why is it...?

Question

despite being fit and athletic, older athletes (except in golf) always are disadvataged at a competition, with younger players? despite excellent conditioning and all??

Answer 1

I have spoke on this subject before with sports enthusiasts. It turns out that older athletes still retain their strength well past their prime years. What happens to them as that their recovery time after a hard competition wears on them. The Most common is Half Backs in the NFL. A young player with some bulk can have 25 to 30 carrries in a game and may wake up a little sore the next day, but by midday he usually is feeling alright. An older back that has been in the league for 8 years will have trouble getting out of bed the next day, will remain sore for about 3 days and this is the most improtant difference, Older backs are forced to adopt a more North / South running style because the sharp cutbacks wrecks havoc on their joints and tendons. In Boxing, older fighters are still in excellent physical condition, but their reflexes decline to about 85% of what they once were. This means that when they step into the ring with a young contender or champion, they can't stand toe to toe because they will get beat to the punch. So to compensate they try to feint, then counter, use angles to keep their opponents from not getting their feet set, Use tuck up defense like a turtle similar to Winky Wright. Also lean and clinch an opponent to tire him to the point where his speed declines. So older players draw from experience to anticipate the movements of their younger opponents so they can be more easily countered. In the boxing world they call that Savy Ring Generalship, but it is really applied to all sports.

Answer 2

Despite conditioning, things start to break down as you get older. Reflexes slow down, vision worsens, strength fades, etc. Since the young players also have excellent conditioning, they have a real advantage over older players.

Answer 3

if they have been doing it for years, the insides end up getting wore out...no matter how in shape and fit they are! Your heart takes a toll and you have to be easier on it! as well as your lungs! Younger men and woman have fresher (for lack of better word) organs. HTH a little.