Playing football after 40

[NoraLuka]

As per the title, does anyone do this?

I’m asking because I haven’t played football since I was about 7 but always wanted to, just never had the confidence/opportunity. I follow a local women’s team on Insta and up popped a post saying ‘Come and meet us, we’re looking for players for next season’ etc.

Should I go along? I don’t know anyone there but that doesn’t bother me because I’m ok with meeting new people, I just don’t want to be old enough to be everyone else’s mum! I am relatively fit (can run 10K in about 65 minutes) but I’m 41 not 25! Maybe I should send a message to ask if they have a maximum age limit? Also I’m likely to be rubbish at least at first, but it does say beginners welcome. It’s mostly the age thing I’m worried about.

Obviously every club will be different and I’m not even in the UK but maybe other people have experienced this?

I had a similar post last year about whether I should do my CBT, and now have a 125cc sitting in the garage as I write 😁

I'm about 20 years older than you and I say go for it. The team you follow have asked for new players - they will be thrilled just to get enough numbers to play games - even 5- or 7-a-side games. I guarantee that when you are my age you will wish you had taken up sporting opportunities before bits started falling off!

You love football and follow a local team. You are fit, forty and no doubt fabulous. That's all you need.

Thank you @Snowypeaks 🙏 their open day thing is a few weeks away so I have time to psych myself up!

Absolutely! My local club has 3 teams and loads of ladies over 40 playing. If your knees/hips can manage defo get playing... you'll love it!

There are also a few vets teams popping up now, or walking football even!

Go along, good luck.

@ geometry dash lite, Oh great, Come along, good luck!

Go for it! I took it up at 45! I also starting running, martial arts and cycling at that age.

I started at about 45. There were a few similarly aged women, mostly joining for something to do while their kids trained.

I'm not in the UK either. Where I am there are different leagues, one is quite competitive but the other is more social. Different clubs tend to target one or the other.

I really worked on my sprinting fitness, you need to be able to keep up with the younger ones when chasing after the ball. Discovered, for the first time in my life, I'm actually pretty fast!

Just coming back to this thread to say I did go to training (open day was yesterday) and I’m glad I went. Not entirely sure I’m going to carry on with it because the average age was prob around 21 although there were a couple who were 35ish. I don’t want to sound obsessed with age but realistically I don’t think I’ll ever be able to run as fast as them. I would actually be happy to go to training and not play any competitive matches, don’t know if you can do that.

They said to come to the next training so I might do that, then it stops soon until next season anyway.

I'm so glad you had a good time at the open day. And they've asked you back, which is brilliant.

You've heard the saying: "The first five yards are in your head."

If you can think quicker, you don't have to run as fast.

Playing football ,jordan basketball after 40 can be both enjoyable and beneficial for maintaining fitness, social connections, and mental health.

Age isn't the big issue but lack of skill probably is going to make it feel quite frustrating to you. the other players literally have 30-60 years more practice under their belt.

The other players at the club are in their 20s, so they can't possibly have two or three decades more experience.

Would walking football appeal @NoraLuka ?
I played football for a bit at your age. Loved it but I found it hard on the body.
You'd be a youngster in walking football!
It sounds rather sedate but I don't think it is although obviously not as full on as normal football.
I keep meaning to find a team myself but `as I'm sure you know even though it's much easier for women to play football these days, there's still not a huge amount of teams around.

@redboxer321 walking football would be amazing but we don’t have any teams around here unfortunately. The men have about 3 different teams for different levels plus one for over 35s, but there aren’t enough women for that so everyone 18+ is together. That might change over time but I’ll be even older by then so might as well give it a shot now I think (if they’ll let me of course!)

They were super nice, I went to the open day not really knowing what to expect, wasn’t even sure if I’d be taking part or just watching! I did try to back out a bit when I realised I was expected to run around with a bunch of 20-somethings but they said no, too late, you’re here now! I don’t have my own football boots so someone lent me a pair. I haven’t played any kind of team sport since netball at school and I was absolutely crap at that so this is quite new and a bit nerve wracking tbh.

Just posting all this in case anyone else is thinking about trying something similar and having reservations about it.

My dh played football until 60. It was a veteran team so all 45 to 60. They had such amazing fun and such a bond. He was broken hearted to give it up due to ongoing achilles issues. Stay going. Other older women may join seeing you there..round up a few over the Summer if possible. They need extra at training to make up the numbers . Start watching some tips on utube. Having fun is the best remedy for a happy life and great example to your dc if you have some.

Went to training again yesterday, last one until August and I am going back! I was afraid they were going to say that I was too rubbish and not to bother, but no. So the plan for the summer is: stop smoking, continue running until 10k time gets under an hour, and bribe the DDs to watch YouTube videos with me and then practice. Could probably do with losing about half a stone but don’t want to be too ambitious!

II took up hockey again in my forties after a 20 year break. I was still quite fit, and had the skills, so I really enjoyed it - but it did a lot of damage to my knees. Be careful.

Do it!
The exercise will make you feel and look younger. There’s no reason why football is only for 20 year olds.

Go for it! I took it up at 45! I also starting running, martial arts and cycling at that age.

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If they are advertising for new players and haven't put an age limit on ad go along and join in. Many female football teams can't get enough players to make a full team so they would probably be very pleased you went. Remember you can increase your fitness and skills as you go.

I’ve been playing competitive 11’s football well into my 40’s. That is tough now changing after 18 year olds but I’d definitely keep playing if there was a vets team or lower league, and of course always 5’s. There are loads of people of similar age playing too.