Abandon Nest

Whenever I go the gym, I pay special attention to make sure I am following the simple rules of gym etiquette. You may not realize it, but these rules do exist just as they would in any other group situation. There are, however, a few things that you absolutely should do in the gym to make sure you fit in. The three essential rules of gym etiquette are:

• Don’t Stare – I cannot count the number of times I see people stare at others in the gym. Honestly, it amazes me as it is such a faux pas in modern society. There are a variety of reasons people stare. Whether you’re gawking because they bodybuilder is so muscle bound, the woman is so attractive in spandex, the middle age guy needs to lose his beer belly, or something completely different, just know that you shouldn’t do it. It’s rude and inconsiderate and if you get caught people will think you’re creepy.

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Have you ever been involved in a company sports event? A company softball team maybe? Today I had the pleasure of playing touch football with 8 other co-ops at my company. In addition to being really great for the body, I realized this activity is excellent for networking. Here’s three reasons why:

• Sports require teamwork – Most sports involve some sort of teamwork. You have to work together with others to accomplish your goal (which should always be winning). You’ll find yourself relying on people you barely know to come together and take a stab at defeating an opponent.
• Sports require knowing people’s names – Unless you’re content referring to people by shirt color, you’ll have to learn some names when playing a team sport. Whether it’s calling for the bounce pass or flagging that you’re open down the field, you’ll need to get someone’s attention. Yelling their name usually works.
• Sports provoke competition – Competition, good-hearted as it should be, will always be something that bonds people together for a common goal. No one ever wants to lose. Ever. Realizing this, you should realize just how strong the bonds can become with your teammates.

What do you think about company sports teams?

So I just got back from my first two ultimate frisbee games of the season and let me tell you, they were a blast. I was hesitant about joining a team with no coach and a serious lack of people I knew, but I think I made the right decision.

The people I met were great and they enjoy having fun playing sports, just like I do. No one on the field tonight was a pro athlete or anything like that. It was just a bunch of guys and girls enjoying themselves. Now, joining a rec league isn’t for everyone, but I think most people can benefit, at least in some way. What are some of the signs that you should join a sports team?

• You’re in your apartment way too much
• Your skin is the color of printer paper
• Your once firm body has degraded to something decidedly softer
• You played high school sports and are remembered as “the competitive one”
• You want to meet new people that are physically fit like you are
• You want to lose weight (frisbee would be great for this task, by the way)
• You find joy in competing with others
• Networking… always networking

Obviously these are just some of the many reasons to join a recreational sports team. So what are you going to do? There are plenty of leagues for things like softball, flag football, and frisbee for adults. Now, get out there and start kicking some butt!

Technorati Tags: Exercise, Frisbee, Ultimate