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    Naturally Impactful: Adults Find Fun with Area Sports Programs

    Many people play team sports as a child, but if you do not continue on in college, where can you find such an outlet as an adult? The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department has a wide array of sports teams that adults can sign up for, including basketball, flag football, softball, and volleyball.

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    “We offer sports for both youth and adult in particular areas, but the bulk of our programs are geared towards adults,” says Jack Castle, Recreation Administrative Coordinator of the Sports Section for the Columbus Recreation and Parks. “We serve many people in diverse sports and activities.”

    He estimates about 30,000 adults participate in the sports programs.

    “For 2016, so far we have recorded 98,091 participation numbers and we are not into our heavy season yet!” he says. “We manage the largest programs in the state and as a result have many leagues.”

    Leagues are offered seven days a week, and in some cases with several different leagues per day. For basketball, there are about 30-40 different leagues, and softball can have as many as 100.

    Some of the teams are a result of clubs around the city that partner with the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department to offer sports participation to their members.

    “We have offered sports since 2006,” says Anish Mistry, the Athletics Director for the Columbus Young Professionals Club.

    About 2,000 members of the CYP Club play sports through the club. CYP Club partners with the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department for Summer Softball, Winter Volleyball, and Winter Basketball. Other partnerships in Hilliard and Worthington allow them to organize teams for softball, flag football, ausball, kickball, and more.

    A Summer Flag Football game. Photo courtesy Columbus Young Professionals Club.
    A summer flag football game. Photo courtesy Columbus Young Professionals Club.

    Christy Horn found that joining the teams through the CYP Club helped her connect to new people in the city. She signed up to play a couple of years ago and now is involved with softball, indoor hard court volleyball, and outdoor sand volleyball.

    “I missed playing sports and it was difficult to find teams to play on since I didn’t know many people in Columbus,” she says. “I discovered the CYP website and was excited that I could sign up as an individual and be put on a team!”

    Brandon West got involved around 2010.

    “A friend of mine from college had been playing on one of CYP’s softball teams,” says West. “He kept asking me to join, telling me how much fun it was. I ended up joining the next season and I was hooked!”

    West looks forward to the competition aspect.

    “Waking up and making it through the rigors of a work day is easier when in the back of your head you have a game against your rival that night, or you need one more win to make the playoffs,” he says. “It motivates and excites you! It’s like being a kid again and waiting for that recess bell.”

    Sports can be a great way to keep your body healthy and your social game strong, at any age. Castle shared that softball teams have had participants over 80 years of age and that programs offered through the Columbus Recreation and Parks are for any skill level.

    “We make the extra effort and develop levels of play in each of our sports so that you can find the right spot for you,” he says. “For example, in softball we offer four different levels of play; one of those is designed for the social player who is out for fun and enjoyment and more focused on those aspects then the competitive side of the sport.”

    “I love the wide range of teams and players in our leagues,” says West. “There is room for anyone who wants to play if you’re just looking to go out and have some fun, or try to win a championship there is a sport and team for you.”

    Kevin Ford played softball for about eight years at Berliner Park through a league set up with his co-workers using the Columbus Recreation and Parks program.

    “It was nice to get out and interact with fellow employees outside the office,” he says. “And the occasional stop at a bar or restaurant after the game was always fun.”

    “Playing sports as an adult is such a great way to connect with new people that you may not have otherwise met,” adds Horn.

    The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department also allows for individuals to sign up as Free Agents for basketball, volleyball, and softball, in men’s, women’s, and co-ed divisions.

    “Many times you’ll go to events in Columbus and meet someone and you may never see them again,” says West. “When you play sports you get to meet people all the time, see them for weeks in a row, and can form bonds and friendships that really last.”

    To find more information on the adult sports offered by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, visit crpdsports.org.

    CRPDLogowith_MayorNaturally Impactful is brought to you by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, which works to enrich and change the lives of our citizens. The column is an effort to share the story of how the pillars of Health and Wellness, Conservation and Social Equity drive the work we do. Each month the column will focus on different sections of the department using these pillars to create a positive impact on our residents’ and visitors’ quality of life along with providing basic knowledge of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, #CRPD. To find more about upcoming happenings at your Columbus Recreation and Parks, visit their Facebook page, Twitter page, or columbus.gov/recreationandparks.

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    Anne Evans
    Anne Evanshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-evans/
    Anne Evans is the Co-Founder and Director of Operations for The Metropreneur and Columbus Underground. She regularly contributes feature stories on both sites, as well as Mega Weekend each week. She has started and grown businesses, created experiences, forged community partnerships, and worked to create opportunities for others. She loves meeting new neighbors and those making an impact in our community. Want to connect?
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