When will I have to retire?

Well, I'm only 25, but I've played with guys that are 50 and it's amazing what kind of shape they are in despite of their age.

 

I always thought at your age I would be playing in my 50's with my oldest son on the field with me. Then things started to go wrong with my body because I did not take care of myself.

If you are serious about taking care of yourself you can play into your 50's at a good level. You just got to know how to pace yourself and let the ball do the real running.

When you start to slow up just play in a weaker league then you were playing in before.

I have seen a lot of very good players who still play at a pretty good level into their 50's if they kept their bodies in good shape and continue to do skill work.

 

You know it's time to hang up the boots when:

-- The kid you used to babysit is asking you tips for coaching his son
-- Instead of Gatorade, you start bringing a cooler full of Ensure
-- The sound of your knees cracking drowns out the referee's whistle
-- You pull out your old match kits and realize they have NASL teams on them

 

More than anything, it's bad knees, hips or another joint that forces some older guys I know to retire. My old team had two guys who each had a son who also played on the team.

When you're older, you have to work harder on flexibility and strength. And keep the weight off, that will put less stress on your bodys.

 

I'm 55 and still playing. I took up the game at 50 after coaching my kids for 15 years. I didn't play football or hockey so my knees are good. I always did a lot of bicycling and have been running regularly for 34 years. I'm not in as good of shape as a few years ago, but I keep plugging away at it.

Some of the men I play with are in the 65 range. I wouldn't count on playing past 70, though I have seen one or two that age.

 

I'm 26, and I play in an over-25 league with at least two 70-somethings.

 

It's time to retire when you don't have fun playing anymore, or you can't walk.

I think as you get older, you'll realize that playing at the highest level just isn't possible. There's always Over-35's etc

 

I remember having similar thoughts when I was your age. I'm now 45 and I still play frequently both indoors and outdoors usually @ a high level of competition. The key is maintaining a good fitness level and being blessed by God with good health! Keep on playing and have fun and before you know it you too will be one of us old timers!

 

That's about the size of it. Keep playing if you're having fun. And the number of knee braces I see on the pitch makes me think that walking is over-rated.

After picking up the game in high school and doing one year in college, I didn't play again until I started coaching my kid. The NEOTHSL had 5 over-30 and 3 over-40 divisions back then. After 15 years of playing, including 10 years as manager of over-30 and over-40 teams, I stopped. I was sick and tired of being a manager and could only dump the job by walking away.

The league has expanded to 6 O-30, 7 O-40, and 3 O-50 divisions (12 teams per division, 6 each north and south). There is at least one septuagenarian playing in the O-30 league and two teams on the waiting list for an O-60 league.

I still stay involved as a referee. (As a player I could only irritate 2 or 3 players at a time. As a ref I can irritate 22 at once. ) I'm actually in better condition now than I was as a player.

I become eligible for the O-50 league next year and wonder if my wife will forgive me for the $1500 income cut if I hook up with a Seniors team instead of ref'ing.

 

One other thing. Don't be like Don Zimmer and think you can take on a Pedro Martinez. It can be embarrassing.

 

I've seen some quite competitive players in their 50s and some still going in their 60s. Play for the love of the game!