Why is Soccer a 'late developing' sport?

[paul-collins]

We're not talking about the best of the best when talking development time, we're talking about replacement-level and above for the pros, though.

The true outlier superstar will *by definition* be outside the norms. Messi is Gretzky, not Glenn Anderson.

The other thing that skews age surveys is injuries and resulting loss of effectiveness or retirement.

[alberta white]

We're not talking about the best of the best when talking development time, we're talking about replacement-level and above for the pros, though.

The true outlier superstar will *by definition* be outside the norms. Messi is Gretzky, not Glenn Anderson.

The other thing that skews age surveys is injuries and resulting loss of effectiveness or retirement.

Totally agree about Injuries.
Back in the day a team mate of mine joined Leeds united as a 16 year old and broke his leg twice. The Kid was as good, If not better than David Batty, but a double leg brak befor eyou twenty and you can kiss a pro-career goodbye.

[amacpher]

We're not talking about the best of the best when talking development time, we're talking about replacement-level and above for the pros, though.

The true outlier superstar will *by definition* be outside the norms. Messi is Gretzky, not Glenn Anderson.

I guess there are better ways to do this. I just took the quickest way to get a decent sample size off the top of my head. Agree about Messi (and Ronaldo) being an outlier, but I think the rest are good examples to illustrate that you're going downhill long before you turn 32.