Originally Posted by
PeteHski
Soccer is not really a lifelong sport for most people. All the kicking action can cause a lot of knee problems as you get older. Not to mention brain damage from heading the ball! You don't see many guys playing soccer on a regular basis beyond their 40s and 50s. Certainly not compared to the number of cyclists and golfers in that age group and beyond. Soccer is very much a young man's game. Where I grew up (Manchester) soccer is by far and away the most popular sport for boys growing up. But older guys don't often play. I'm sure there are a few exceptions, but that's all they are. Most of the more active older guys are swinging golf clubs or riding their bikes!
Ok, so one of my examples is good for 2 decades past 'school years' based on your estimate. There are tons of men's leagues where I grew up, and many are specifically 40+.
But either way, the point was that there are a lot of 'school years' sports that people can continue to participate well after their school years are over.
Again- running, swimming, tennis, volleyball, golf, cycling, basketball, softball- all these can be played for a long time past school years. How many decades they can be enjoyed is obviously dependent on how each of us ages.