FITNESS ARTICLES

Remember when you were a kid and all you ever wanted to do was play outside during the short summer? Ahhh, those were the days...

Besides having fun with your friends, outdoor sports also helped to keep you in shape. Well, you may be older, but summer sports are as popular as ever and the chances are good that you still need the exercise. Geared towards adults, just about every sport you liked as a child are now available for grown-ups. So if you have always debated about joining one of these co-ed teams, then read on to find out the pros and cons of summer leagues.

For the sake of time, we won’t keep mentioning that the leagues we are going to talk about are available in co-ed and same-sex leagues. However, if you are looking to meet new people, co-ed leagues are a fantastic way to make new friends.

Softball

Format

Slow or fast pitch.

12-14 person teams, usually requiring at least 1/2 of the players to be female. You can also join as a single and be placed on a team.

Played once a week (and tournaments) for the summer.

Large leagues can have as many as 50 teams.

Exercise

Softball is definitely a light workout. Stretching is recommended and required, particularly for pitching, swinging the bat, and running.

Pros

The best thing about softball is that it requires very little skill. Therefore, you get a broader range of men and women who come out to play.

Softball has also become a very big sport in some areas, with major championships and tournaments held on a regular basis.

Cons

If you are looking for a serious workout, then co-ed softball is not for you. Plus, since many leagues require little or no skill, a true baseball player might be turned off by the amateur nature of the sport.

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Beach/Sand Volleyball

Format

Twos, fours and sixes.

2-6 person teams, usually requiring at least 1/2 of the players to be female. You can also join as a single and be placed on a team.

Best of two out of three games, played once a week (and tournaments) for the summer.

Large leagues can have as many as a 100 teams – depending on your proximity to a beach.

Exercise

Beach volleyball is an amazing workout.

The less players on the team, the more work required by each player – particularly in twos format.

It is usually hot, and you are required to hustle, run, and jump in sand.

Pros

Fantastic cardio workout, bikinis(!!!) and often a gorgeous beach location.

Cons

If you are in poor physical shape, then you may need to work your way down from a six team to a four.

Volleyball is also not a good game for people who don’t know the rules of play. However, there are several leagues that offer beginner level games, but the games are not that good, and the workout factor is nearly non-existent.

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Golf

Format

Usually 2-man team format.

Played once a week for the summer. Normally, there are two halves, with new partners drawn at the halfway mark.

Leagues usually don’t exceed 24-36 people, due to time constraints. However, some large clubs will have a night when every hole has a foursome, allowing for large numbers to participate.

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Exercise

Golf is a light workout, but you do walk around 4-6 miles, depending on the length and terrain of the golf course.

Pros

Normally very competitive, good prizes, and a great place to make good business contacts.

Cons

You normally need to belong to a golf club, although many semi-private and public clubs offer league games.

The games are rarely co-ed.

A round of golf often requires 4 hours minimum, depending on how busy the course is.

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Bocce

Format

Usually 4-man team format.

Games are usually best two out of three games.

Played once a week for the summer, with playoffs starting in September.

Leagues vary in size from intimate to very large.

Exercise

Bocce requires nearly no physical ability, but it does require skill at shot making.

Pros

No special equipment or skill required.

Can be played nearly anywhere – sand, grass or gravel.

Cons

Not a good sport if you want a workout.

You usually have to enter your own team, which may diminish the social aspect of the game.

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Soccer

Format

Can be 5 on 5, up to 11 on 11 – depending on the size of the league you have available in your area.

Played once a week for the summer, playoffs in the late summer/early fall.

Leagues vary in size from intimate to very large, and normally offer both co-ed and same sex.

Exercise

Excellent cardio workout, requiring players to run/trot an average of six miles in a 90-minute game.

Pros

Soccer has been growing in popularity in recent years, and leagues are popping up everywhere.

The workout is fantastic.

Very little required in way of specialized equipment.

Cons

Not a good sport if you don’t like to run.

It is not as fast-paced as volleyball.

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Cricket

Format

Teams normally have 12 players.

Played once a week for the summer, playoffs in the late summer/early fall.

Leagues vary in size from intimate to very large, and normally offer both co-ed and same sex.

Exercise

A decent cardio workout, requiring players to sprint between the wickets.

Pros

Cricket has been a huge favorite in England, and many of its colonies, for years.

The workout is surprisingly good, given the running and catching required.

Very little required in way of specialized equipment.

Cons

It may take some getting used to, particularly if you are from North America.

There is not nearly the same amount of co-ed leagues offered in this sport that there are in others.

Hurry up and pick one!
So, prepare for the summer, don't delay! Search the web for leagues in your area, since most start by early June. If none of the sports we mentioned sound appealing, you might want to give Ultimate a try. It is quickly becoming a major sport in the USA. Check out http://www.upa.org/ for more details!

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