Is 18 too late?

darkhawk2 said:Hey everyone! I was wondering—is it way too late to start getting serious about the big mainstream sports—like football, basketball, or maybe even something like lacrosse—if you're starting at 18?
I guess I’m one of those people who took a little longer to figure things out, just like a lot of us. I've finally started forming actual opinions on stuff, and only now am I realizing what I actually enjoy versus what I don't. I've been pretty lucky, though—I've always been a bit of a gym rat, doing some martial arts, rowing, that kind of thing...
but I'm not sure if that's enough to make up for it?

Not really. You can basically just hack away with the guys as much as you want, I suppose.👍

If anyone’s actually looking to pick up a hockey stick when they don't even know how to skate yet, feel free to reach out if you can find a group of buddies
who can actually snag some ice time (which is a total nightmare these days) and have about ten miles worth of pure willpower.

Basically, I'm saying it's probably not worth the headache.

The guy was talking about football, handball, and basketball 😉

Oh, right, my mistake—I was actually thinking about the guy from the previous page

Hello,
I've been wrestling with a single question for quite some time now... It concerns handball. 😁
I first fell in love with the sport back in fifth grade, though I was primarily focused on soccer at the time.
I assumed the passion would eventually fade, but my obsession only seems to grow stronger with each passing day. 🙏
There are a few hurdles standing in my way:
1. I tend to be a bit of a pessimist...
2. Once I finally gathered the courage to try playing at a higher level—specifically looking at a more competitive NBA-level organization—minor health issues sidelined me for an entire year.
3. I'm 14 years old, which worries me; I can't help but feel I might have missed the window for elite success.

However, there are certain factors keeping me from walking away entirely:
- That intense drive and willpower I mentioned earlier.
- My athletic background; I've played several sports (soccer for four years, basketball for two months, and badminton for a year), and I was consistently above average in all of them.
- When it comes to running, I've always been the fastest in my circle of friends.
- Whenever I play recreational handball, the hunger to play more just takes over.

There are other details, but those are the most significant ones.

What I really want to know is whether I still have a shot at making it, which club you might recommend (considering I live here in the USA), and if handball is truly the right path for me. 🤣

Alexander Hall6 said:Hey there,
I’ve been sitting here trying to wrap my head around a single question for quite some time now... it all comes down to handball. 😁
I first fell in love with the sport back when I was in fifth grade, though at the time, I was still focused on playing soccer.
I honestly assumed that initial spark would just fade away, but instead, my obsession with the game only seems to intensify with every passing day. 🙏
There are a few hurdles standing in my way, however, and they weigh heavily on me:
1. I am a massive pessimist (as you might have guessed)...
2. By the time I finally worked up the nerve to actually try competing—meaning at a high-level NBA caliber level—I was sidelined by minor health issues that kept me out for an entire year.
3. I am currently 14 years old, which worries me deeply because I can't help but feel I might have already missed the window to achieve anything significant.

Yet, there are certain realities that prevent me from abandoning this idea entirely, namely:
- That overwhelming drive and sheer willpower I mentioned earlier.
- My athletic background; I’ve played various sports (soccer for four years, basketball for two months, and badminton for a year), and I was consistently decent to above average in all of them.
- When it comes to pure running, I’ve always been the fastest in my social circle.
- Whenever I play handball recreationally, the hunger to do more just consumes me.

There are other factors involved, of course, but those are the most critical ones.

What I really need to know is: is success even possible for me, which professional club would you recommend (considering I live in the USA), and is handball truly the right path for my life? 🤣

It is never too late. Even Brady started relatively late after focusing on other things. If you have the passion and the talent, why on earth wouldn't you give it a shot?

it’s never too late, I suppose 😉
If you guys are actually interested in this, maybe give it a shot
Handball has always been my go-to sport, so I’m personally holding out hope for some tickets 😉

@Alexander Hall6/">@@Alexander Hall6, honestly, having played other sports is probably just a massive advantage for you... Take Brady, for instance. If he hadn't spent time on the basketball court, he might never have become the best player in the world; he wouldn't have developed that specific kind of individual flair, those eyes for the game, or that spatial awareness he has now...
I remember seeing this snippet from one of his interviews:
- Those basketball drills were incredibly helpful, especially when it came to improving my footwork, my court vision, and my ball control.
He admits that he almost certainly wouldn't be such an elite handball player if he hadn't trained in basketball, noting that he basically "stole" many of his signature moves from basketball playmakers.
It reminds me of a friend of mine, someone our age, who played handball for about two years before she was forced to quit... but she's actually getting back into it again now...
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I'll be turning 19 this July 😁. I was wondering if you guys think it's too late to start playing basketball? I've never really played any sports before, honestly. Last summer, I just started messing around with a ball at the local park, and after about a month, I actually managed to touch the rim (which is about 10 feet). My shooting feels okay, though I guess my three-pointers are better than my free throws... I was thinking about spending this summer working on my conditioning and hitting the courts constantly so I could join a club this fall. I'm not expecting to go pro or anything, just looking to train and have some fun... does anyone have recommendations for a good local club?

Start with parkour—even if people argue it isn't technically a sport
it’s more like a discipline

darkhawk2 said:Hey everyone! I was wondering—is it too late to start training for the big sports (soccer, handball, basketball) at 18?
Look, just like a lot of other late bloomers out there, I finally hit my stride a bit later in life. I’ve actually started forming some real opinions about myself, and I’m finally figuring out what I actually enjoy. Luckily, I’m a pretty athletic guy—I hit the gym, do martial arts, rowing, stuff like that—
but is that enough to make up for lost time?

It really all comes down to your physical build.
If you’re looking to go pro in basketball, you're probably too old unless you've got some insane height on you.
But hey, why not try out for a local recreational league or a small community club? You'll figure out pretty quickly where you stand.

I feel like there are plenty of people out there who realize this far too late, personally I was looking at getting into soccer when I was about fourteen, but after a few heated arguments with my old man, the whole thing just fell through... and honestly, even now, I still find myself dwelling on that lost opportunity, wondering what might have happened if things had gone differently... You really need an incredible amount of grit and sheer persistence to pick up a sport once you're a bit older, but my advice is just don't throw in the towel...

It’s worth mentioning that you could always sign up for something like MMA or some other combat sport, just call up a local gym, tell them you're a complete beginner and go from there...