Soccer Mum

I was eleven when I first started playing soccer, getting into it because my Dad, Mum and brother (and eventually even my little sister) all played. A head taller than all the other girls and completely out of touch with where my legs ended or arms began, I wasn't exactly a natural - in fact, I was one of the worst on the team, generally stuck on the wing where I couldn't cause too much trouble. Still, I got to run around with my friends every Sunday and wear a bright purple and green uniform I could easily coordinate hair ribbons with, and thus began my long love affair with the sport.

As I progressed into my teens, stopped having growth spurts (it took a while) and got a fairly good grasp on the rules and tactics of soccer, I gradually became an okay player. I was never the fastest or fittest girl on the team but eventually I wasn't being subbed out and moved into the centre midfield. Sundays became my favourite day and my fitness was the best it had ever been. Just when I started getting good, I discovered alcohol, met my husband and moved away to Sydney where I didn't know anyone. That was six years ago.

My New Year's Resolution this year was to get into soccer again. Despite having never previously maintained one such resolution, I managed to contact my local club and get a spot in a team of girls who had either never played before or not played in a long time. Perfect!

I am loving playing soccer again, in fact it is pretty much the highlight of my week - I wake up perky and energised each Sunday morning, excited to get to the ground and put my boots on. It's the one thing I do for ME, and I think that's really important and part of it's appeal. Not to mention the fitness benefits - according to Vic Health, these can include increased aerobic capacity, lower body fat and increased muscle tone, and improved health due to the shifting between walking, running and sprinting (you can check out their full spiel here). For me personally, I have noticed a definite difference in my general energy levels, an increased ability to run after Heike during the day and that I am way fitter than my (unfit) husband!

The other great thing about soccer is that it's a team sport. Not only does this motivate me to show up and push myself each week, it's a great way to meet people and socialise - and let's face it, as a new mum any opportunity to socialise is a bonus. I've loved meeting all the girls on my team, who range in age from early 20s to early 50s, and we've shared a couple of beers at the pub already.

So, if you're looking for a way to meet people, get fit and have fun, as well as a great excuse to hand the baby over to your partner each Sunday, I can throughly recommend signing up for your local soccer team, or even starting one with your mother's group.

FYI - We won 6-1 yesterday, and are currently on top of the ladder. The fact that we are in the lowest division somewhat mars this story, but I'm still proud!

Z xx