When was the last time you played football?

[WSUCougar]

I mean physically, in an organized game.

It's been many, many years for me. In fact, I can't even pin it down exactly. But the reason I bring this up is that the facilitator at a training session I attended last week spoke in passing about a breaking a finger in a football game awhile back. During a break I asked the guy what type of football he played, and he said that it was a competitive touch football league that he has been playing in for a long time.

The kicker? The guy was easily 60+ years old! He said he'd been playing in this league for over 30 years. Jeebus.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I think the last time was back in law school on a intra-mural flag football team. That would have to be at least 6, more likely 7, years ago. It was then when I started realizing I was growing older and much slower. My skills had begun to deteriorate at the ripe old age of 25/26.

[condors]

I played in a flag football league until about 6 years ago(the body just wasn't healing like it used to) but its been almost 20 (my high school) since i played tackle football.

[VPI97]

Intramurals in college. We had a decent team...my older brother was quarterback and I was the leading receiver. We won our fair share of games.

[Pumpy Tudors]

The last time I played was in 1987. I was in 6th grade, and I was the smallest person on our school's flag football team. The coach drew up a play specifically for me, and he let the quarterback know that if I entered the game, we were supposed to run my play. I stood around on the sideline until the third or fourth quarter, and then the coach sent me into the game. I got so excited to run the off-tackle play that was designed just for me. I got to the huddle, the quarterback looked at me, and my dreams were quickly shattered.

The quarterback asked me to block.

Now, there wasn't a whole lot to blocking in a flag football game, so I didn't expect to get hurt or anything like that. I was just expecting to get my hands on the football, and the QB decided to call his own play. Instead of arguing with him, I went up to the line and stood there. When the defense was allowed to rush, I just tried to jump in the way of the defensive lineman. I wasn't allowed to push him, and he was twice my size anyway. He ended up making a little contact with me, and I thought to myself, "If I can't get the ball, maybe I can help my team by drawing a penalty. I'll make it look like he shoved me. This will work!" I flopped to the ground... about five seconds later. My dive was so bad that it made the Italian soccer team look like Alec Guinness. The coach pulled me out immediately after that play, my mom pulled me out of the school a week later, and I was homeschooled all the way up until I started college.

I haven't played football since.

[WSUCougar]

The enigma that is Pumpy is starting to become more clear to me.

[sabotai]

Last time I played was high school football. '95.

[FrogMan]

started my career at age 30, ended it at age 32, that was 3-4 years ago.

And that was not touch or flag football, was a senior league, all gear and helmets and stuff. Tons of fun, seriously. Had heard on the radio about a bunch of guys starting a league for player 18 and up. Called them, signed up, ended being among the guys who put it together. Tons of fun, until I twisted a knee and that ended my career, heh.

FM

edit to add that when I say I started my career at 30, it's exactly what I mean. I had never played in any football league of any kind prior to that.

[3ric]

In 1995, when I was 24. The season ended prematurely when I got hurt in a traffic accident. Kind of the same situation as Frogman (amateur league), only difference was that I started when I was 18 years old.

[cthomer5000]

The summer of 2001.

[st.cronin]

I have never played organized football. My parents thought it was too dangerous. But, they let me play hockey.

[INDalltheway]

1 year ago.. Now i am going to play baseball in college.

[lynchjm24]

I am debating if I should play another year of flag on my 32 year old knees right now, season starts tomorrow.

[Eaglesfan27]

I played Flag Football in a rec league in 97 (a med school team.) Last played "Real" football in 91 in HS.

[henry296]

I've been in a co-ed two hand touch league for the past 5 years. Does that count?

[Pumpy Tudors]

I've been in a co-ed two hand touch league for the past 5 years. Does that count?
Co-ed? Two hand? Touch? That counts for something!

[Pumpy Tudors]

Dola

You are talking about football, right?

[Senator]

Started tackle football at age 5 and played through high school, then stopped until after college, and then played from age 22-28 on a semi-pro (very semi) for a total of 20 years playing organized tackle football. The past 6 years I have played in the NFL Air it Out flag football tournament.

Here is my development and implosion.

http://www.braindeposit.com/me.jpg

[Fonzie]

Started tackle football at age 5 and played through high school, then stopped until after college, and then played from age 22-28 on a semi-pro (very semi) for a total of 20 years playing organized tackle football. The past 6 years I have played in the NFL Air it Out flag football tournament.

Here is my development and implosion.

http://www.braindeposit.com/me.jpg

You currently possess the football skills of a five year old. Not many people can say that.

[Senator]

You currently possess the football skills of a five year old. Not many people can say that.

Perhaps even worse. There is a plus or minus error of 6 years. It is possible that my skills have diminished to pre-birth levels.

[Logan]

WTF happened in your 9 to 11 years?

[KWhit]

You were a hell of a player at 9 years old though.

[Senator]

I don't know. I had a three year stretch where I was the best player in the league. I was a running back then, and had 3-4 touchdowns a game. It was like I was a 7th grader on a 4th grade team with my speed. Then they caught up and it tapered off. I was always a pretty good player, but in those years I was very developed athletically. This chart of sadness reflects this, I hope.

[Draft Dodger]

never played organized football. used to love to play pickup games of tackle football in school when the teachers weren't looking. had a great impromptu game of tackle with a bunch of classmates on UNH's field my senior year of HS. I can remember being sore for several days.

[Fonzie]

Perhaps even worse. There is a plus or minus error of 6 years. It is possible that my skills have diminished to pre-birth levels.

Sorry, I meant that to be more of an encouraging comment than it came off as. You know, having "unique" abilities and whatnot.

A man in his mid-30s possessing the football skill of a fetus is even more...unique. It isn't often you see comparisons of any type between folks in those age ranges, so congratulations on that.

[MacroGuru]

Last year, I was playing semi pro ball for the Utah Wolverines...

I will be playing some Indoor Ball this season....

This is full contact, pads, gear and stuff...and with the new diet, I will be to my college playing weight by November when the season starts.

[BYU 14]

I have played in Flag leagues and the like here and there, but I don't really count that. My last organized full contact game was when I was 27. (16 Years ago) A bunch of us that played against each other in High School used to get together for an annual Turkey Bowl game every year that was pretty brutal. The last year I played I ended up in the ER with a concussion and a lacerated Kidney.

My Wife at the time was livid that I ruined Thanksgiving Dinner for everyone and threatened to divorce me if I ever played Tackle Football again.......I relented which is a real shame since we ended up divorcing anyway. So, not only did it cost me a good 6-7 years of competitive play while still in my prime, but I could have gotten rid of her Ass 10 years sooner than I did as well :)

[Izulde]

Only played one year of organized football and that was my freshman year of high school.

The varsity players hated me, the freshman team coaches hated me, and my teammates loved me because no matter how much shit I got from the varsity and from the freshman coaches, I still kept busting my ass and trying my hardest.

[Coder]

In 1995, when I was 24. The season ended prematurely when I got hurt in a traffic accident. Kind of the same situation as Frogman (amateur league), only difference was that I started when I was 18 years old.

Giants? Mustangs?

[WSUCougar]

I'm going to take a wild stab and guess Giants.

[cuervo72]

Last time I really played was my sophomore year in college I think, in intramural flag football. I was the unofficial captain of the team, and served as QB and one of the kick returners. I was a scrambler! I thought it was pretty cool, considering I had been a lineman my entire "real" football career. I did run a 4.9 though at one point, which for your typical Hopkins undergrad was pretty damned good.

(Except for my freshman roommate, who flew. He was the Korean kid from Indiana, who liked Floyd & AC/DC, played ice hockey, and became a neurosurgeon. Interesting combo he had going. He was cool enough that I forgave him for being a huge ND fan.)

[KWhit]

I've never been a football player, but I have played one on TV.*



As an extra in the old show In the Heat of the Night.

[3ric]

Giants? Mustangs?

Both, actually. I helped to start up the Mustangs team with a couple of other former Giants players.

[kiwiLB57]

I played full-contact football from 1998-2005, with my last game being in February 2005 at age 29.

Most of that time was in the New Zealand league and included four Conference championships and four National titles.

We also played Representative regional competitions (where members from opposing but co-located clubs get together to form all-star type teams). All fun fun fun.

I also played a season in the NZ offseason in Amsterdam and won a National Title there with the Amsterdam Crusaders. This meant playing three seasons back to back.

Biggest highlights were the two games representing New Zealand against Australia, unfortunately both losses.

I have just moved to London, and they have quite the competition here. Two old friends and teammates from NZ are playing this season for the London Blitz in the top division and they are doing rather well. They are trying to get me to come down and play as well, however I am quite enjoying my early retirement!! Maybe next season for one last throw of the dice. A third friend is arriving in October, so the four horsemen may have one last ride.

kiwiLB57
Living Large in London Town

[stevew]

I never was allowed to play at a young age, and really didn't wish to play in HS either. Now, looking back, i wish i would have played. Ah well. Last real "game" was in college, about 12 years ago, and was flag. We talked about getting a game together last thanksgiving, but it was more hype than substance, and didnt work out.