The World Cup You Might Not Have Heard Of
While most hockey headlines are still cooling down from the summer's junior tournaments, something rather brilliant is happening across Belgium and the Netherlands. The 2026 Masters Hockey World Cup kicked off this week in Brasschaat, with squads from Great Britain and England lining up against the USA, Canada, Kenya, and a host of other nations — across age bands starting at O-35 and running all the way up to O-70 and beyond.
Read that again. O-70+. There are people out there right now, pulling on GB kit, sprinting (well, striding purposefully) down the wing, and playing genuine international hockey in their seventies.
We've spent a lot of time on this blog talking about junior hockey, school sport, and getting kids into the game. And rightly so — but it's left a gap. Because if players in their late sixties and beyond can represent their country at a World Cup, then the "I'm too old to go back to hockey" excuse doesn't really hold up, does it? This one's for the grown-ups: the ex-school players, the university team veterans, the parents who've spent years on the sideline wondering if they've still got it in them. Short answer: probably, yes.
Sport Doesn't Have a Retirement Age
Masters hockey (sometimes called veterans hockey) has been quietly booming for years, and events like this World Cup are a brilliant reminder of what's out there. Most counties and regional leagues run O-35, O-45, O-55 and O-65 sections, and plenty of clubs have a thriving masters or veterans team that trains once a week and plays regular friendlies or league fixtures — lower-key and more sociable than the Saturday first team, but with all the same enjoyment of a good pass, a well-timed tackle, and a cup of tea afterwards.
If you played at school or university and haven't picked up a stick in years, or you're an adult who's never played but fancies giving it a go, a masters hockey club is genuinely one of the friendliest entry points into the sport. Nobody's expecting you to sprint like you're 19. They're expecting you to turn up, have a laugh, get a bit of exercise, and maybe develop an unreasonably strong opinion about short-corner routines. It's a brilliant way to build fitness, meet people, and get that "part of a team" feeling back.
Our advice if you're even slightly tempted: get in touch with your nearest club and ask specifically about their masters or veterans section. Most clubs are actively recruiting — returning players and total beginners alike — and will happily let you try a few sessions before you commit to anything.
What Actually Changes About Your Kit As You Get Older
Here's the honest bit: the game doesn't change much, but your body's relationship with it does. The good news is that a few sensible adjustments to your kit can make an enormous difference to how you feel the next morning — and how likely you are to keep playing.
Footwear That Looks After Your Joints
If there's one piece of kit worth upgrading before you go back, it's your trainers. Adult hockey gear has come a long way, and joint support starts from the ground up. Astroturf is unforgiving on ankles, knees and hips, so look for trainers with good cushioning and grip designed specifically for turf pitches rather than an old pair of trail runners or plain trainers from the back of the wardrobe. The Optimum Razor Lace-Up Astro Trainers (£29.99) are a solid, no-nonsense choice — proper astro studs for grip, a comfortable fit, and none of the eye-watering price tag you'll find on some of the flashier boots. Comfort and stability matter here more than style.
Lighter, Easier Protective Gear
Shin guards are non-negotiable at any age, but as an adult player you don't need the heavy, rigid armour built for juniors learning to tackle for the first time. What you want is something that protects without weighing you down or restricting circulation over a long session. The Optimum Fusion Hockey Shin Guards (from £10.99) strike a nice balance — solid protection with a lighter, more flexible build that's kinder to ageing shins and easier to get on and off (a genuinely underrated feature once you've spent a season wrestling with tight straps).
The same logic applies to gloves. If you fancy a bit more dexterity for stick skills without sacrificing protection, half-finger gloves are worth a look. The Optimum Fusion Half Finger Hockey Gloves (from £8.99) offer knuckle protection while keeping your fingers free to grip the stick properly — a small thing that makes a real difference to comfort and confidence in a tackle.
Warming Up, Layering Up, and Recovering Properly
Ask any masters player what's changed most since their twenties and most will say the same thing: the warm-up matters far more, and so does the warm-down. Give yourself longer to loosen up before training or a match, and don't skip a proper cool-down and stretch afterwards — your hamstrings and calves will thank you on Monday morning.
Layering is your friend too, especially for early-season fixtures or those bracing British autumn evenings. Thermal compression layers help keep muscles warm during the game and can feel more comfortable during recovery afterwards. Our Optimum Multi-X Lycra Shorts (Thermal Compression) (from £10.99) are a popular choice among returning and veteran players for exactly this reason — snug support under your usual kit, without adding bulk.
A couple of smaller but handy additions: a decent Optimum Sport Player Kit Bag (£18.99) makes carrying (and airing out) all this gear far more manageable than a supermarket bag-for-life, and a pair of proper knee-length socks like the Optimum Classico Sports Socks (from £6.99) go a long way towards keeping shin guards in place and legs comfortable through a full match.
Getting Back Into It: A Few Honest Tips
- Start with training, not a match. Get a few sessions of skills and light fitness under your belt before you commit to a full match.
- Talk to the club before you turn up. Most masters sections are welcoming to a fault and will tell you exactly what to expect.
- Don't compare yourself to 22-year-old you. Different game, different pace, still brilliant fun.
- Invest in the basics first — trainers, shin guards, and a mouthguard will do more for your first few sessions than anything else.
- Listen to your body, but don't let a bit of early-season stiffness put you off. It passes.
Your Move
Watching GB and England compete at the Masters Hockey World Cup this week is a genuinely brilliant reminder that hockey welcomes you back at any stage of life. Whether you're 35 and missing the buzz of matchday, or 65 and wondering if there's still a place for you on the pitch, there almost certainly is — and a proper masters hockey club nearby is the best place to find out.
Get your kit sorted, find your local club's veterans section, and give it a go. Browse Optimum's hockey collection to get set up for your return, and we'll see you on the astro.