Nervous about joining a team sport as an adult? You’re not the only one!
Thinking about joining a sports team as an adult can feel surprisingly daunting. You might want to get fitter, meet new people, return to a sport you used to enjoy, or simply have something in your week that is just for you. But even when the idea sounds exciting, it is very easy for nerves to take over before you have even signed up.
Why does joining a sports team feel so intimidating?
One of the biggest reasons women feel nervous is the fear of walking into an established group. It is easy to imagine that everyone else will already be friends, know exactly what they are doing and immediately notice that you are new. In reality, social teams are often changing all the time, with new players joining regularly and plenty of people having started out on their own.
Team sport can actually make meeting people easier because you do not have to create conversation from nothing. You already have something in common with everyone around you, and you are all focused on the same game. Talking to teammates tends to happen naturally because you are passing, calling, defending, laughing about mistakes and working together from the moment the game starts.
What if everyone else is better than me?
Worrying about ability is another common reason women put off joining a team. You might remember being good at netball at school and worry that you will not be at the same level now, or perhaps you never felt particularly sporty and assume everyone in an adult league will be far more experienced than you.
Social netball is not an audition and nobody expects you to turn up playing at an elite level. People join for lots of reasons, including fitness, friendship, fun, competition and simply because they enjoy the game. There will naturally be players with different levels of experience and confidence, and that is part of what makes social leagues work.
What if I am the oldest person there?
Age can also become a mental barrier, particularly if you associate netball with school, university or your early twenties. Once life gets busier with work, family and other responsibilities, it can sometimes feel as though team sport belongs to a different stage of life.
It does not. Women return to sport at all ages and for all sorts of reasons. Some want to get active again, some have recently moved to a new area, some want to make new friends and others simply miss being part of a team.
There is no age when you suddenly become too old to enjoy playing netball. Social sport is exactly that: social. It is about finding something that fits into your life now rather than trying to recreate the player you were years ago.
What if I am not fit enough?
A lot of women put off joining a team because they feel they need to get fitter first, but playing regularly can be part of getting fitter. Your first few games might feel tiring, and that is completely normal while your body gets used to moving in a different way again.
One of the best things about team sport is that exercise often feels less like exercise because your focus is on the game. Instead of watching the clock, you are thinking about making space, getting free for a pass or stopping your opponent from scoring.
What if I don’t make any friends?
It is completely normal to worry that you might join a team and still feel like the outsider. Making friends as an adult can take time, and you do not have to click with everyone straight away or leave your first game with a brand-new friendship group. The first few sessions may simply be about getting to know names, feeling more comfortable and becoming familiar with the people around you.
The good thing about team sport is that you keep seeing the same people and already have something to talk about. Over time, those small conversations before, during and after games can turn into real friendships naturally, without the pressure of having to force it. Even if you do not become best friends with everyone, simply feeling part of a team and having familiar faces to see each week can make a big difference.
What is social netball actually like?
Social netball is competitive enough to make the game exciting but relaxed enough that you can still enjoy yourself without feeling under pressure. People want to win, but the main focus is on playing, having a laugh and enjoying being part of a team.
At Play Netball, you will find people with all sorts of experience levels. Some have played for years, while others are returning after a long break or trying netball again for the first time since school. It is a friendly, welcoming environment where you can get active, meet people and enjoy the game at your own pace.
What if I am still nervous?
You probably will be a little nervous before your first game, and that is completely normal. Being nervous does not mean you are making the wrong decision; it usually just means you are doing something new and stepping outside your usual routine.
Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to feel completely comfortable straight away. The first session is simply about turning up, getting a feel for the team and giving it a go. Once that first game is done, the hardest part is already behind you, and each week should start to feel a little more familiar.
Thinking about getting back into netball?
If you’re looking for a fun, friendly and social way to get back into netball, you can find your nearest league on the Play Netball website.