Summertime Sports for Seniors
This article was written by Pamela Brown and published in the Redding Sentinel’s July 11, 2024 edition.
Play Ball!
It’s summer and now is the perfect time for all ages to get active with engaging outdoor sports. From pickleball, bocce and croquet to golf, hiking and tennis, recreational sports are providing active seniors with physical and mental health benefits. Spending time outdoors allows them to connect with others and improve their lives in many ways.
Harkrader. Balch chairs the Outdoor Sports Committee at Meadow Ridge.
Croquet: A Mind-Boosting Game
“A lot of people don’t know how important it is to get exercise in their life. You need to get out, walk and absorb the sun,” said Bill Balch, 89, an avid croquet player and Chairman of the Outdoor Sports Committee at Meadow Ridge. “Walking around the court for 90 minutes and using your mind is a positive health benefit. It’s delightful. During the pandemic, getting outside allowed us to get some exercise and have fun.”
Balch learned croquet in 2016. “It’s my favorite sport. At first you think of it as a backyard sport for children, but I saw how many people play croquet in the South in professional tournaments. I thought, ‘this must have something going for it,’ and I learned it does,” he said. Since then, he and 25 other croquet enthusiasts play a 12-wicket game twice a week.
Balch describes croquet as a mental health strengthener just like playing board games like checkers or chess. “It’s tactical. You have to think one or two strokes in the future and scope out what’s likely to happen to set your partner up for scoring.” It’s also a physical sport. “It’s not so much strength, but it’s not easy to strike a ball with a mallet and have it go fifteen feet and hit another ball smack dab in the middle. You have to put a lot of time and practice into how you aim your mallet to hit the ball to strike,” he explained.
The game is accessible to everyone, Balch noted, even seniors who use a cane or walker. “It’s not so rigorous that seniors are in danger of a fall. You can put the cane down and upend the mallet and use it as a cane,” he suggested, also emphasizing the social aspect of croquet. For Balch, it’s about enjoying the game and making others better players. “Some have gone past me and I consider that a win!” he laughed.
Embracing Outdoor Adventures for Health, Friendship, and Fun
Jody Lacey, 76, is an avid outdoorswoman who hikes and plays tennis, pickleball, croquet and golf. “I like to be active because it’s good for your health and mental well-being. It’s fun to be out with friends playing sports – it’s a nice social activity,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed sports all my life. I need to get some exercise every day, or I don’t feel right.”
A member of two women’s golf groups, Lacey plays 18 holes once a week and often nine with her husband. “I get a lot of pleasure when I hit a good shot. Because you’re playing against the course, when your score lowers, you enjoy your improvement,” said Lacey. “I enjoy the camaraderie and the physical benefits. Through sports is the way I’ve made friends.”
Lacey hikes every Friday with fellow residents of Meadow Ridge. “It’s been great. I like being out in nature, seeing wildflowers and wildlife and being near the water. We hike different trails around Redding and the surrounding towns, so I’m learning about the history and topography of the area,” she said.
Staying Sharp and Social with Bocce
For John Scott, 88, Captain of the Bocce Committee at Meadow Ridge, playing bocce for the past five years has kept him physically and mentally active. “It’s fun and a challenge. It gives me a chance to move and try different things. I meet new people when I’m assigned to a team, so that’s an advantage,” said Scott. “I like to get outside. When I see it’s a beautiful day, I’m out there in a flash. It’s a mental game – situations can change dramatically over the course of a game.”
A seven-point bocce game runs about 20 minutes. Scott likes that it’s sometimes physically challenging. “It’s not as vigorous as tennis or pickleball. It’s easy to roll the ball, but I think the most difficult thing is walking with your bag, bending over and picking up the balls at the end of each frame. It’s harder than rolling the ball.”
If you’re thinking of trying an outdoor activity, take advice from Scott. “Trying and learning new things and developing new connections in your brain is an important part of staving off mental problems. It feels good to be outside. Getting a regular pattern of playing a sport is a good thing.”