If you’re a football fan, you’ll know that most players’ skills deteriorate as they get older. So much so that at 35, Michael Jordan retired and never played another game. This is similar for tennis, golf, and many other sports. However, there is a school of thought that argues that age is just a number and that your body doesn’t decay as quickly as you might think. Based on athletic studies and the analysis of athletic performance, this theory stands to be vindicated.
Why Is Age Important?
Athletes’ peak years are often between the ages of 17 and 22. However, for some sports, the best age is significantly earlier than this. For example, cricket legend and three-time World Cup champion Sir Garfield Sobers played professionally until he was 58, winning numerous national and international awards. In fact, it was only when he was 62 that he finally retired because he felt his skills were no longer up to par.
Van Dijk is currently 22 years old and this year he’ll be part of the Netherlands’ senior soccer team. He holds the distinction of currently being the youngest player to ever appear in a UEFA Champions League match, as well as the youngest player to play in the FIFA Club World Cup final. With his current level of performance, he could go on to enjoy a long and successful career. So why is age important?
Since their peak years are so brief, athletes rely on physical and mental training to stay in shape. However, this training makes them more susceptible to injuries as time goes by. It’s not hard to see how, at such a young age, Van Dijk is already experiencing the effects of aging. The fact that he’s already played a full professional season means that his body is no longer in its developmental phase and it’s begun to show its true colors. He’ll need to continue to work hard to stay at his current level of performance. This is why age is so important – it can be the difference between a long and successful career and an injury-prone one. So far, so good though – Virgil van Dijk has played only two seasons of professional soccer and already has 10 first-team appearances to his name.
Van Dijk’s Current Level Of Performance
This year, Van Dijk will make his debut in the UEFA Champions League. The Dutchman started his career on the youth teams, but after impressing at the European Under-19 Championships, he was promoted to the first team by the club. He went on to score four goals in 14 appearances for the Amsterdammers and was named in the UEFA Best XI for his performance. He also made the transition from amateur to professional effortlessly, as he scored three times in his first game for the senior side. In fact, his current level of performance is quite incredible – he already has ten first-team appearances under his belt and four goals to his name. At only 22 years old, he’s already achieved so much in such a short space of time. A career that could’ve easily been derailed is now only the beginning.
How Is Age Relating To Athleticism?
There’s a direct link between your age and your athletic performance, meaning that as you get older, your results will gradually decline. This is partly due to genetics but much of it is down to training and the way your body is utilized. To understand how important age is, let’s take a look at some facts and figures.
- The best peak years for an athlete are between the ages of 17 and 22. This is the time when your body is at its absolute prime and any performance drop due to age is more than made up for by experience and training.
- Since their peak years are so brief, athletes rely on physical and mental training to stay in shape. However, this training makes them more susceptible to injuries as time goes by. They’re not hard to see how, at such a young age, Van Dijk is already undergoing the effects of aging. The fact that he’s already played a full professional season means that his body is no longer in its developmental phase and it’s begun to show its true colors. He’ll need to continue to work hard to stay at his current level of performance.
- For some sports, the best age is significantly earlier than this. For example, cricket legend and three-time World Cup champion Sir Garfield Sobers played professionally until he was 58, winning numerous national and international awards. In fact, it was only when he was 62 that he finally retired because he felt his skills were no longer up to par. By the way, if you are betting on sports and want to get a bonus code, go to https://odds2win.bet/bonuses/pakistan/melbet and collect your bonuses.
- Van Dijk is currently 22 years old and this year he’ll be part of the Netherlands’ senior soccer team. He holds the distinction of currently being the youngest player to ever appear in a UEFA Champions League match, as well as the youngest player to play in the FIFA Club World Cup final. With his current level of performance, he could go on to enjoy a long and successful career.
Becoming Injury-Free
Injury-free living is a lifestyle choice that many professional sportspeople and active individuals aspire to. In fact, there are entire websites and blogs that talk about how to become injury-free. One of the best tutorials is from Stanford University, where they teach students how to become safer and more efficient runners. They suggest warming up for a few minutes before setting off to prevent injury and keep your training sessions as safe and effective as possible. This is vital since injury-free living is only achievable through proper training and the avoidance of risky behavior. Luckily, many young athletes don’t have to worry about injuries as much as older generations did since sports medicine has developed to such a large extent. There are now anti-inflammatory medications, heat treatments, and braces that can help relieve pain and prevent further damage. If you’re serious about becoming injury-free, there are steps you can take to help prevent injuries and stay on the field as long as possible – even if it’s just for a little while.
The Future
This year, Van Dijk will make his debut in the UEFA Champions League. The Dutchman started his career on the youth teams, but after impressing at the European Under-19 Championships, he was promoted to the first team by the club. He went on to score four goals in 14 appearances for the Amsterdammers and was named in the UEFA Best XI for his performance. He also made the transition from amateur to professional effortlessly, as he scored three times in his first game for the senior side. In fact, his current level of performance is quite incredible – he already has ten first-team appearances under his belt and four goals to his name. At only 22 years old, he’s already achieved so much in such a short space of time. A career that could’ve easily been derailed is now only the beginning.
