These Grannies are Off their Rockers and Making Moves on the Court

[Nebbe] This isn't your average game of pickup.

This is granny basketball.

Go Grayhawkers!

It's a national league with more than 800 players.

And it got its start in Iowa more than 25 years ago.

There's a lot to learn and love about this culture, and I had to see what it was all about for myself.

I don't think I've touched a basketball for at least five years, but I'm 51 now, so it's time to play with the grannies.

So I'm a guard over here, right?

I'm guarding you.

[Player] So you guarded in high school?

[Nebbe] Junior high!

I don't know what the rules are.

Oh, no.

I left her wide open.

Do you think people have some misconceptions when they hear granny basketball?

[Jaeschke] I think that they probably think it's too slow to be fun.

The misconception, probably, is that we're just doing it because we have to her just or just to stay healthy.

We can do a lot of things to stay healthy.

We can cool walk.

We can walk.

You know, we can do a lot of stuff.

We do this because we love the sport.

It's so fun.

Basketball has always been my best friend, so I'm just so lucky I still get to play.

[Nebbe] There are a handful of rules for granny basketball, some of which harken back to the six on six game, while others are strictly for safety.

First, the court is split into thirds.

Each team has two guards, two centers, and two forwards.

Players cannot move out of their designated area.

You can't run or jump though.

You can hurry.

There are two dribbles allowed per possession.

Granny shots are worth three points.

And any kind of physical contact is prohibited.

I'm sorry though it's not a requirement to join.

Many women who play granny basketball have prior experience playing in high school or college.

Some grannies love the sport so much they've stayed in the league for decades.

Do you mind if I ask how old you are?

[Minahan] 83.

[Nebbe] 83.

You are amazing.

Have you been part of this team from the very start?

[Minahan] Yes.

Wow.

Well, one year late, one year ago.

[Smith] This is my 20th year.

[Nebbe] How did you find out about it?

[Smith] I had a friend that knew I was six feet tall.

And the minute I turned 50, she was on me to come to practice.

And she need you.

That's all it took, I loved it.

[Nebbe] Of course, these women don't just get together and practice for fun.

Every year, the national championship title is on the line.

[Nebbe] You may have noticed by now that there is a specific uniform that each woman wears.

That's by design.

[Dyar] These are the uniforms that we wore in 1920, and you couldn't expose show any skin.

So that's why you see the bloomers and the tall socks.

And at that time they wore three quarter lengths, sleeves.

But a lot of ladies now will wear the full length.

And then your number was on a collar.

So every team wears the same thing.

The only thing that's different are the socks.

You get to pick your team socks.

[Nebbe] Certainly the competition is fierce.

These women play to win.

But with team names like the old glories, the hot flashes, the old rips and the pacemakers, they're mostly here for a good time.

[Friday] Go, heifers.

My mom is 70.

She plays for the Cowtown Heifers, and she's been on the team for two years.

You know, they're older, so sometimes they've lost their spouse.

Like my mom, my dad died a couple of years ago, and I found this league.

And I just love the friendships that she's made from this.

And they get to stay active.

It's great.

[Nebbe] Several teams have mother daughter pairs like the ICT AeroBelles out of Kansas.

[Conner] We're in the championship bracket.

First time we've ever been there and we're just having a ball.

So my goal is to live to be 100 and still be on the court.

I'm not even for now.

And do you mind me asking how old you are?

No.

[Puga] 67.

67.

Go up.

Go up.

Yeah.

[Trammell] It takes care of a lot of needs of women our age.

You know, women our age, you know, they're empty nesters, and maybe they're widowed or divorced, and it just fills in a void that they've never had before.

[Gentry] It's just so much fun.

And truly, anyone 50 or older can play.

There are there are teams that are super competitive and there are teams that are just out for a Sunday stroll, so you don't have to be some championship hooper to be able to play.

[Puga] Her mantra is, all you got to do is what, Mom?

[Conner] Hold your hands up like this and be able to walk and it's all you have to catch a ball.

That's about it.

[Trammell] I hope that it will keep going, and that more and more women can understand the benefits of of team sports.

You know, there's the camaraderie and not only the exercise.

You get to travel.

You have a support system and people applaud when you do something.

So that's the best part.

How many people get applauded for baking cookies, especially if you make a three point shot?

You get applause.