s drop off can mean career over in some sports.
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fenderbender321 posted...

Obviously the physical wear becomes more of an issue when athletes get into their 40s.

yeah its not like a lot of athletes experience significant decline around 30
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fenderbender321 posted...

But in this instance, I would say opinion is the correct word.

an opinion is generally for things that are subjective
you are directly contradicting a lot of science and history

so really yours is closer to belief, like how you don't have the OPINION that the earth is flat, you get to BELIEVE it is.
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I think the TC means that the athletes of today that are in their 20's and 30's are better than the athletes of yesteryear when they were in their 20's and 30's. This is especially true with Pro Wrestlers. Lou Thesz, and Bruno Sammartino could never do what Shawn Michaels, The Hardys, or Rey Mysterio could do.
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Kajagogo posted...

I think the TC means that the athletes of today that are in their 20's and 30's are better than the athletes of yesteryear when they were in their 20's and 30's. This is especially true with Pro Wrestlers. Lou Thesz, and Bruno Sammartino could never do what Shawn Michaels, The Hardys, or Rey Mysterio could do.

That's an entirely different question.
And the answer is better training + more knowledge, better diets, better physical care

That's it
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fenderbender321 posted...

I'm saying a lot of it is more mental than physical

this is where you're wrong and starting to cross into belief territory, not opinion

So many athletes still have their full motivation but their bodies won't keep up
Do I really need to mention Peyton Manning again or what
that's the prime example of drive and dedication, mental acuity still remaining
but the body cannot keep up (not just his last season, but even before he got his big neck injury)
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