Exeter Township School District

This summer, there was a role reversal of sorts as Shaffer’s two boys met up in Alabama to cheer on their dad’s three-on-three team at the National Senior Games.

Shaffer’s Atlanta Spartans didn’t take home a gold medal, (nor silver or bronze), with a 1-6 tournament record. But playing competitively in a division for 65- to 69-year-olds keeps Shaffer motivated; the participation certificate is just a bonus that now hangs beside his favorite sports memorabilia.

A lifelong player of basketball and lover of sports, Shaffer, 68, has now competed in two National Senior Games and aims to get back for a third in 2019, keeping in shape by training at his Oley Township barn and playing in local pickup games.

The 2017 games, held June 2-15 in Birmingham, were open to athletes age 50 and older in 19 sports. More than 10,500 athletes participated in 800-plus events, making it the largest multi-event sporting event for seniors in the U.S.

Pennsylvania sent 248 athletes to this year’s competition, with 153 medaling.

Mike and his wife, Lori, watched a few other events while there, finding inspiration in a 101-year-woman who competed in the 100-yard dash and intense play on the pickleball courts.

Shaffer first picked up a basketball at 4 or 5, and the sport has always remained a part of his life. Basketball was something he could play informally by himself, while in the Navy, attending community college or on pretty much any blacktop he could find during his truck-driving career.

Before playing in the Senior Games with a Mechanicsburgbased team in 2015, the highlight of his basketball career was an intramural stint at the University of Kentucky. Given the Wildcats’ status in the upper echelon of NCAA basketball, Shaffer likened it to playing varsity at most other schools.

While raising a family in California, he coached his sons’ teams and traveled to tournaments around the country.

But when he wanted to hit the court as a player again, options were scarce.

“It was really hard to find old people’s games,” he joked.

Once he moved back to Pennsylvania, however, Shaffer starting joining pickup leagues around the region. Until about 10 years ago, he played with similar-aged opponents at the Jewish Community Center. After that closed, he played a few games at Wilson High School before finding a weekly group at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Amity Township.

Once a week, he heads to the church’s fellowship hall to play in a 16-and-over group; the two other players closest to his age are 53.

But that doesn’t mean the young guys take it easy on Shaffer. At Amityville court, they call him “Kobe,” gentle ribbing in honor of the 38-yearold retired Los Angeles Laker. And younger teammates and opponents force him to play hard: He’s been taken out in midair and busted his head open, much to Lori’s chagrin.

“Most of the time when I fall, though, there’s about four hands offering to help me up,” Shaffer said.

All of that physical play was good preparation for the Senior Games, where Shaffer came away with a black eye and sore ribs from two separate elbowing incidents.

The half-court games were fiercely competitive, and most other teams knew each other well. As a member of an outof-state team, Shaffer had no real chance to practice plays or talk strategy.

The night before their first game in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, he finally met his teammates and shot around on an open court. But the guys never came up with an answer for teams with much taller players. Height, says Shaffer, becomes an additional advantage as mobility decreases with age.

As an observer, Lori Shaffer was more frank.

“If you can shoot, you can win,” she said.

Despite the loss, Shaffer has no plans to let up on his hoop dreams. He’s back to training with regular sessions of cardio and plyometric-style workouts inside his non-air-conditioned barn and shooting drills at the 10-foot hoop attached by twoby-fours to the outside.

“I guess I’ve always stayed with it because it’s the kind of sport you can do yourself,” Shaffer said.

Not to say he doesn’t rope his friends into a friendly game now and then.

Lori Shaffer said her husband has been known to start a game when he’s supposed to be grilling for guests.

To qualify for the next games, Shaffer will have to qualify through the 2018 state games. He’s played in both the Keystone and Delaware games before, and will look for a local team if there are enough players in his age range.

“It’s just fun, and very competitive at the same time,” he said. “Some guys, we’re still intense for old people.”