Sports.Whether you love them or hate them, played them or play them, watch them, hear them, or talk about them, sports have become one of the most defining parts of our culture and all cultures around the world. Fun on all levels, whether competitive or non competitive, sports are a great way to keep active and stay fit at any age.
As we age, the importance of actually participating in sports tends to diminish. School, work, family, and all of life's other responsibilities tend to become what we focus on more than scoring that game winning goal, and rightfully so. Fitness and health however, should still be something that we place an importance in. Studies show that now more than ever people who no longer or never have participated in competitive sports still see the value in staying active, and try to keep that as a focal point in their day to day schedule. There are more gyms and adult recreational sports leagues than there ever has been before. These leagues range in talent level and often emphasize the fitness and social benefits more so than the competitive aspect. People who have never played a sport before now have the opportunity to do so and be part of a team and community.
Although the goals may change, sports can still aid in our overall health and well being, while stimulating our minds and helping to maintain and develop social skills we will use forever. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says that most adults should get 2 1/2 hours of moderate physical activity a week, and a couple hours of muscle strengthening activities as well. Common goals for most adults are of course being healthy, feeling fit, and the most popular, losing weight. So what team sports are best for the everyday adult to burn the most calories?
Golf: I know what you're thinking.....golf? Yes, that's right. Although it's not exactly a team sport, it's most often played in groups. It's not the most strenuous of sports, but if you walk and pull your own clubs, you can burn upwards of approximately 400 calories playing. Golf is a great sport for those not looking to run up and down a court somewhere. It's also very challenging and improves mental focus, accuracy, and awareness.
Softball/Baseball: Great team sport that is easy to learn and
keep up with if you’re not an avid player. Adult recreational softball players
burn on average 400 calories a game, while improving eye hand coordination as
well as developing strength in the legs, arms, and shoulders.
Basketball: Ball
is life, and is another great team sport option to burn calories. With all of
the changes in tempo and direction, basketball is great for improving body
control, speed, agility, and explosive power. In a full court game you can burn
anywhere from 450 to 650 calories.
Football: No,
not professional football. Touch and Flag football leagues have become widely
popular in North America with the amount of leagues almost doubling in the past
five years. There are even co-ed leagues in most cities. You may not be winning
the Super Bowl, but a high intensity game of touch football is said to burn
from 500 to 700 calories depending on the length of game.
Ultimate Frisbee: Ultimate
Frisbee is the most popular of amateur team sports outside of the major sports.
It has become a worldwide phenomenon with even amateur teams competing in
global tournaments. Since its inception in the 1970's, it has grown and it’s
simplicity and accessibility have helped it to grow past just recreation. We've
all ran. We've all thrown a frisbee. So we can all play ultimate! Indoor and
outdoor leagues make it a year round sport, and with so much running, a game of
Ultimate can help you to burn excess of 700 calories. Not to mention it's a TON
of fun.
Boxing, Tennis, Racquetball, and Squash are great individual sports that are fun to play and help to burn calories as well. If you're looking for something easier on the joints, swimming is a great alternative activity that you can do on your own.
The key is to get your heart rate up. Basically, the harder you play, the more calories you will burn. The sport of choice makes a slight difference, but the effort you put in makes a huge one. Whether you are burning a lot of calories while working hard playing, or getting to know people and enjoying your time on a team, the benefits of sports as an adult are endless. So get out there and join a team! It's never too late to hit that game winning shot.
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