For the first time since 1999 I donned my shin pads. I pushed and pulled my 37 year old body into lycra as I tried to recall the off side rule. I looked on at my team mates, some wearing cute hockey skirts that I once liked to wear and I stood petrified that my wobbly legs would let me down.
I had my new hockey stick, since my old stick disintegrated in my hands when I went back to hockey last October. The rubber on the grip took offence at being used after twenty years of propping up the garage.
Having once been a forward with energy and youth on my side I slunk back to a more defensive position. When our coach asked to me to be left back, I thought it had all been a cruel joke and I wasn’t even going to get onto the pitch. That my hockey years were in fact well and truely behind me, that I was destined to watch from the sideline and I was only kidding myself that I could still manage a tackle.
However, thankfully, he meant the left back position and so I jogged into position, stuck in my gum shield that saw me slobbering like a great dane on a hot day, and prepared to take on the opposition. The whistle blew and we were away. The buzz was brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed my ‘return to hockey’. I can’t say I lasted the full game, I can say once or twice I saw a ball that I should have run for, but didn’t have the fitness to attempt it. But I will say I am so glad that I have found a great way to spend my Friday evenings – with like minded women. I have made new friends and had a fab time in the pub afterwards. As I walked over to the pub, many of the women offered me a lift if I wanted to sit their children’s car seats. It made me smile as although most of us our mums we all want to do something for ourselves too and Back to Hockey clubs are giving us that chance. We laughed like old friends as we socialised and metaphoriacally let our hair down. It is so important to be ‘more than a mum’ we shared drinks and food and I left happy and relaxed.
Therefore if you enjoyed a sport at school why not see if there are any ‘Back to…’ courses in your area or if you are local to Gloucester come to Chicks with Sticks at plock court on Fridays at 7pm-8pm for a friendly welcome.
I wish I had my 17yr old body to run in, instead of the twenty year later, three kids later version but alas you can’t stop time.
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your blog posts. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same subjects?
Thank you!