Over-50 Soccer

At age 52, I realized that I could no longer play house league soccer.  I was too slow and fragile (torn ACL in both knees.) So I formed a league for players over age 50. It was a hit. 

Little did I know how important forming this league would be for me AND everyone else that I play soccer with. 

I ran the Over-50 group for 16 years, and have turned over the leadership to another player who has the same values and is much better organized. We are still thriving.

The Soccer (Sorry Aidan, “Football”)

We play with an emphasis on making sure everybody can play next game (i.e. nobody gets hurt.) Our rules keep contact and risk of injury to a minimum.  Everyone is focused on the safety of other players. We are still competitive, but all play safely because the score does not matter. We pull out of “50-50” balls so we don’t collide.

We don’t have regular teams so that there is no buildup of animosity as in “We have to show that Irish team!”  (I played on the Irish team…) Our rules include having different teams each week (pretty much like a pickup game, but more organized.)  This means that the player you were mad at last game is on your team next game…  We have some players who love the game but can’t move very well anymore (knees, hips, etc.) and we all give them a little more time on the ball so they can play too.  They become useful players for the team they are on.

We invented a rule that says “if you are 80 or older, then you cannot be offsides.”  This means that our dear “Mikey” can stand 20 yards offside and he becomes a key player in our team! We can pass the ball to Mikey and then run up for him to create the play. He has scored a number of goals too. I love having Mikey on my team.

EVERYBODY Plays Soccer (Sorry Aidan, “Football”)

Yes, we are in Toronto, which is widely recognized as one of the most diverse cities in the world. Over half of its residents were born outside of Canada, and more than 180 languages are spoken throughout the city.  So to me it is normal to have many different types of groups around me, and that most people speak English as a second language. (I have NO second language.) When you add in that I am a soccer addict (played multiple times per week my whole life) you can see that I have been exposed to every nationality (and soccer/personal style).  

Soccer is an interesting view into how people are. Some dribble all the time and are all about their achievements, some have been trained how to attack as a team, some are faithful and come back to help on defense, and some not so much… Some have been trained to the professional level (hello Aidan Butterworth  

Oh, and we have a number of very skilled and experienced players, most everyone has played competitive football so our skill level is quite high. We kind of self-select for people who are so in love with the game that they want to play at any age.    

So our skill level is quite high and we have very fun games.  We have several players who have played at quite high levels, including Aidan Butterworth who played for Leeds in the top tier of English Football in the early eighties.  He is a fabulous player and gem of a human being. 

The Social Dimension

The top two determinants of a long and happy life are exercise and social connection. Having learned that fact, we always go to the pub afterwards and talk about whatever comes up. We have developed amazing friendships. Half of the benefit we all get is in the social dimension. 

We have very accepting friends at the pub and we have a great time. (By the way, many players drink water, tonic or soda rather than beer, so there is no pressure to drink alcohol. There IS pressure to be real in your presence. Everyone is very accepting, so we hear a lot of different points of view and people are their authentic selves in the pub. Great human beings. 

Sometimes I think we are exceptional in how connected we are. However, I really think it is the circumstance of being together in an open and trusting environment that brings us together.

Sorry, I don’t have any videos of us over-50’s playing. I would have to shoot it in time lapse mode.