Can I take up a team sport at my age?

January 8, 2009 3:37 PM

I'm 30 years old, in the UK, and I want to start playing a team sport. Probably rugby. I haven't kicked a ball in anger since I was 15, and I wasn't very good at it even then. (I am reasonably fit though - I jog.) How does someone like me get (back) into team sport, and am I likely to enjoy it, or will I just find myself frustrated?
posted by ascullion to sports, hobbies, & recreation (7 comments total)

Depending on where you live, there might be a decent town side, a local pub team, or anything in between. Your problem is that the local pub team is not very likely to do hard training sessions focusing on improving your skills - more likely to rock up half an hour before the game, play, and then grab a pint. On the other hand, the decent town side probably has training two times a week, and the guys there used to play at uni or whatever, and are all pretty passable.

I'd say Google your town + rugby (and narrow/widen the net depending on where you live), and get in touch with a few teams to ask if you can turn out for a training session. Explain you've not played in a while. See what happens (wear a gumguard).

Plump for the team that seems to fit your needs the best.
posted by djgh at 3:51 PM on January 8

I am American in the US. At 30, I started playing Australian Rules Football, a new sport for me but more importantly new to most Americans. Because the team needed players, they were very willing to train me, and I didn't need to feel stupid because many of my teammates had never played either. How about trying a different physical sport that is not as common in the UK, Aussie Rules, Gaelic Football, or American Football?
posted by MS_gal at 5:00 PM on January 8

A thirty year old jogger just starting American football would be broken in a week.
posted by sonic meat machine at 5:50 PM on January 8

Rugby seems pretty rough, but you might surprise yourself. In school I was always the last kid picked for gym class teams, but a couple years ago, at 34 or 35, I took a fencing class at the local college. I was almost twice the age of the rest of the class, but I beat 5 of them to win the epee tournament at the end of the class (the rest of the class had chosen foil).

You'll have lost some raw strength and flexibility, but you might find you've developed better instincts, better problem-solving skills and the ability to manage your physical resources. I say, give it a try.
posted by jon1270 at 6:46 PM on January 8

The perfect team sport for your needs IMO is futsal (aka indoor soccer), played indoors. You will get a great workout, and the game rewards skill, technique, creativity. I played it for five years in my late 20's, early 30's. I wish I was still playing now, but I moved cities and haven't been able to find another league. Just find a league, join a team and play. You will love it.
posted by awfurby at 9:48 PM on January 8

Don't rule out touch footy. Exceptionally good for skills development, fitness and general involvement if those are the things you're after.

As for full contact, lots of established union clubs have many teams associated with them that welcome various levels of ability.

The RFU maintains a list.

If it's League you're interested in then BARLA would be the place to look.

Also, I'm a League fan and some of the various message boards set up a league (IMBRL) so that, initially at least, fans of various teams would play each other as their respective teams met in the pro league. This was often amusing as we sometimes got to play as pre-match entertainment, and my team of thirty somethings who largely hadn't played for years considered losing by less than 80 to be a victory. That's grown into something else now with it's own distinct sponsorship, leagues and insurance arrangements.

I don't know, but possibly there is something similar in RU?

Whichever route you go make sure you're covered insurance wise.
posted by vbfg at 8:11 AM on January 9

Rugby clubs in Canada typically have anywhere from two to four teams of varying skill level. Someone like you would be welcome on our "thirds" which would be comprised of high school kids, past-their-prime guys and people who would never be great players but enjoyed the game. Excel and you'd be promoted to a higher team to match your skill/fitness level.

I'd be surprised if a similar structure would be difficult to find in England.
posted by raider at 8:58 AM on January 10