Sports rec leagues: Time to retire?

Mizzou B-ball fan · 12-31-2007, 10:23 AM

I'm 33 years of age and don't have any major injuries. I've played basketball all of my life and currently play rec league ball with some fraterity brothers. We actually have a very good team with two former college players and most of the rest of the players having played HS basketball. Most of the other teams in the league don't look too happy when we run out a starting lineup of 6'5", 6'5", 6'4", 6'2", and 6'0". Most of the other teams are lucky to have 2 guys 6' or taller.

Most of the players in this league are the same age or older than us, but I've noticed quite a few knee braces, ankle wraps, and other various physical aids on the other teams. A couple of the guys with knee braces have had knee ligament surgery amongst other injuries. All I can think when I see those things is that those guys would be better off if they stopped playing sports to avoid further injuries.

Is there any one on this board who is one of those weekend warriors that should have hung it up a while ago?

Mustang · 12-31-2007, 10:27 AM

I'd stop so you can get busy dying..

If you can play til your 80.. play til your 80. Minus any major health concerns I don't see why you wouldn't.

larrymcg421 · 12-31-2007, 10:30 AM

I think you should quit and take up MMA.

Senator · 12-31-2007, 12:02 PM

I quit about that age and started coaching (football) and it was the smartest thing I ever did.

I still get the same thrill I did when I played.

Basketball might be a little different. I say keep playing until is no more fun for you.

johnnyshaka · 12-31-2007, 12:23 PM

I'll be 33 in a few days and still play baseball and hockey regularly and have since I was a wee one. Apart from some shoulder trouble over the last couple of years, I've been pretty healthy. But, with this bout of shoulder issues I've really considered quitting baseball as I feel very useless out in the field as I can barely throw the ball...well, without pain I can barely throw the ball, that is. I still love to hit, though, so that has deterred me thus far. I've been meaning to get back in the gym to get into better shape, which never hurts, but finding time to do it has been a problem and with another kid on the way...spare time is going to be even more rare.

Regardless...I'm in no hurry to give up sports as I play with some guys who are into their 50's and still having fun so as I see it...I've still got a good 20 years or so in me to make it to the pros!!!

Brownkeg8 · 12-31-2007, 12:35 PM

The tough part is once you stop at an early age its hard to pick up where you left off at (unlike when you were 18). Go ahead and play until you feel your body is beginning to tell you to quit or your wife lays down the law!

rkmsuf · 12-31-2007, 02:43 PM

I hope they all quit and your league folds. Then see how cool you are with all your tall friends and uninjured body.

Fidatelo · 12-31-2007, 03:20 PM

I play ice-hockey and sponge-hockey in the winter, and ball-hockey, baseball and/or ultimate frisbee during the summers. I just turned 30 a couple days ago, and like Johnnyshaka, I don't see myself quitting any time soon.

That said, last year I had my first injury that hung around longer than a day or two when I did something to my ankle in a spongee game and it bothered me for at least 3 months. Then just a week ago I woke up the day after a spongee game and couldn't bend my right knee, and that one is still sore now, although no longer affecting my mobility. So clearly age is starting to catch up to me, but I see no reason to quit, if anything I see this as a need to get in better shape. I've put on about 20 pounds over the last 5 years and I think it might be starting to take its toll.

My plan is to someday play spongee on a team with my kids, and considering they don't even exist yet, the plan doesn't have me quitting any time soon...

terpkristin · 12-31-2007, 03:40 PM

I was forced to retire from soccer (and martial arts and running and everything else I did, more or less) when I was 22 (well, technically, I wasn't "forced" until I was 24 but my last game was when I was 22), right before my 2nd ankle surgery. It didn't end like I expected it would, but in retrospect, I wouldn't have done anything differently if I'd known that I'd hose my ankle beyond belief on July 3, 2001.

I miss playing almost everyday. Every time I go to the gym, I feel a pang that I have to go to the gym, I can't just go out for a run.

If it were me, I'd keep playing until I either couldn't stand playing anymore or until I physically couldn't. I imagine that going back after retiring once would be challenging, so why quit if it's still fun and there aren't any injuries keeping you back?

/tk

Noop · 12-31-2007, 03:45 PM

As someone who had to stop playing football as a result of an injury I would say keep playing if you want too because when you start worrying about getting hurt instead of playing the game you will get hurt.

HerRealName · 12-31-2007, 03:50 PM

I'm 35 with an ACL surgery in my immediate future. I say now that I'm retired from playing basketball but I'm not convinced that I'll actually quit playing.

12-31-2007, 10:27 AM	#2
Mustang Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wisconsin	I'd stop so you can get busy dying.. If you can play til your 80.. play til your 80. Minus any major health concerns I don't see why you wouldn't. __________________ You, you will regret what you have done this day. I will make you regret ever being born. Your going to wish you never left your mothers womb, where it was warm and safe... and wet. i am going to show you pain you never knew existed, you are going to see a whole new spectrum of pain, like a Rainboooow. But! This rainbow is not just like any other rainbow, its...

12-31-2007, 10:30 AM	#3
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	I think you should quit and take up MMA. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

12-31-2007, 12:02 PM	#4
Senator FOFC's Elected Representative Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The stars at night; are big and bright	I quit about that age and started coaching (football) and it was the smartest thing I ever did. I still get the same thrill I did when I played. Basketball might be a little different. I say keep playing until is no more fun for you. __________________ "i have seen chris simms play 4-5 times in the pros and he's very clearly got it. he won't make a pro bowl this year, but it'll come. if you don't like me saying that, so be it, but its true. we'll just have to wait until then" imettrentgreen "looking at only ten games, and oddly using a median only, leaves me unmoved generally" - Quiksand

12-31-2007, 12:23 PM	#5
johnnyshaka College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton, AB	I'll be 33 in a few days and still play baseball and hockey regularly and have since I was a wee one. Apart from some shoulder trouble over the last couple of years, I've been pretty healthy. But, with this bout of shoulder issues I've really considered quitting baseball as I feel very useless out in the field as I can barely throw the ball...well, without pain I can barely throw the ball, that is. I still love to hit, though, so that has deterred me thus far. I've been meaning to get back in the gym to get into better shape, which never hurts, but finding time to do it has been a problem and with another kid on the way...spare time is going to be even more rare. Regardless...I'm in no hurry to give up sports as I play with some guys who are into their 50's and still having fun so as I see it...I've still got a good 20 years or so in me to make it to the pros!!! Last edited by johnnyshaka : 12-31-2007 at 01:07 PM.

12-31-2007, 02:43 PM	#7
rkmsuf Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2001	I hope they all quit and your league folds. Then see how cool you are with all your tall friends and uninjured body. __________________ "Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales

12-31-2007, 12:35 PM	#6
Brownkeg8 Mascot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ohio	The tough part is once you stop at an early age its hard to pick up where you left off at (unlike when you were 18). Go ahead and play until you feel your body is beginning to tell you to quit or your wife lays down the law!

12-31-2007, 03:20 PM	#8
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	I play ice-hockey and sponge-hockey in the winter, and ball-hockey, baseball and/or ultimate frisbee during the summers. I just turned 30 a couple days ago, and like Johnnyshaka, I don't see myself quitting any time soon. That said, last year I had my first injury that hung around longer than a day or two when I did something to my ankle in a spongee game and it bothered me for at least 3 months. Then just a week ago I woke up the day after a spongee game and couldn't bend my right knee, and that one is still sore now, although no longer affecting my mobility. So clearly age is starting to catch up to me, but I see no reason to quit, if anything I see this as a need to get in better shape. I've put on about 20 pounds over the last 5 years and I think it might be starting to take its toll. My plan is to someday play spongee on a team with my kids, and considering they don't even exist yet, the plan doesn't have me quitting any time soon... __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime." Last edited by Fidatelo : 12-31-2007 at 03:22 PM.

12-31-2007, 03:40 PM	#9
terpkristin Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ashburn, VA	I was forced to retire from soccer (and martial arts and running and everything else I did, more or less) when I was 22 (well, technically, I wasn't "forced" until I was 24 but my last game was when I was 22), right before my 2nd ankle surgery. It didn't end like I expected it would, but in retrospect, I wouldn't have done anything differently if I'd known that I'd hose my ankle beyond belief on July 3, 2001. I miss playing almost everyday. Every time I go to the gym, I feel a pang that I have to go to the gym, I can't just go out for a run. If it were me, I'd keep playing until I either couldn't stand playing anymore or until I physically couldn't. I imagine that going back after retiring once would be challenging, so why quit if it's still fun and there aren't any injuries keeping you back? /tk __________________ GO TERPS! https://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin https://twitter.com/terpkristin

12-31-2007, 03:45 PM	#10
Noop Bonafide Seminole Fan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Miami	As someone who had to stop playing football as a result of an injury I would say keep playing if you want too because when you start worrying about getting hurt instead of playing the game you will get hurt. __________________ Subby's favorite woman hater.

12-31-2007, 03:50 PM	#11
HerRealName College Prospect Join Date: Dec 2002	I'm 35 with an ACL surgery in my immediate future. I say now that I'm retired from playing basketball but I'm not convinced that I'll actually quit playing.

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