There may be dozens of reasons why the average American doesn’t get enough exercise. It’s too cold (or hot) outside. There’s a good game or show on TV. You’re too tired from work. Exercise is boring, uncomfortable, and time-consuming. You just don’t feel like it. Sound familiar?
With all of these obstacles, it’s amazing that anyone ever exercises, outside of fitness instructors and professional athletes. But there’s a simple plan that can instantly surmount nearly all of these excuses: join a local sports league in your city, county or place of work.
What better way to get you off your couch and moving a couple of times a week? Its fun, it’s active, it teaches new skills, it introduces you to a new group of friends, and if you don’t show up, your team will be very disappointed. Now there’s a motivating factor. Most importantly, it automatically sets up a routine which you can organize the rest of your activities around – you’ll need to tape that TV show, because you’ll be at practice on Thursdays. And one final advantage: most community league registration fees are far less expensive, and represent less of a commitment, than a gym membership – making them available to a wider and more diverse audience.
But what if you don’t play a sport? Even informal leagues can be intimidating for those of us who weren’t picked first for the softball team, who spent gym class hanging around the back of the court gossiping instead of spiking the ball. But yet again, that’s no excuse. City, county and private leagues exist for nearly every “sport” you can imagine, from Frisbee golf, bean-bag tossing and paintball to that old schoolyard favorite, kickball. Forget hand-eye coordination — as long as you’ve got a pair of sneakers, you too can be an athlete. And just watch how quickly regular practice and support from your teammates can raise your skill level and your confidence. Before long, you’ll be signing up for more advanced sports that offer a new challenge.
If you are athletically inclined, there are even more offerings available: indoor and outdoor soccer, basketball, roller and ice hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, tennis and softball, just to name a few. No matter what the weather is like outside, there will always be a sport to suit your needs, and a league that fits your level of ability.
Finally, if your community doesn’t have a single sports league, that’s no excuse. It’s up to you to start one! Get your co-workers together for a seasonal league – touch football in the fall, volleyball in the winter, and softball in spring and summer. Or organize stay-at-home parents for a rowdy neighborhood soccer match while the kids are at school. Once you get hooked on the thrills of competition, you won’t even realize that you’re exercising…which is the best way to keep at it.