Going into the professional and recreational sports scene, it can be difficult to determine the ever-changing peak age of its players. Recently, studies have shown that ages can differ by more than 15 years at a time. While it could be because of the different physical requirements of each activity, it also has ties with other understated factors.

“I do know about the effects of peak ages. In sports, people tend to have a curve in their career. They usually start out slow, and then ramp up their success around their late twenties,” said Amogh Belgal (‘25).

In sports like NASCAR (National Association for Car Auto Racing), one that doesn’t require as much quick movement, but more brain activity, older competitors tend to do better. They have an average peak age of 40, which is extraordinarily high compared to most other sports. In fact, sports that do require extreme athleticism like tennis have peak ages as young as 24. 

“I don’t think I have any plans to continue playing after highschool. I know some people on the team will, and I think they will find success as they get closer to their peak ages”, said Andrew McMasters (‘23), AV varsity soccer team captain.

Another aspect to consider when surveying a player’s peak age is the time they started. Physical fitness itself is not enough to succeed in a sport, it requires training and experience. This must be taken into consideration when determining the peak ages. 

“I’ve been playing soccer since I was four, so it’s been 14 years now. I would definitely say my experience has given me an advantage over others who don’t have as much,” said McMasters.

Another effect of peak ages is the improvements in safety. As safety awareness gains popularity and more resources are available to keep players in peak condition, the players can continue their careers for longer periods of time. 

“Obviously as we are seeing now in the sports world, as health and safety has improved, peak ages are going up with it,” said Belgal. 

No more are peak ages defined by pure physical ability. It is a combination of experience, advancements in technology, and safety that determine when an athlete is at their best.