What more women should know about playing adult sports

Athlete resources

Oct 15

Playing sports as an adult just might change your life. Your age, the level of play, and how good you are doing don’t matter — all that matters is your love for the game and that you show up for yourself.

Here’s what we wish more women knew about playing sports as adults:

1. You can find the same joy in playing sports as an adult as you did when you were a kid.

The thrill of learning a new skill or making a big play. Building confidence. Change room chats, road trips, and tournaments with your besties. Moving your body for fun. Game day excitement. If anything, this all gets so much better as an adult when you can step away from the demands of life and play the sport you love.

2. Your sport is worthy no matter what level you play

The importance of sport isn’t based on what level you play. Your rec league game is just as important as another athlete’s elite level game because it’s important to YOU. Your passion, dedication, and love for the game is valid and matters. Not everyone will understand the impact sport has on your life and why it’s so important to you, but they don’t have to understand, only you do.

3. It’s never too late to play the sport you’ve always wanted to

Were you told a sport is “for boys”? Your family couldn’t afford the sport you wanted to play? You never had the opportunity to try the sport you were always intrigued by? You were too scared to play a sport? DO IT NOW! Whether you’re 20 or 70 — it’s never too late to learn and play.

4. If you’re a mom, it’s just as important to show your kids that sports are for life as it is for you to show up in the stands at their games.

Your passion for the game doesn’t end when motherhood begins. Let them see you playing for the love of the game. Let them see you take time for yourself. Let them see you have a passion outside of motherhood. Let them see you win, lose, struggle, and succeed. Let them see you fail, learn, and practice. Let them see you having fun in sports, regardless of your age or level of play. Let them see you being a total badass. Let them see that there’s so much more to sport than the pressure, commitment, and drive to be the best and play at the highest level.

5. Getting back into sports as an adult or learning a new one could literally change your life

You’ll build confidence that will translate to every area of your life. You’ll meet new people (maybe even your best friends or partner!). You’ll have a scheduled commitment to take care of yourself by moving your body, socializing, and boosting your mental health. You’ll become an unstoppable badass.

6. There’s no minimum requirement to play sports as an adult

You can get back in the game at any time. You can learn to play at any age. Moving your body in a way that brings you joy makes you an athlete. You can learn new things at any age. You can try something and quit if you don’t like it. You can find a team/league/program that will meet you where you’re at. You don’t need to be good to start. You just have to start.

7. It’s just as important for girls and women to see women playing rec sports as it is for them to see women playing pro sports

Girls should see women playing sports at all levels to know that sports are for life. Women should see other women playing sports at all levels to know that they can take their shot, too. Through life’s changes, relocations, kids, careers, and everything in between, sports are there. You can show them this.