The Man Cave on…Sports

Twenty thousand years ago a cave man threw a rock at a beehive in a tree and missed. Other male tribe members immediately threw other rocks to hit the beehive…and likely others in the tribe began to place wagers on who could hit the beehive and bring it down.

Ok, I made that up.  But I’m guessing the male fascination with sports started something like that, and still continues throughout our lives even now.

Starting with little league baseball, peewee football and youth basketball or soccer, most guys grow up playing a sport.  It was, for our parents, a great way to burn off some of our youthful energy while learning good sportsmanship, how to compete, and being a team player.  For many a new kid in a neighborhood, joining a local sports team was the first step in making friends – that sometimes last a lifetime.

Sports as Guys Age

While guys’ interest in sports continues as we age (and for men and women playing a sport is part of healthy aging), The National Institutes of Health cite age 55 as the time when our participation starts declining.

But not necessarily. The medical community suggests we continue – no matter what our age. Experts say the best sports for seniors bolster bone strength and balance, in activities from pickleball to volleyball.  Some of these sports are favorites of Senior Planet Sponsored Athletes – if you want some inspiration check out this list.

Different Sports for Different Ages

Still, few guys in their 60’s are playing touch football. For many of us, achy knees or gimpy ankles will transition us away from high-contact sports to pickleball, tennis, golf and bowling. (And for guys like me, who gave up pickleball to save my knees, there are less jarring activities like biking, paddle boarding and fishing.)

Making adjustments as we age is all part of the process of the passing years.  It’s not having to let go of past activities, but rather moving on to new ones.

Should you have the need for competition– for an opportunity to see how you fare against others your own age– there is the National Senior Games Association.  It provides contests in a number of sports, some 30 categories in all.  From Archery to Volleyball, from Power Walking to Triathlon, there are many options for folks looking to test their abilities, first by qualifying at the state level (the list is here) in 2024 before moving on to national competition in 2025.

A Sports Spectator and Fan

The passion many guys have for sports—from wearing silly hats to gathering in a pub (when the lawn needs mowing) — may stem from our desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves.  We might be rooting for different teams, but we have gathered together for a collective experience.

We may think we know the outcome of a match and then we are both humbled and surprised by a simple bounce of the ball.  We are entertained and lured into thinking we know what is best for a particular team or know which team is stronger.  And most of the time we laugh at our mistakes, hubris, and trash talk.  Sports is unifying no matter who you root for or play against.  I can’t say that about some other competitions such as …politics!  Argue with your buddy about sports rather than politics and your friendship will stay strong.

Sports have been the glue that keeps my 34 year old son and me in frequent contact.  We both follow our beloved Celtics, and we both have opinions on what we would do if in charge of the team. Although he lives two time zones away from me, we often watch part of a game while on the phone with each other; debating, criticizing, strategizing, and laughing.

Why Guys and Sports?

From being part of a team, to being part of a fan base, men seem to talk more freely about sports than just about any other subject. Sports brings out a sense of comradery, and that social interaction has been proven time and time again to give us better physical and mental health.

So while my new athletic activities such as swimming and biking are often solitary, team sports are still important to me as a reason to get together with friends and watch.  We haven’t come all that far from the cave man who first tossed that rock and his friends wanted to do the same…

…only better!

Michael J. Tougias is a New York Times bestselling author and co-author of 30 books for adults and nine books for middle readers. His latest book is Extreme Survival: Lessons From Those Who Have Triumphed Against All Odds. Tougias speaks to both business groups and at public libraries across the country.  www.michaeltougias.com