Is it too late to start doing a sport at 16-17-18?

[LoveSweets212]

Someone i know wants to start doing a sport at that age, and thinks is old.

[WhiteSteve]

I started playing hockey just before the pandemic started, a couple weeks shy of 41. It’s really like learning two sports: the skating, and then the actual game of hockey. I’ve probably had about six total months of legit training and I’m starting to become serviceable, and I’m “good” amongst my peers who are also novices, arguably the best player in my instructional class who’s actually new to the sport without youth/high school experience. I’m on pace to start playing in a competitive league this coming April, I’ll be 43 then. So 16-18 is absolutely NOT too late. I played semipro football throughout my younger adult years, we had some guys who never played before and were still pretty decent players. I’ve even heard of the occasional NFL player with a story where they never played until their junior year of high school or something. It’s almost never too late to play for fun, I’m meeting guys who didn’t start playing hockey until their late 40s. I thought I was starting late, haha. So your friend should go for it👍

[MuddyMole]

If they're thinking in terms of becoming an elite athlete, then yes, most likely it is too late (of course, the likelihood of *anyone* becoming an elite athlete are always incredibly low, however young they start).

If they just want to have fun, get fit, compete in some kind of local league, and maybe even coach professionally, then that's definitely achievable.
I didn't learn to ski or kayak until my twenties, and I'm now highly qualified and guide both professionally.

[Little_Bumblebee]

Why would that be too late?

Maybe if they wanted to be an olympian they might have some difficulty depending on the sport and they born talent.
Though it's in general never too late to start doing something.

[cbloo]

If you're aiming to go pro, then maybe. But in terms of doing it recreationally, it's never too late!

[normalice]

No. Indeed that's kind of the prime age range for it. May need to take it a bit more seriously than those who developed the muscle memory earlier, but not by much.

[HighValue]

They should do it now because after they finish school it will be nearly impossible to get enough people together to play most sports anymore.

[lycanthrope3]

Not to late, but might be behind those that started earlier

[Vigors]

Never, that's why beer leagues exist

[LoveSweets212]

Beer league?

[Vigors]

Yeah, it's like leagues for older people

[Wise4myage]

Heck no, that's the perfect time.

[Anonymous]

Nope, but you might have to put in more work.

[Nachowedgie]

Nah it's never too old

[Alexandrubaschet08]

depand for what?

[Iron_Man]

No you’re good

[okeydoke]

Not at all.

[anylolone]

Nope.