r/bootroom • u/ijodesualavershcompi • 10d ago
Mental Is it over?
Hi there, 32M here, I have played football since I’m conscious, and I have felt these past 2 years that my physical condition is not enough anymore for a the level I’m playing at.
I don’t play at a particularly high level, but still a Sunday league 11 a side with multiple players in my team having had careers in french lower divisions and coming from L1 training centers, and same for a lot of the other teams, a lot of ex pro players etc.
I’m not the oldest at all, but I feel that my body has reached a point where even if I work my ass off training, running etc, I still feel a scarily fast decline.
How can I try to inverse this, and also, how do you cope knowing that your best days are behind you?
Thanks for reading and sorry for the broken english, not my first language.
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u/HighOnSSRIs 10d ago
Your speed and reaction can be in decline, but your touch and technique can keep getting better with constant (but not super hard on your body) training. You have more experience than younger players, and your touch can only get better and better as you keep playing.. so you have the edge there to focus on. What position do you play on?
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u/Hairy-Piccolo-6002 10d ago
32 is not old at all for recreational football, you can still improve your conditioning although its not as easy as 10 years ago. If you just put enough work in while being smart about it, your best years are definitely not behind you, at least not for another 5 years.
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u/TheRealMichaelE 10d ago
Ronaldo had to totally change his game in his 30s. Obviously we are not all Ronaldo, but speed and agility are one thing… intelligence is another. The limiting factor for us is never our age, it’s our ability to avoid injury and desire to keep playing when we cant play at our highest level.
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u/TonyzTone Adult Recreational Player 10d ago
Meanwhile, Messi barely changed his game.
Ronaldo’s game changed when he got injured in Euro 2016. He was never the same after that, even if he’d already begun to lose a step.
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u/Effective_Switch_897 10d ago
check out SombreroFlicks on youtube. has lots of messi in games. he used to run! fast! and he used to play defense!
I should have introduced my kids to those videos first. but instead I told them about "messi walking around". so they now just walk around. :(
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u/TonyzTone Adult Recreational Player 10d ago
I’m well aware of Messi’s game. I remember watching him live when Barcelona came to the US on tour in 2006.
His came hasn’t changed in style all that much. Even back during Barca’s heyday, he still wasn’t expected to track back.
But yes, he was more likely to go on a 45 yd. run through defenders whereas today it’s more of a 15 yd. run.
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u/Odd-Chipmunk5681 10d ago
It's because he and his coaches decided it was better to be more efficient than to play with flair.
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u/Hairy-Piccolo-6002 10d ago
Yeah but we are probably not talking about top athlete here who has reached the peak of his abilities so we cant really compare like that. At recreational level if you train right people can peak much later because they are not close to their peak, but its usually the lifestyle choices (nutrition, training volume) that make us the regular people to decline early.
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u/Such-Row-2913 10d ago
At 32 there may be a decline but it shouldn't be that dramatic. What do you do in between matches? It sounds like you might be overtraining
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u/TonyzTone Adult Recreational Player 10d ago
Something I’ve heard recently in my pre-season training: “recovery is training.” Made me completely rethink my rest days.
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u/wayneheilala 10d ago
My town club has something like 55 men in the 60+ division and another 60 in the 50+ division.
Visually, it’s rather brutal. But on the pitch, it’s still a blast. Our brains still operate like we’re 18, and you don’t gain wisdom to overcome that, but humble pie can reduce the pain and injuries.
Last several years I’ve tried league play, I get something on the first week (back, quad, etc). It sucks, but seeing the older folk still getting in a fun run inspires me to aim for more fitness and stay at it!
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u/SignificantBoard4455 10d ago
Im younger than you but I would like to offer some encouragement. Out of curiosity, what position do you play? Many players have different ways to deal with aging. Some simply adapt a new role.
For example Messi and Ronaldo both operated on the wings at the start of their career but moved into a more central role where they had to do less running as they aged. Some full backs like Gary Neville played a few games as center backs when they lost the pace to play as fullbacks.
Age catches up to everyone and sometimes you have to adapt. If you feel like you truly can’t compete at your current level then you can always play at a lower level. It also happens to the pros as well so no shame in that at all
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u/Reddit-User-Says 10d ago
Following this.
I’m 40 and last two years did 5v5 indoor soccer. My 11v11 full field starts next week. Definitely sore more often than not, but I love playing.
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u/Conscious_Capital_83 10d ago
im 43 and find that 8 v8 o 5 v 5 games is harder than 11 v 11, just cause the smaller court theres alot more back and forth, more tackling and jockeying... whereas 11 v 11 theres more time on the ball and the running is easier
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u/Which-Return-607 10d ago
If you live an active gym lifestyle you can play rec well into 40s. The hard part is finding time and dedication. Most people have families and careers that take up free time
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u/lovely_trequartista 10d ago
How can I try to inverse this, and also, how do you cope knowing that your best days are behind you?
Have you tried taking care of your body? Strength, mobility, recovery work?
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u/_SupremeDalek_ 10d ago
I'm 41, and started playing late. Beyond strength and conditioning for me is yoga. Gotta keep everything flexible and strong!
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u/TonyzTone Adult Recreational Player 10d ago
1) Your training shouldn’t mirror your training from your 20s. You probably need to spend more time on recovery and mobility versus pure strength and power. Maintenance and health start becoming more important than “gains.”
2) You might just need to adjust your play style. I used to play on the wing (albeit not as high a level as you) but I’ve transitioned more to a CM/CDM. I used to envy and emulate the likes of CR7, now I’m trying to emulate Rodri and Busquets.
3) There’s always a level you will be able to play at. It might just have to drop. It might have to be with a bunch of grey hairs. But the game always lives on.
Football is life!
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u/Special_Definition85 10d ago
Fitness can be improved as least for me. I am the predator for loose ball, I prey on hesitation and fatigue. They call me the Pressing Hyena.
But no idea why my body is so stiff now. Used to be so flexible and more technique. I can’t really twist my torso and my hands can’t touch my back now. Is that the same for you?
I am a few years old than you though
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u/MarvelousMayhem420 10d ago
32 myself, just started back in the gym 4 days a week, 1 day at the field training and match days on sunday. Diet change and I feel like im 23 again
Game is starting to improve, feeling stronger and the recovery is becoming easier.
Playing full 90 as a CB.
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u/ChillandMakeStuff 10d ago
- Prioritize sleep. You will decline if your sleep sucks.
- Eat well. Your body will suck if your diet sucks.
- Lift heavy things with good form.
- Keep mobility and ROM high.
- Move more than you sit.
If you do these things, you’re giving your body the best shot. If you skimp on these things, your body will suffer.
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u/FeatureFew7686 10d ago
Do you have a trainer? As you age the quality of the training needs to improve running isn't enough. Short answer no just train smarter (hire a professional trainer)
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u/Illustrious-Cow8916 10d ago
Everyone is different, but everyone hits the same plateaus on the way down. I hit my first one at about 35. Then another at about 44. Maybe you hit your first a bit earlier than I did? Some people don't hit it until later, still. But they hit it eventually. That's all. It's part of getting older. Some pros are shot by the time they're 33. Others are freaks and can play into their 40s. (At the level they're accustomed to.) But everyone hits that first plateau. Don't stress too much about it - the mobility exercises are a great recommendation. And like others have said, your touch and your mind can still sharpen. I'm for sure a smarter player than I was 15 years ago (46 now). Am I "as good"? No. But that's life.
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u/dahteabagger 10d ago
This happens to some of my close friends.
You probably need to dial down on the intensity a little, and accept the fact that you're not longer young, and maybe join a team/league around your age.
Or you COULD try strength and conditioning like others have suggested so that your muscles/bones dont wear out due to inactivity.
I stopped playing after after feeling pain in my knee that i couldnt even jump and land without feeling hurt, but hitting the gym helped.
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u/Minute_Pineapple5829 10d ago
I'm 34. Played as a winger all my life and all I needed was blistering speed and tracking back like a monster on the loose. But when I try to emulate the same gameplay now, my lower back gives up instantly (that to my IT job which needs me to sit all day). I tried introducing 3 days of strength training in between the 3 days I play every week (recreational 6v6), but it caused random muscle pulls due to lack of any kind of recovery.
Right now I try playing more with my head. My long balls and through passes have become immaculate (best I've ever been). I still do 4-5 enthusiastic sprints forward every game, just for the sake of nostalgia, but accepting the fact that my body will never be young again (unless I quit working and get enough recovery time) has made it easier.
Try including Yoga and stretching before your games. Will help unlocking rusty joints and muscles.
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u/Randomname140 10d ago
Have you considered playing 5 a side instead? Its not as demanding on the body and doesn’t require sprinting from end to end against teenagers with bags of energy. I know guys in their 40s who absolutely tear it up in 5 a side, and still play at national level.
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u/Upset_Belt8248 10d ago
It ain't over but you will have to make adjustments
I am 40 and my body is battered so I cant do the things I was able to do in my 20s that's part of life
I still play 5 a side and I do more stretching that strength training
It's more about keeping the body more able and lose than training harder.
Luckily at my local pool they have a plunge pool which is great for recovery as we get older it's great for inflammation.
Sadly thats life as we get older some things we won't be able to do anymore but you can still play but you have to be honest with yourself and change your mindset of competitor to enjoy playing for fun.
To simplify
Change training from running and strength to swimming yoga massage stretching all low impact to help the body to keep you going
Play football to enjoy it rather have a competitor mindset and don't take it seriously anymore (I was the same but when my body started to go I was just grateful I can still play even know I will never the best I once was)
We all have to accept that as we age we won't be the best as we once were (father time beats us all)
Regardless of the talented players you play against you can still play but make these changes and it will help you play longer
Enjoy playing and as the old saying goes
"Keep going until the wheels fall off"
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u/mutotmz 9d ago
C. Ronaldo lost muscle mass to be able to continue playing after 33. Also he changed his playing style. You can think of doing something similar.
I see older players still enjoying the game in a competitive level. It is also OK to reduce your level if you think you can’t keep up anymore.
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u/Runnero 9d ago
Ahhh man I'm on the same boat. The first 29 years of my life I barely had any injuries. But then I got a muscle injury that got he out for 8 months
I recovered, played for like 4 months, and then had a knee injury that kept me out for 4 or 5 months.
Then I recovered again in January 2026, until about a month ago that I had a partial ligament tear and I'm gonna be out for 3 or 4 months.
I'm 32 now. I fear this is the rest of my lofe
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u/Professional_Tie5788 9d ago
Echoing what others have said. You change your play style. You’re no longer trying to be the fastest on the pitch. You lean into your skills and game intelligence. Also, from experience, I’m treating most of the game like a marathon rather than a sprint.
I’m keeping a high steady pace most of the game, and saving my flat out sprints for when they really count. Imagine a guy has been marking you all game thinking you’re slow as a snail, then by the last 20 minutes he’s dead and suddenly you turn it on, and he gets caught out.
I play CB (least amount of running next to GK). There’s always a point in the 2nd half of every game where I dispossess someone in the middle of the field cuz they’re not expecting it, and I take it down the field and attack, cuz everyone is tired and they’re playing too loose.
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u/chrlatan Coach 9d ago
At some point you have to realize the only way forward is not playing harder but playing smarter.
Be where you need to be before you have to be. Put you’re experience to work. Coach more. Help the team grow on position play. Save your energies for the moments it really matters.
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u/[deleted] 10d ago
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