About 20-25 years ago, I played a lot of football, baseball, kickball, basketball and catch in the backyard with friends, neighbors and whoever happened to be around those days. But the only organized sports instruction I ever got was 9 weeks of t-ball when I was 6, my school system’s inadequate PE program, and a few weeks of flag football when I was 11 (until I hurt my back and quit the team).
So here I am, 32 years old, wondering if I’ll look like an idiot if I join some local YMCA, adult after-work sports team without even knowing basic grade-school level fundamentals of the particular sport. (The only sport whose rules I’m familiar with is baseball. Fundamental movements and/or drills? Nada.)
I run. I lift weights. but those are mostly solitary activities. I’m not trying to be competitive, just have fun, stay active and meet new people. But I also like to know what I’m doing whenever I join a group activity. Kids have lots of opportunities to get coaching in addition to just having fun. Am I over thinking this? Is there a way for an adult to learn the rudimentary aspects of a sport they never properly learned as a child?
Yes, you’re overthinking things. Just go to a park and shoot some hoops. Go to the driving range and hit some golf balls. Go to a batting cage. Watch the games on TV. Adult recreational sports are rarely coached anyway, people just get together and play. I played basketball for years and never once had a play drawn up.
As to how you find instruction, you literally google “[sport] adult lessons [mytown]”.
Yes, adult sports lessons are a thing. And the quality is usually 1,000 times better than what young kids have (which is more often than not a volunteer or low-level beginner themselves).
You could always watch a game or two of the group you are considering joining. Do they look like they are taking it way too seriously? Calling every single foul or just the basics? Do they look like beginners or semi-pros? Are they laughing or talking trash?
If there’s one near you, join an Ultimate Frisbee league. You’ll be surrounded by friendly people who won’t care how bad you are, and will be happy to teach you everything you need to know*.
(Assuming it’s anything like BUDA is in the Boston area. But Ultimate has a reputation for sportsmanship and acceptance of neophytes.)
You may find it easier, as an adult, to take up one of the more obscure sports that few people play as a child. Ultimate frisbee, per above, is good because it’s new. It’s assumed that anyone starting out will need instruction.
In my case I took up curling. Unless you’re in Canada, Minnesota, or North Dakota, almost nobody plays it as a child. Our club is organized around beginner orientation and instruction. It’s taken for granted that when you start out you won’t be any good.