Categories: Lifestyle

4 Reasons Why Adults Should Play Team Sports

Playing games with friends is a big part of the childhood experience. Millions of kids play in organized sporting leagues and millions more play in impromptu pick-up games on the blacktop and in the schoolyard. And playing sports is great for your physical and mental health! Yet, for one reason or another, 80 percent of people stop playing sports after the age of 15.

Indeed, relatively few adults continue to play in recreational sports leagues into their 20s, 30s, and 40s. However, there are lots of good reasons to play sports as you grow older, and we’ll list our top four here. Check them out.

IMAGE: PEXELS

Quality Exercise

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of playing sports regularly are physical payoffs. Plain and simple, playing in a recreational league two or three times a week, can be a great way to stay in shape. Team sports, in particular, are worth exploring because plenty of research suggests that individuals experience better workout returns when they interact with others.

Note, though, that playing sports as you age does present an increased possibility of injury. So if you’re experiencing nagging aches and pains, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor about it. You may even be a candidate for stem cell therapy, which can alleviate chronic soft-tissue problems.

Regimented Schedule

Millions of people start exercise routines all the time. Sticking to an exercise regimen for months at a time, though, is much more complicated and uncommon. The beauty of organized sports is that they provide clear schedules for individuals looking to boost their fitness. This way, you’ll know weeks in advance when you’ll have a game and can plan for it accordingly.

Psychological Boost

Winning and cooperating with others to achieve a common goal makes us feel good. On a psychological level, the chemical boost in testosterone and dopamine that winning offers is a hugely positive occurrence. Winning makes us feel better, and the better we feel, the healthier we tend to be.

Social Considerations

Young Americans are lonely. Indeed, studies indicate that three out of four Millennials struggle with loneliness or unsatisfactory friendships from time to time. What’s more, the average American only has one close friend.

Getting out of your house and playing sports with others is a tremendous way to strengthen current relationships while also forging new ones at the same time. Numerous sports leagues prioritize socialization over winning or losing. So even if you don’t think of yourself as an athlete, you can always find a sport that will help you make friends.

If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.