I’m 21 years old. Although it was only three years ago, during my high school days, that I was involved in a cycle of habitual team sports, my body feels like it’s been a decade. Soccer, tennis, volleyball, fastpitch, basketball, cheerleading. I had been participating in these community-offered programs since I was in elementary school. The sudden drop off of activity has impacted me not only with weight gain, but I find running almost painful, and I’m running out of breath much quicker than I had before. This seeming degeneration of my body is a growing concern — and I can’t help but know it’s my fault. The freshman 15 came on strong and continues to develop into a junior 30.
I can take solace in knowing I’m not alone. In 2015, a Harvard study investigating sports and fitness in America revealed "there is a sharp decline in sports participation among adults as they age. While 40% of 18- 21-year-olds and 41% of 22 to 25-year-olds currently play sports, only 26% of 26 to 49-year-olds play sports, and just 20% of adults aged 50+ play sports."
Everyone knows that as you get older, you become less physically able. Many claim they have less time and interest to devote to consistent physical activity, while others claim that their bodies aren’t able to perform like the used to. These sentiments very well could be self-fulfilling prophecies. You say it, and it becomes so. These same reasons are cited in those who benefit from sports as they age.
"The top two reasons adults say they play sports are for personal enjoyment and health. A majority of adults who play sports do so for personal enjoyment (55%), while almost one in four (23%) of those who play do so for health-related reasons, including to improve health, to get into or stay in shape, or lose weight."
Once we are thrown out of a cycle, or lose the fire under our fannies, we tend to fall into another type of habit: sedentary lifestyle. No matter if you’re 21 or 61, breaking out of a monotone lifestyle can improve the quality of the rest of your life.
There is no time like the present.
I recently played a ruckus game of soccer. I had forgotten how freeing it felt to have blood burn under cold skin, and how invigorating it was to push my limits. At first, I thought I couldn’t do all the running and still have fun. However, after my heart rate was elevated for 10 minutes I began to feel a forgotten euphoria in my heart. I was proud of how able I could be if I put my mind to it. I was happy to be a part of a team, working toward a goal. I was most excited about how consistent work like this would get me to a place where I could be comfortable with my body again.
The physical benefits of team sports are obvious, but sometimes we forget the mental fortitude that fitness of the mind and body can bring. "Adults who exercise are more likely to have higher incomes, more education, and tend to be younger than adults who do not exercise. Lower-income adults are less likely to exercise regularly than higher-income adults."
If you’re in college, you need not join a varsity team to make a difference. Many places offer intramural or adult recreation teams. Classes can be taken at gyms, parks, and courts for those less versed in certain sports.
This spring I’m looking forward to harnessing the potential I have been neglecting. I want to play tennis as a duo, and laugh with my partner, win or lose. I want to play volleyball, and call “mine!” into the din, and support my teammates. Most of all, I want to play together with my peers and foster that lost sense of urgency and family.