Getting into eSports after 30: Why it’s never too late to start

Cybersport for an older generation of players

The common perception is that only the young can succeed in eSports. Something similar has been true of football for a long time, until there were those who managed to break this stereotype. In cybersport, there are also members of the older generation who can still give the youngsters a head start. But are these isolated instances or are those in their 30s still in a good position to succeed in the field?

Advantages of young cyberplayers

Young people are more receptive to change. The “flexibility” of young minds makes it easier for them to make unconventional decisions, find their way out of various situations, and identify and adapt innovations. Therefore, among the gamers the representatives of the younger generation are mostly observed.

Working with teenagers has several advantages, namely:

  • easy and quick to learn;
  • willing to work around the clock;
  • are not burdened by family and commitments;
  • out of the box thinking (not always);
  • ambitious;
  • decent physical shape;
  • attentiveness;
  • reaction speed.
Pros of esportsmen over 30

Despite the perks of engaging with young talent, things are not as smooth and easy as they seem. Some companies have been known to refuse to deal even with talented and brilliant young people, simply because it is not easy to work with them. The reasons for this are:

  • impulsiveness;
  • the need to deal with parents/guardians;
  • controllability issues;
  • low level of responsibility;
  • god syndrome;
  • difficulty making important decisions;
  • moodiness;
  • being influenced by others.

There are often cases where young players become a real headache for the whole team.

Pros of cyber athletes over 30

Of course, the older a person is, the harder it is for them to adapt to new things. Additionally, reaction speed is not the same and there can be some absent-mindedness. People over 30 also need to train a lot but their physical condition does not always allow them to do so regularly. Of course there are exceptions.

Another difficulty is that when crossing this age limit, many people think about or have a family. This is quite a standard situation, since we all live in a society with its own long-established rules of thumb. Few people go against them, although a trend is emerging.

Family demands time and attention, which means that an adult cyber-sportsperson may ask for more frequent holidays or time-outs. The period may be a couple of days or it may last for months. This takes a toll on fitness. Missing out on a certain period will make it harder for the gamer to compete against better trained and more talented opponents.

Despite this, there are advantages to collaborating with adult cyber athletes, namely:

  • a high level of responsibility;
  • appropriateness;
  • a sober assessment of their own strengths;
  • experience;
  • development of more valid strategies;
  • high motivation;
  • decent self-organisation.

What all this proves is that there is no ‘perfect’ age in eSports. You can start and succeed whenever you want. All that matters is desire, practice and a bit of talent.

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