When little kids play sports they get “participation awards” to soothe their tender egos (and their parents). Not to be outdone, parents who compete get “skill level” and “age level” awards to, well, soothe their tender egos.
In racquet sports, running, swimming, and Senior Olympics, we have seniors, super seniors, masters, grand masters, golden, silver, over 40, over 50, over 60, over 75 — more divisions than Ford Motor Company has cars. Such is the nature of lifetime sports. In Atlanta this weekend, I found that I could probably play varsity college squash, albeit for the women’s team. And I can still beat most men, providing they are over 60 years old. The bad news is that I am cannon fodder for younger players.
