Joining a recreational sports league isn’t just for sports nuts and fitness freaks. Sure, you’ll be playing a game either way, but it’s about more than just swinging rackets and scoring goals.
“I would say that the vast majority of what people are looking for in this, is the social aspect,” says Zach Eggleston, western regional manager of Sports Monster, a company that organizes adult sports leagues in cities throughout the U.S. According to Eggleston, participants enjoy playing the sports, to be sure, but it’s the camaraderie that keeps them coming back. Teams regularly arrive early to get in extra socializing time before games, and then afterwards, win or lose, many go out for drinks or a bite at a sponsor bar.
Regarding the duration of seasons and games, Eggleston says, “We guarantee 6 to 7 weeks of regular season play, and then two weeks of playoffs [and] generally matches are about one hour.” You can count on a game every week.
The weekly schedule has a number of benefits. Not only does it keep you active, social, and having fun, but it can also be a great break in the workweek. “A lot of people get caught in the grind of the workweek. Having a league game on a Tuesday night gives them something to look forward to.”
So how do you get involved? It’s easy. You can register as an individual or with an entire team right at a league website. At Sports Monster, registration forms are online. There is money involved, but it’s pretty affordable. Games played indoors, like basketball, have added rental expenses and can run you upwards of $100 a season, whereas playing outdoor kickball is as cheap as $50. As Eggleston suggests: It’s not bad for being in an environment that lets you blow off some steam, meet new people and form great friendships – both on the field and in the pub.
