Post by 198346 on Dec 13, 2011 12:01:55 GMT -5
I am interested in the practicality and reality of older players participating in a semi-pro team. Basically, I am looking for encouragement or a reality check that it is not practical or worth it.
Now that I am coaching youth ball, the desire to give it one last go for a year or two has rekindled. My long term goal would be to play a few years and learn more, have some fun, then use that to expand on my coaching and eventually get into HS coaching (as a career change). I also would take some interest in starting or helping run an semi-pro team at some point.
I am 45 years old, but remain in very good shape. I played in grade school and all four years of HS at a top level team in IL (early 1980's). I started every game on the freshman and soph teams (no JV during those years) and was heavily used as a junior. Some injuries and issues with my coach hurt my playing time early in my senior season, but I eventually won the full time strong safety job on a very good team and was considered the best DB on the team by the players, even among the DB's who had more playing time than me.
I had opportunities to play D3 ball (Lakeland College in WI, DePauw in IN) but went to a larger state school instead because of cost and did not play in college. Had an opportunity to walk on at Northern IL, but that was during the Lee Corso disaster and the asst. coaches basically told me I will easily make the team and can play with their players, but not likely to ever play ahead of scholarship players, so I took a pass.
I played DB - all four spots, but was primarily a strong safety and corner back and the whole array of special teams. I was best known for being a very sure tackler, outside containment, hitting hard and was always one of the fastest kids on the field. I played small (I was 5'8, ~ 150 lbs my senior HS year).
I currently am 45, 5'9", 175 lb. I have not been timed in the 40 recently, but my HS times would have been in the 4.5 and a little faster range. I still can run a mid 5 minute mile and sub 19 minute 5K's, so much of the speed remains. My best bench press was 425 in college when I lived in the weight room, but I have not been in the weight room seriously for years.
Any thoughts, recommendations, or reality checks with be appreciated.
Now that I am coaching youth ball, the desire to give it one last go for a year or two has rekindled. My long term goal would be to play a few years and learn more, have some fun, then use that to expand on my coaching and eventually get into HS coaching (as a career change). I also would take some interest in starting or helping run an semi-pro team at some point.
I am 45 years old, but remain in very good shape. I played in grade school and all four years of HS at a top level team in IL (early 1980's). I started every game on the freshman and soph teams (no JV during those years) and was heavily used as a junior. Some injuries and issues with my coach hurt my playing time early in my senior season, but I eventually won the full time strong safety job on a very good team and was considered the best DB on the team by the players, even among the DB's who had more playing time than me.
I had opportunities to play D3 ball (Lakeland College in WI, DePauw in IN) but went to a larger state school instead because of cost and did not play in college. Had an opportunity to walk on at Northern IL, but that was during the Lee Corso disaster and the asst. coaches basically told me I will easily make the team and can play with their players, but not likely to ever play ahead of scholarship players, so I took a pass.
I played DB - all four spots, but was primarily a strong safety and corner back and the whole array of special teams. I was best known for being a very sure tackler, outside containment, hitting hard and was always one of the fastest kids on the field. I played small (I was 5'8, ~ 150 lbs my senior HS year).
I currently am 45, 5'9", 175 lb. I have not been timed in the 40 recently, but my HS times would have been in the 4.5 and a little faster range. I still can run a mid 5 minute mile and sub 19 minute 5K's, so much of the speed remains. My best bench press was 425 in college when I lived in the weight room, but I have not been in the weight room seriously for years.
Any thoughts, recommendations, or reality checks with be appreciated.