Getting back into sport...
 

So, I havent played football for about a year... played tonight in a competitive 6 a side game. Its not the highest level, but I pulled off a couple of half decent saves and the team played excellent. (I play in goal, too fat to play on pitch to be honest, but Im still at least averagely agile and 80% of being a goalie in 5/6/7 a side is about good positioning and technique rather than cat like reflexes)

It really feels good to get back into it and play well and get a win.

Other than sex I dont think there's many better feelings to pulling off a great save or scoring a goal, hitting a home run or whatever.... getting a pat on the back off your team mates.

Modern life is often set up to be competitive at work, lonely out of it (or at least for someone like me who is quite quiet and not very confident and doesnt do well at making new mates)... playing sports is generally for me one of the best experiences in life.

_

Feel free to share your own experiences of whatever you still play, at whatever level!

I used to play (American) football in the park with my friends on a regular basis. Those games ended in my early 30s, when every game ended with a trip to the hospital for someone.

These days, I'm an avid skier. I'm a thrill seeker by nature, dropping down something stupid steep while in the midst of the mountains gets things going for me.

I played a fair amount of hockey as a kid, but during my teen years that transitioned more into skiing (both xcountry & downhill) as my peer group evolved. But as with most "play" activities, I found that they dropped down my list of priorities as I got involved with university and work, and raising a family. Sport in my 20's & 30's were typically restricted to the odd squash or tennis match, and then primarily running (jogging).

what I found out though, was that as my youngest son got involved with hockey, I felt the familiar urge to play - so 5 years ago I got back into it. I must say I was quite rusty to start but my city's Parks & Rec (Toronto) has a very good & cheap adult skating skills & hockey drills programme. For $60 a season I could go out for an hour a week and re-learn my sport. Now, at the age of 51, I play fairly competently with the guys at work at least weekly.

We have not had any hospital trips, and the age group is mid twenties to mid 50's. the trick is to tell your brain that your body isn't what it used to be.

I have also re-embraced downhill skiing. The winter months are too long to spend sitting indoors!

last week I played awful and let in 6 goals

sports certainly have their ups and downs!