Finding the Best Fit for Senior Sports

from Ali, 55+ player for the Silver Storm

One of the questions I’ve pondered lately is, “what should I consider at this point in my life when choosing to participate in sports?”

Here are a few things that I’ve come up with:

What do I want from the experience? What must come from the experience? 

Fun, socialization, physical activity, and a challenge may be some of your criteria.

• For me, fun is no. 1! I played competitive basketball from middle school through college and have now changed my focus to simply doing something I enjoy (but I still want to win!).
• Socializing is a close second. For an introvert like me, sports are an easy way to find common ground right off the bat rather than having to first suffer through the small talk. : )
• I find the need to mix up my exercise routines, and sports are the buffet for doing that. You can choose anything and have as much as you want!
• As I’ve aged, sports have provided a variety of opportunities to learn and be challenged. I’m not highly skilled at swimming or golf, but they give my body and brain different benefits than my default of basketball does.

What type of sport will I enjoy the most?
Individual/team, recreational/competitive, participating/coaching, contact/no-contact, indoor/outdoor, a new experience or something familiar? Maybe you want some of these today and something different tomorrow.

Know your body
How flexible are you, do you move slowly, are you a hustler? Do you have any chronic pain? Did you get something replaced? Are you satisfied with your current ability to move? 

Know your skill level
Did you grow up playing sports or is it something foreign that you want to try? If something challenging becomes frustrating, you may want to reevaluate your choice.

What is your level of commitment?
Play daily/weekly, in a league, for free, in the neighborhood, etc.

I think prioritizing what you want is the most important thing, then you can figure out the rest and find a good match. Giving something with a low commitment a try is usually a win-win too. A great way to do this is through your local Senior Games program here: find your Senior Games

Even if you are the worst player out there, giving it a shot boosts your confidence level and makes your next choice a little easier!