Lace up your sneakers and get ready to relive your playground glory days. This fall, the town of Cary is bringing back a beloved recess classic with the launch of its inaugural adult kickball league.
Whether you’re looking for a fun way to get active, meet your neighbors, or partake in a little friendly competition, this new league is the perfect excuse to get off the couch and onto the field. The Line talked with Parks Recreation & Cultural Resources Marketing Supervisor Hayley Swinson-White about the new league.
“The goal was to create another low-barrier way for adults in Cary to be active and build community,” Swinson-White said. “Kickball was a natural fit since nearly everyone played it as a kid and no special skill or gear is needed.”
Players of all skill levels are encouraged to participate, from first-time kickballers to former athletes. Sure, there is bound to be some competition, but at its core this league is all about having fun and embracing a little nostalgia.
What’s unique about this league is that players don’t need to assemble their own team before registering. Unlike the town’s other recreational sports, interested participants can sign up as a small group or as an individual, and the TOC will assign the teams. (See, it really is all about getting out and meeting new people!)
How it works: Games will be played on Monday and Wednesday nights, from mid–August through October, with a 1o-game regular season leading into a single-elimination tournament. The regular and postseason games will be held at the baseball field at Bond Park. Stay tuned for the official schedule, which will go live closer to the launch.
Want bragging rights as Cary’s first kickball champion? Registration opens on July 13 for Cary residents and July 20 for non-residents; the cost is $35 for Cary residents and $60 for non-residents. Spots are limited and registration closes July 26–or sooner if the league fills up–so be sure to sign up early.
Sign up individually here or register a full team by emailing sports@carync.gov. According to the rulebook, each team has a minimum of 14 players, and each player must be 18 years or older. During games, fielding teams are made up of 10 players with at least four women on the field. A team may play with as few as nine players, as long as three players are women.
This new league is one offering in Cary’s recreational opportunities designed to bring residents together. Currently the town features basketball, softball, senior softball, volleyball, and pickleball.
The organizers are hoping that this season is just the beginning. “We see it as a starting point and hope to grow it based on the response this first season,” said Swinson-White. For more info, visit the Town of Cary’s official kickball league page.
