“Well done young lad”. As sixty-two years old no one has called me a young lad for a very long time.Yet, that is what I heard a few weeks ago on the soccer pitch, as I am a “young lad” compared to the other 60+ guys whom I play soccer with twice a week. When I joined the group they informed me that there are three basic criteria in order to play with this 60+ group. The first criteria is that you have to be at least 60 years old. The second is that you can at least walk. And the third, and most important, is never to mention the word “work”.
I started playing with this group just a little over a year ago and I love it. Not only do I get fantastic exercise, I get an opportunity to spend time with a group of men that are diverse, humorous, and definitely opinionated about many topics including soccer, politics and world news. The banter, the ribbing, and the encouragement is always lively. I eagerly look forward to playing every Monday and Thursday morning.
It took me a while to get accustomed playing with players of more advanced ages, ranging from their 60 to 80’s. I had to adapt my passing to compensate for the somewhat slower movement of the players. A few times during my initial games instead of passing the ball to the feet of the players I passed the ball ahead of them so that they could run onto the ball. I quickly learned that this is taboo, as many of the players cannot move fast enough to catch up to the ball. I definitely heard some “choice” words directed my way whenever I did this.
I have also learned that the will to compete and win does not really change regardless of the players’ ages. These guys are as competitive and as driven as they were at a younger age. It seems that it does not matter how old you are because when it is a competitive group, arguments happen and can often get carried away. Especially one day when I had to intercede to break up a potential fight between our goalie (in his late 60’s) and our defender (about the same age).
Despite all this, being a part of this old-timer soccer group has benefitted me not only physically but emotionally and spiritually. I am inspired by some of the players who in their late sixties to late seventies are still playing and enjoying a game they love. The oldest player at eighty-two still runs and plays very well. In fact, he is one of the most skillful players.
I hope that with God’s grace I will still be able to be playing with this group into my eighties when I will no longer be the young lad running onto the ball. And yes, I vow to not get into any fights.
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Originally published on leadershipisheart
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