...tackle football @ 50!

….. many people including myself thought I was crazy to even think about playing tackle football on a women’s team at 50…to be completely honest  playing tackle football has never entered my mind till a few months ago…actually didn’t know it existed…..my very limited experience playing football was in the back yard with the neighborhood boys…which I am sure I only played because the boys were playing…..not for my love of the game….however I have always enjoyed watching football on TV…..I remember back in grade school…my dad would watch the Browns on one TV & I was watch the LA Rams….for some odd reason that was my team…lol …of course in those days the Browns were on fire….maybe this will be there year…again..lol.   As a teenager in high school I would attend the school football games…it was more of a social event than a sporting event….once I started dating a football player I was more involved in the actual game…..kinda.   Me…ever think about playing tackle football on an all-women’s team….never entered my mind…I have always been a tripping over my unties she laces kinda gal……..till now.

 

…in case ya didn’t know…..I had no idea…..the Women’s Football Alliance is the fasted growing tackle football league in North America…there is like 63+ teams……wow…who knew…….the NFL is the gold standard for football….its always been exclusive to men…I am so sure there are some women football players out there than can give the fellas of the NFL a run for their money… no doubt there will come a day when we see both men & women side by side playing football…lace up your cleats ladies!

 ….it is so easy to sit on my fat ass on the sofa & critique the football players on Sunday afternoons….but after only two days of conditioning with the ladies of the Columbus Comets…I tell ya what…they are a group of hard core athletes….it is so impressive to see their commitment to the game and their team mates….each & every one of them are truly an inspiration …... it makes me want to be part of their organization……of their team…..

 

…my first day of conditioning….I had no idea what to wear…on the advice an experience player I did go out & but a pair of cleats….which was an experience in itself…..I tried several pairs on & decided to go with a pair made by UnderArmor…..they looked cool…felt good…..and when I asked the sales guy what the fancy “H” logo stood for on the side of the toe…he just kinda looked at me in bewilderment and shook his head…..I now know the UnderArmor logo….I also bought a super duper support bra with under wires….gotta hold those girls up…its bad enough I am gonna waddle down the field…don’t want my boobies bouncing….lol so yes I did the bounce test – love the bra…no uni-boob either…lol

 

…when the email came out from the coach with the what to wear/what to bring to conditioning it listed “athletic shorts” …..who knew there was such a thing…so I went on the hunt for my “athletic shorts”  and my football socks…..no plain white socks for me…I needed the real deal!  ….so to look like I fit in on the first day…..and also make sure my cleats were gonna work for me…I need to wear them …break them in….so…..what better way to break them in than to wear them while I gardened & worked in the yard…no slipping in the wet grass for me – worked like a charm & comfy…just like wearing tennis shoes.

 

….I showed up for the first day of conditioning in my “athletic shorts” and yes….a Cherry Garcia pink tie dyed tshirt ……my white football socks & a pink bandana….oh yes I did…and oh yes I did stick out like a sore thumb….it was tough….pissed my pants a couple of times…ok..just one…a little….sweat like a pig…..was slow on the sprints…the cones…actually slow on everything…..I did however plus the wooden sled up & down a hill …not once..but TWICE….yes I did!   Killed me but I was never so proud of myself……I paid attention to the coaches…tried to learn all I could…didn’t once touch a football…one thing I did get was no matter how slow I was….whenever I completes a drill….there was always a hand or several hands in the air to give me a high five….it felt good …women supporting & encouraging other women.  That’s the way it should be on & off the field.  I was so happy to see my first day of conditioning come to an end – all I could think was blow that damn whistle coach…I am done! …..for today..took me 3+ days to recover…the pain felt so good…I actually did it…….would I  return……………..

 

…hell yes…I did…..once again the team was welcoming…..the other 50yr old didn’t show up…not sure if she will be back or not…..but I was ready….got a little stretching instruction from one of the players prior to practice…..and then I entered “HELL”…..an obstacle course that about killed me three times over and then some….running stairs is a killer for this middle aged out of shape chick…..if not for the encouragement of a few team mates I would not have finished…ok so I sucked hind tit for all of it….I did finish it…..what an awesome feeling it was to have team mates run beside me on the steps…encouraging me…telling me I got this…..as it was happening I didn’t think much about it….later looking back – words can’t express the overwhelming feeling of …I don’t know the words…I have NEVER felt that kind of feeling – I made sure to thank each one of those ladies….not only are they awesome athletes….they are wonderful human being…..they so could have just stood & watched without saying a word thinking to themselves we don’t want that old middle aged woman on our team anyway..let her fail….but they didn’t.  I aspire to be just like them……

 

…well I did make it to the end of the second day of conditioning….afterwards I did sit in an Epson Salts ice bath and slept for 6 hours…..but my recovery wasn’t as bad as lst week…..my butt still kinda hurts….and I am ready to do it again next Saturday…..in the mean while I plan to do my stretching…..drink lots of water…do a little running…..each week it should get it a little easier…..one thing I know is I am all in…..I would be proud to be part of such a phenomenal group…..team of women football players……the women of the gridiron…The Columbus Comets!