The beauty of soccer is that you can play it as a youngster right the way through to middle age. There are specific leagues for age groups, meaning you can easily find soccer at your level.
But what happens if you haven’t played soccer for a while and want to return to the field? Is doing so a good idea? What do you need to do? Let’s find out!
Can you return to soccer after a long period out?
Yes, you definitely can return to soccer after a long period out of the game! While some people might go for a year or so without playing, others might go for considerably longer than this! Playing soccer is a skill that you learn from a young age, meaning you never lose it. That being said, you will probably be a little rusty when you return to the field after a long period away, so it will take some getting used to! Let’s look at what you need to think about if you return to soccer after a long time away.
Do you lose your skills if you don’t play soccer for a while?
The reversibility principle in sport suggests that you may start to lose some of your skills after just a couple of weeks if you stop playing and training. However, in reality, if you have mastered a skill, you know that you never truly lose your ability to perform!
Granted, if you haven’t done something for a long time, it will take some time to sharpen up and refocus on your technique and various other aspects of your performance. This is no different in soccer.
If you’ve learned how to pass a ball or take a penalty, you will always be able to do it. But don’t expect to be able to return to the field and do it without a little bit of practice first.
Players who have been out of the game for a while typically find that they’re particularly rusty when it comes to things like first touch and control. Therefore, if you’re returning to the soccer field after a long time out, it’s a good idea to get some training under your belt beforehand!
What about fitness levels?
Fitness levels are a curious thing because they largely depend on your metabolism and how much exercise you do. Therefore, it’s difficult to say how your fitness levels will be affected when you return to the soccer field after a long time.
However, one thing is for sure – if you have stopped doing exercise altogether, you will almost certainly struggle to play a competitive soccer match on your return. Research suggests that it takes just one or two weeks to lose cardio fitness.
Even if you haven’t been playing soccer for a while, you’ve probably been doing some kind of exercise to try and keep your body in shape.
Providing your routine has included a mixture of aerobic and strength training, you shouldn’t have too much issue with transitioning back into soccer. But if you’ve been dormant and living a sedentary lifestyle, we’d strongly advise you to work on your fitness before returning to soccer so you don’t suffer an injury.
How long can you spend out of the game before returning to soccer?
There’s no magic number in answer to this question, as some people might spend 2-3 months without playing soccer, while others may spend 2-3 years away from the field!
Your ability to come back is largely dependent on your motivation and fitness levels, as you will find that your skills are still there when you get back up to speed.
As such, providing you’re still fit, and in decent physical shape, you can spend many years away from the field and still return to play soccer.
If you find yourself in this situation, we have provided five top tips on how to return to the field safely to ensure you enjoy the experience.
Five tips on how to return to soccer after years out
Take it slow
Whether you’re coming back from an injury or returning to soccer because you miss it, the most important thing to do is to take things easy. Don’t burst into the game as if you’ve never been away, as you’re likely to get injured.
Spend a little bit of time finding your feet and try and get as many touches of the ball as possible. You should also incorporate training alongside your game-time, so you can refine your skills along the way.
Providing you take things slowly when you return to the soccer field, you should be able to pick up from where you left off in a relatively short space of time.
Play with your friends
This might sound like a strange thing to say, but if you’ve been out of the game for a while, one of the best ways to return to soccer is to play with your friends.
Friendly games are casual and enjoyable, and you can take to the field safe in the knowledge that there’s very little pressure on you.
If you return to the soccer arena and immediately throw yourself into a competitive game, you might find it difficult to keep up with the pace and are less likely to enjoy the experience.
Work on your fitness
As mentioned, while your skills don’t suffer a great deal after long periods out of the game, your fitness levels do.
Playing soccer is a type of high-intensity exercise, meaning you need to work on your cardio, strength, and conditioning to get the most out of your time on the field.
So, when you’ve made the decision to return to soccer after a while out, be sure to work on your fitness levels in the gym so you can enjoy the experience.
Always warm-up and cool-down
Warm-ups and cool-downs are essential parts of any soccer experience, be it training or a match. However, it’s so important that you do both when you return to the game after a long time.
Because your body isn’t used to the physical exertion of soccer, you are more susceptible to picking up an injury.
Starting with a thorough warm-up and putting yourself through a cool down will help your body recover, and you’re less likely to feel the negative effects of returning to the field.
Think about other ways of getting involved in soccer
Playing soccer is undoubtedly the best way to participate in the sport, but it’s certainly not the only way to stay involved.
You might, for instance, take up coaching your kids’ soccer team and contributing that way. Alternatively, you might just be content with watching your favorite team live on TV or at their stadium.
Just remember that there are so many ways to get into soccer that you don’t need to rely solely on playing the sport if you feel like a return to the pitch is beyond you.
The verdict: Should you return to soccer after a long time out?
If you’re a little hesitant about returning to the soccer field after such a long time out, it’s totally understandable. But as we’ve explained, there’s nothing to worry about.
Providing you’re in good physical shape and have the right mindset; you can get back into soccer without any issue.
We hope the tips above will help you return to the soccer field and provide you with the confidence to get back into the beautiful game.