Topic: How do you walk away from game?? (Read 3965 times)

SOULMAN1012 · « **on:** June 09, 2019, 07:11:15 PM »

So I�m now 37 this coming weekend, I have had 25 years of continued league cricket but I have just I�ve over the winter had my 2nd child and the pressures of work and family are now getting to great in they minds of some. How do I walk away??

I currently play every other weekend baring the normal summer holidays so approx 10 league games per season and a handful of midweek T20 comp games. The problem is I love cricket more now than at any other point in my life and I have just had 2 fantastic seasons and I am after this one about 1 season away from 20,000 runs over that time. Despite all this I feel I will be lost without the game and also the time spent with mates etc without any of life�s pressures for that sat afternoon and I don�t know how to replace that. Only other sport I like and am any good at is golf which o don�t feel will come anywhere close to the feeling of a team sport.
I can of course always come back to the game in years to come but having played a decent level all my life I�m not sure how I would feel playing proper village Sunday cricket etc. No disrespect to anyone that does just not my way of playing sport at the moment.

So those that have walked away how did you do it and was it as bad or better than expected?? Secondly what do you do with all your kit lol

JB · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2019, 08:00:11 PM »

You can give your kit to me mate

FattusCattus · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2019, 08:31:47 PM »

@SOULMAN1012 - I�m not playing at the moment due to not being able to bowl.

It�s sh*t, I hate it. Who wants to emulsion the f***ing spare room when you should be playing?

Keep going as long as you can mate, the grass is NOT greener!

Dazz · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2019, 08:44:21 PM »

Chris, don�t give up mate just play when you can!!
I�m the same age as you and currently having the best season I�ve ever had!
You�re a long time retired mate if you have to miss a few games during the season then you miss a few.

AJ2014 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2019, 08:54:03 PM »

I think around this age I stopped cricket for kids and then started again around 10 years later, think that was right decision at the time, despite missing cricket a lot, choosing family vs cricket, family comes 1st

potzy248 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2019, 09:05:21 PM »

I'm just about to have my 3rd and I'm still going to play. Balance is the key and helping out with the kids as much as possible in the off season. I always get up early in the weekend to give my wife a sleep in. It all depends on how you balance things.
As long as the wife is happy and you see enough of your kids then it shouldn't be a problem.
Long time retired my friend.

smilley792 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2019, 09:06:57 PM »

I retired last season from Saturday cricket. Wasn�t happy with way sat cricket was being run and what seems to come first.

Decided to play midweek only.

The side I played for midweek stopped the 1st xi and the second xi become a team to bring youth through where I was told �you can play but you won�t be getting a bat or ball�

Just pms it is then...... oh wait the side i played for folded there team as �the management committee didn�t want Mickey Mouse cricket ruining there pitch�

Well that�s what I was told, only play lms there so not involved in committe things......

I�ll be honest my plan was to play lms and eventually switch to that teams Saturday side if I still enjoyed it...... well that plan failed.

So yeah into a full season go fully retired. And strangely enough I don�t miss it. Most my kit has been sold and it�s actually quite nice having a longer weekend.

Life moves on, more to life than Playing cricket....... and I�ll be honest, the longer weekends in the summer have actually made it feel like I�m working less.
Who�d have thought cricket after 20 odd years actually felt like a job in the end.

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2019, 09:23:21 PM »

Quote from: Dazz on June 09, 2019, 08:44:21 PM

Chris, don�t give up mate just play when you can!!
I�m the same age as you and currently having the best season I�ve ever had!
You�re a long time retired mate if you have to miss a few games during the season then you miss a few.

Yep that�s what I would ideally like, I just struggle with the thought of a whole month etc with no cricket or associated enjoyment.

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2019, 09:25:37 PM »

Quote from: FattusCattus on June 09, 2019, 08:31:47 PM

@SOULMAN1012 - I�m not playing at the moment due to not being able to bowl.

It�s sh*t, I hate it. Who wants to emulsion the f***ing spare room when you should be playing?

Keep going as long as you can mate, the grass is NOT greener!

That kind of (No Swearing Please) is my biggest worry Brucie, I certainly wouldn�t walk away without some kind of sport to enjoy.

InternalTraining · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2019, 09:39:47 PM »

I did that last season and came back (due to peer pressure) to help during playoffs and had a great time both on and off the field.

Lesson I learned is that the only way to deal with non-cricket related pressures is to really just deal with them first, head on. Until I did that, I was finding zero joy in cricket. I skipped a ton of games, took care of life, and then came back. Cricket shouldn't be the only outlet for entertainment. There are several things I can do on my weekends if/when I (operative word) choose not to play cricket.

Answer to question 1: I told my captain that I had other things on my mind which reduced my enjoyment for cricket and I was going away. There was a lot of resistance but I stuck to my decision. I maintained my fitness level off the game. I can't say I missed cricket when I was away because things I did were either highly entertaining or absolutely necessary for life. Either way, it was a very satisfying "detour" from cricket.

Answer to question 2: Nothing. I kept it. Luckily, I had to to put it to good use after I was done with other things.

Your spring/summer cricket schedule should have "off" weekends baked in to maintain a balanced life. That scheduling upfront changes everything, for the better.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2019, 10:06:57 PM »

1) you�ve got to enjoy every minute of the game
2) fit it in around your life, if that means missing games, playing different (shorter formats) or a lower level then do it

Sure, the theory of playing a lower level sounds crap but just learn to relax, just bat and dink it around etc. Don�t worry about others fielding badly etc.. just try and relax.

Many many Better players do this so never just assume someone is crap etc

potzy248 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 09, 2019, 10:18:34 PM »

Quote from: RPC/Blueroom Cricket - Adie on June 09, 2019, 10:06:57 PM

1) you�ve got to enjoy every minute of the game

No you don't.

JTtaylor145 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2019, 06:38:25 AM »

Morning @SOULMAN1012

Chris, I've only met you a couple of times but know that you are just as much of a cricket tragic/badger as the rest of us. You love your cricket and your cricket gear. It is what you dearly love and enjoy. Why would you give up anything that makes your truly happy?

I'm a few years older than you and have played at a good standard and also a very low standard. Cricket has given me absolutely everything, I could never give back to the game what it has given to me in terms of laughter, good times and togetherness on the pitch. One of my closest friends is about to have his second child (having walked away from the game after his first) and he deeply regrets the time he spent away from the game, time he can never get back.

You are still young enough to contribute to the game. You are also by all accounts a very fine player and as a fellow player in the Two Counties league I'd love to play against you and watch you bat sometime in the future.

Nothing you do will ever give you the same joy and happiness that cricket can give you. Even if you only play 5 games a year (that's still probably 300-400 runs!!!).

One life mate, leave the game when you are ready to do so. If they love you and understand who are you, those around you will understand.

JT

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #13 on:** June 10, 2019, 06:50:22 AM »

Chris reading your most it doesn't come over that you are ready to completely walk away yet maybe a gradual reduction and then reassess.

Buzz · « **Reply #14 on:** June 10, 2019, 07:34:14 AM »

Play as much as you can, drop down standards to play shorter games if you have too. Make sure the mrs has suitable childcare. Do your best to play as much as you are able.
I have three young kids, I play only about 10-12 games a year (mix of XL club, League and sunday games) just whatever can fit around childcare.

What that means is it is harder for the Saturday teams to pick me, I accept that and I have been honest with the captain and if he needs to pick a regular over me, so be it.

No need to be abrupt or defeatist and just walk away.

Author Topic: How do you walk away from game?? (Read 3965 times)

SOULMAN1012

How do you walk away from game??

JB

Re: How do you walk away from game??

FattusCattus

Re: How do you walk away from game??

Dazz

Re: How do you walk away from game??

AJ2014

Re: How do you walk away from game??

potzy248

Re: How do you walk away from game??

smilley792

Re: How do you walk away from game??

SOULMAN1012

Re: How do you walk away from game??

SOULMAN1012

Re: How do you walk away from game??

InternalTraining

Re: How do you walk away from game??

ProCricketer1982

Re: How do you walk away from game??

potzy248

Re: How do you walk away from game??

JTtaylor145

Re: How do you walk away from game??

Seniorplayer

Re: How do you walk away from game??

Buzz

Re: How do you walk away from game??