Those of us who have not had exposure to the disciplines required to keep up a sport or active hobby will probably never need to learn how to cope with these rigours but we can take up a gentle sport to start a new hobby. There is no need to start one that requires the strength of an elephant or deep concentration levels. The sport we choose will generally be influenced by what our pals get us interested in. We may not always want to go and join them when they take part, but after hearing them chat enthusiastically about this match or that, it suddenly spurs an interest and before you know it, you are looking up the rules of the sport. For most of us we last did any kind of competitive sport at school. The fire was probably never quite fierce enough then to keep us playing once we left those hallowed halls.
Some sports can be taken up in mid life quite easily. Almost every sport has some sort of governing body that employs teams to ensure it survives by organising leagues with various levels. This inevitably requires a rule book to be produced so that every player knows they are meeting the basic standards of play. By researching the rules of play for a sport that interests you, knowing the true ins and outs of the game makes sense; it brings an understanding of why a move will be censured and why a particular shot or action will produce a winning goal or hit. There are court sports that seem very similar but have those special differences that make them more suitable for all age groups. Take tennis and badminton for example. Looking at the court layout, one could get confused and assume they are the same but of course, there are many factors that set them miles apart. The tennis ball is much heavier than a shuttlecock and of course, if it is served at 109 miiles an hour, will need a fantastically fit return shot. A shuttlecock can be fairly quick but it is essentially a slower, lighter item that won’t take the wind out of you if it hits you. Mind you there will still be a penalty to be paid if it does! The skills and energy needed to continue playing tennis after mid life requires a great deal more steel and determination than enjoying a few games on the badminton circuit.