Derval O'Rourke: Five tips if you're trying a new sport as an adult

Plus my recipe for pea and mint soup

Learning a sport as an adult is really empowering

In the past few years I’ve started to think about sport in a different way. I’ve begun to look at it from a skill development and social perspective. This has been largely impacted by watching my two children take up sports and how it has positively impacted their young lives.

This week I will chat about taking up new sports as you get older and tips on how to approach it. For my recipe, I am sharing one of my favourite soups, pea and mint.

Most of us have memories of sport when we were younger. Whether those memories are good or bad can often dictate how we approach sport as adults or how we view sport as part (or perhaps not) of our worlds.

Learning a sport as an adult is really empowering. No matter what your relationship with sport was as a child I firmly believe there is a sport out there for everyone. Research has shown that regular physical activity can improve cognitive function in older adults, including memory, attention, and executive function. Sport is a brilliant tool for the other parts of your life.

I have noticed how easy it is for my children to try a new sport but yet how hard it is for my adult friends to consider taking up a new sport. As much as most of us do not like to admit it, the idea of trying something new and not being very good or others watching us can feel quite intimidating.

Here are five points that may help you take that leap to a new sport.

1. Bring a friend

This might sound silly and I’m really aware that it isn’t possible for everyone but if you can bring a friend along, it is so much easier to take that first step into something new.

2. Embrace learning

No one expects you to be good at something new so why do you expect yourself to be good? Sometimes our biggest critic is the voice in our head telling us that
we are doing a bad job. Try to challenge that voice by embracing the positive experience of learning something new.

3. Find the right environment for you

Different environments suit people differently and that can have a big impact on how you enjoy a new sport. Most sports have beginner sessions and these will give you a really good feel for the environment.

4. Give it time

Anything that you try that is new to you or you haven’t done in a long time will take time. You need to give it a period of time, say six months. You also need to give it time in your day.

If something is on for one hour, pencil in two hours in your diary: 30 minutes to get there and relax; then 30 minutes to enjoy how it went.

5. Identify your barrier to entry

People often don’t start new sports because the costs seem prohibitive. If this is your barrier to entry then chat with the club and see what their support is for
beginners. Can you borrow equipment, for example?

If you are reading this and have been thinking of different ways to move your body that seem interesting to you, then I hope you will take this as your sign to get
going. There are so many different clubs and sports out
there that would enhance your life by becoming a part of them.Taking that first step is often the toughest.

Pea & Mint Soup

This is one of my favourite soups.

Servings

5

Preparation Time

 5 mins

Cooking Time

 20 mins

Total Time

 25 mins

Course

 Starter

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• A handful of mint leaves, chopped

• 800g frozen peas

• 700ml vegetable stock, simmering

Method

1. Heat the butter in a large pan over a low heat. Add the onion and mint and cook for about five minutes. Stir in the peas and stock and bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until the peas are cooked through.

2. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for a few minutes.

3. Use a hand blender to blitz the soup. Ladle the soup into warmed soup bowls.