I used to play touch rugby at a relatively competitive level back in New Zealand (if training 4-5 times per week is a proxy for competitiveness!). It’s a simplified, non-contact version of rugby that gets progressively faster and more strategic as you level up.
I recently found a group at work that competes in a corporate league, and I went along for my first game this week. I was surprised at few things.
Firstly, the muscle memory came back so quickly. I’m sure I looked uncoordinated after more than decade of not playing, but I definitely felt my brain click into gear much faster than I anticipated.
Secondly, I realised I was completely unprepared for the speed—touch rugby is based on sprinting and quick movements. This is in stark contrast to almost all of my exercise, which is typically strength training or steady-state cardio.
The juxtaposition of my brain knowing what to do, but my body being a few steps behind, felt odd! But it helped me realise the value of “functional” training that’s outside of our typical routine.
I don’t have hard data or evidence, but it feels logical that frequently stressing the body in new ways is important for longevity.