As I mentioned in an earlier entry, my father (and his four brothers) all played football for UC Berkeley, so I guess I do have some sporty genes. But it wasn’t until I took up soccer at age 40 that I played any sport at all. I remember in elementary school, we were tested for our physical prowess and separated into two “teams” — the Gold Team and the Green Team. I made the cut on the former. Woohoo! In junior high and high school I took the usual required P.E. classes, replacing a few of them with Dance, but as for competitive girls’ sports, there were none. Title IX was years away. Cheerleading was the closest thing to a girls “team” activity, but all my cheering came from the bleachers where my friends and I crushed on the guys on the football team. By college, I was strictly the lazy, dreamy English major/writer hanging out with other artsy types. I didn’t even go to any games — not even basketball, and this was when Lew Alcindor (Kareem) et al. were making UCLA sports history! When I quit smoking (yes, I did that to my lungs) at 28, I suddenly found myself MOVING like I never had before. I walked miles and miles, I took up jogging, swimming, bought a racing bike and rode till my bum got sore. Then I got pregnant and walked more miles. After my two daughters were born, I embraced motherhood – or it embraced me. By the time I was serving oranges to their AYSO teams, I began to become inspired by THEIR athleticism. After that first Moms pick-up game, I was hooked. Soccer was social, creative, fun! It checked all the right boxes for me (after having found all the other exercising I’d tried quite lonely). So, the question, What me? An athlete? Well, maybe not a professional one, but a recreational one! This identity has been the most surprising, not only to me, but to those in my non-soccer world. How I enjoyed being introduced at parties as “This is Liz. She plays soccer.” It was much better than “She’s a writer.” I didn’t have to answer the next question, “Oh, and what do you write?” I could just enjoy their looks of sheer wonderment. As the years went on, the same people would ask, “Are you still playing soccer?” (As if turning 60 or 70 would stop me!) When we all get back on the pitch (and go to parties) again, I will continue to be the athlete I discovered in myself, and whom my mother couldn’t understand. But then, my mother played bridge; I play soccer!
What me? An athlete?
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Hi Liz,
I love your story! It is great that those of us growing up in the 50’s and 60’s without any sports for girls can now play.
Bunny
An athlete….I never considered myself to be a athlete. My older sister could always run faster, jump longer and higher, but could not do more tricks with our hula hoops. I played basketball prior to turning 12 and finding out I was short. In high school I took the required PE classes or took them at the end of the day,so I could ditch. Just after high school, I discovered beach volleyball, mixed doubles and I loved it. Was pretty good fora casual player, partier. Because beach volleyball included lots of beer. Played some 6 man on the B team in college, but that was it. Then after the kids were born I played more volleyball at the Y. Then along came the kids and it was pick a team sport. My daughter picked soccer and I immediately volunteered to help out. First as a ref, I was terrible then as a coach. Loved that. But how can you coach if you don’t play, so pick up soccer down in San Clemente started with the moms. Loved it immediately and it continues to give me that rush. I like Pickleball, but it’s not soccer. Now we play in our 70’s and it is a true team sport. It’s not just running behind a ball, but it involves comraderie, on and off the fields. It’s social, yet competitive. An athlete? Maybe but yes a team player.
Barbara… love this! You are definitely an “athlete” in my book!