Learning a sport at 47 years old – you must be joking?
If at 15 years old somebody told me that by the time I reached 50 I’d be on court five times a week, play for the club team and have a solid and supportive friendship group of tennis buddies, I would have cried laughing.
Taking a leap of faith and engaging in sport has contributed significantly to my physical and mental well-being. Give me a soap box and I will sing from the rooftops about the unexpected impact it has made on my life…
Reflecting on my first experiences of sport…
Like many young women I had a negative experience of sport and physical activity at school. Growing up in the 80s, the focus was on being good enough to compete, not how exercise could benefit your physical and mental health. If you lacked natural athleticism or good hand-eye coordination, you were written off. Add to that a super-strict Miss Trunchbull* style of teaching methodology and a plethora of teenage insecurities around body image, it’s no wonder many of us dreaded PE.
We dragged our feet towards the gym or playing fields and frequently, excuse notes were timidly handed to our tyrannous PE teacher. We were forced (not encouraged) to leap over boxes one by one, fling ourselves over ridiculously elevated high-jump poles, dive off 3 m high boards and play hockey in sub-zero temperatures.
It’s not surprising that when I left school, I avoided playing sport for nearly 30 years. On reflection I question too whether feeling inept at sport impacted my confidence in general.
Starting to believe I could rather than could not..
So, what made me pick up a racket aged 47? Well, it was a case of ‘if you can beat them join them’. My two sons benefitted from my husband’s super sporty gene pool. They played racket sports competitively, practically lived at the club and talked about tournaments incessantly. I decided to give it a go. Afterall, it made sense – we lived a block away from the tennis club, a place where I already felt secure.
My first lesson was early on a frosty Sunday morning in a mixed (sex and ability) group of variable ages and frankly, I felt completely out of my depth as well as freezing cold. I was reminded of all those inadequate feelings I had as I teenager when I couldn’t catch a ball in rounders and was named ‘butter fingers’ by the popular, super sporty girls. I wasn’t sure it was for me.
However, the coach, Alison, was hugely encouraging and could somehow see through these hang-ups and must have identified a vague glimmer of potential. She motivated me (and others who were feeling similar) to persevere. I recall her saying ‘everyone can improve their tennis skills; we just do it at different rates’. Her positive coaching style was so far removed from the negativity I experienced at Secondary School that I started to believe I could rather than couldn’t.
A revelation! Perseverance outweighs talent
Luckily the impact of the pandemic was brief for tennis players. It was one of the first sports to ‘open up’ after lockdown. As life moved slower, opportunities to practice increased. I’d play with my family and when they got frustrated with me, I’d find another court and hit serve after serve until I eventually got the ball over the net.
I found it great therapy. Not only was I outdoors and exercising but also training my brain to do something which didn’t come naturally. Small improvements were huge milestones and that felt good.
Eventually, group tennis started up again and I joined a new class. A group of seven amazing women, new to the sport, aged 40 plus and all with different insecurities and motivations. We shared the common goal of wanting to give tennis our best shot by playing competitively and enjoying the experience. Led by Alison, we started a tennis journey spanning 3 years (and still counting) and now we’ve all made it into the team.
Inspiring women, inspiring others
Outside of work, I’ve never been part of a team, so this is a novelty. Thanks to the affectionately known ‘Strawberry Smashers’ I have learned how a supportive group can inspire others to persevere and improve. We haven’t had many wins but friendship and solidarity are our successes. We learn from each other and when we doubt ourselves, we offer support. Having the backbone of a reassuring team is hugely beneficial to my mental wellbeing.
Finding my inner confidence
Playing tennis has strengthened me in more ways than one. Not only am I fitter, I am also more determined. I’ve had to work harder than those with natural talent but that’s given me a self- belief that I can achieve if I put the effort in. That’s not just in tennis but in life.
Making the most of my body
Many young girls and women are put off sport because they become body conscious. I’m not proud of my varicose veins and pasty, pale skin but on court my legs get me from A to B and at high speed so I’ve decided to celebrate them (with or without fake tan!).
Many of us have a hang-up about some part of our body but engaging in sport helps us embrace what we have. Shoutout to the ‘Wear the damn shorts’ movement.
Anyone for tennis? Well not quite…
Don’t get me wrong, tennis has its negatives. It can be cliquey and exclusive. It’s played behind the closed doors of clubs tucked away in leafy suburbs. It’s pricey to join and once you’re in some members would clearly rather not play with you. You can be left feeling like the kid at school who doesn’t get picked. However, through my love of the sport I am determined to contribute to its inclusivity. Afterall ‘Mental Health is a Universal Right’* so if it can be achieved through this sport, everyone deserves a chance.
*A headmistress in Roald Dahl’s Mathilda who was a former highly ranked competitive shotput athelete and somewhat tyrannical in her approach to teaching PE
*Slogan for World Mental Health Day -10 October
