I played in a soccer tournament this weekend. We played in the Women's over 30 division, although most of our team is over 40. There were women on one of the other teams in their 60s. I kid you not. It was astounding to see these women in their 50s and 60s tearing up the soccer field as they were, playing with speed, agility, and aggressiveness against women that were 20-30 years younger than they were.

So here are some images from our two games on Saturday, 6/21. They may not be the most dynamic in action but I give kudos to these women who are STILL out there playing their hearts out for the love of the game.

I was one of those playing and shooting while I was on the sidelines. The team manager kept yelling at me to put down that camera and get my butt back on the field. So I did. So I don't have as many shots to choose from as I would like but I can't play and shoot at the same time and I HAVE to play! And since I had to stay right by the centerline to wait for my substitution I couldn't really choose my shooting direction, thus some are shot into the sun.

Oh, and shooting a game played on artificial turf at midday is like shooting over a gazillion tiny mirrors. That stuff is highly reflective.

[barbosas]

That 1st shot look pretty nice, with both foots on the air... lefts everything in suspense.


Thanks for sharing

[mel]

That 1st shot look pretty nice, with both foots on the air... lefts everything in suspense.


Thanks for sharing

That one was by far the best shot of the day. Thanks!

[JCSullivan]

Mel, they're all great shots, especially given the situation - you're one heck of a multi-tasker.

Must have been funny, on-off-on the pitch to shoot a couple of shots. What patience a coach must have with these grown-up kids!

[cupic]

they are the weekend warriors


Nice to see the girls having fun

cheers

[robert]

Nice shots..what lens did you use? Bob

[daacon]

Very good shots in harsh condidtions. That first one is a wall hanger. Kudo's to you and all the girls that are still playing

[mel]

Mel, they're all great shots, especially given the situation - you're one heck of a multi-tasker.

Must have been funny, on-off-on the pitch to shoot a couple of shots. What patience a coach must have with these grown-up kids!

Thanks and thank goodness for the SR feature. During one off-field period I was so exhausted from a hard defensive sprint from midfield to catch up with an attacker that got past our defenders, my hands were shaking as I was trying to shoot (because of course as soon as I stepped off the field I went straight for the camera, bypassing the water).

The manager growled at me and said I thought you wanted to come off because you were tired! Now put the camera down and get back out there!

they are the weekend warriors


Nice to see the girls having fun

cheers

Warriors or crazy people. Probably crazy people. And we girls DO have our fun!

Nice shots..what lens did you use? Bob

Thanks. Nothing special on the lens. It's a Quantaray 1:4-5.6 70-300 zoom that's about 7-8 years old and originally purchased for a film camera. It seems to do the job okay though. I think I'll hang on to it for a while.

[mel]

Very good shots in harsh condidtions. That first one is a wall hanger. Kudo's to you and all the girls that are still playing

Thanks! She's pretty happy with it. She and her husband didn't start playing until they were both in their 30s so she has nothing from when she was a kid.

Of course I've been playing since I was 10 and I'm, well, a lot older than that now. And I have no pictures of me playing either.

[robert]

[QUOTE=mel;275816]Thanks and thank goodness for the SR feature. During one off-field period I was so exhausted from a hard defensive sprint from midfield to catch up with an attacker that got past our defenders, my hands were shaking as I was trying to shoot (because of course as soon as I stepped off the field I went straight for the camera, bypassing the water).


Its not quite the same as when we were in our 20s or 30s huh? Bob

[mel]

Its not quite the same as when we were in our 20s or 30s huh? Bob

NO KIDDING!! Sheesh when I played in college I could race up and down the field all day long but now, I'm good for two long hard sprints upfield and I have to come out. And I play regularly so I'm not in too bad of shape for an old bat.