When I moved to Dayton, I could count the number of people I knew here on one hand. I had just graduated college and everything was changing – new apartment, new coworkers, new job. So when one of my (only) friends here asked if I would join her co-ed kickball team, I figured, what’s one more new thing to add to the list? That’s how I discovered Dayton Sportcial, an adult sports league in the Dayton area. With an emphasis on both sports and socializing (Sport + Social = Sportcial), it was clear I would have fun. What I didn’t realize then was this group would quickly turn Dayton, a brand new city to me, into a home.

I Made New Friends

Sportcial is unique… you don’t just show up, play the game, and leave. They team up with local bars and restaurants in the area where players are encouraged to go after games. Not only did I become friends with my teammates, I met players from other teams. Then when I would participate in other leagues through Sportcial, I’d see familiar faces and my circle of friends continued to grow. They also offer weekend activities such as trips to horse races, kayaking, ice skating, and sand volleyball, meaning even more opportunities to meet people.

I Tried New Sports

I played softball and volleyball in high school, but figured my time playing them ended after I graduated. Not only have I been able to brush up on those skills, I’ve also tried my hand at bowling, corn hole, euchre, kickball, and beer die. Because there’s an emphasis on the social aspect, it was a low-pressure environment to try a new sport. The level of athleticism also varies across leagues, so I wasn’t worried about being a D1 athlete to participate. And who knows, I might have discovered a hidden talent, or at the very least, sharpened the skills I already had.

I Was Given Volunteer Opportunities

The benefit of having hundreds of people in a common sports league is they are always tapped into what’s going on around the city. I’ve been able to get involved in unique volunteer opportunities through these connections. Dayton has an annual derby day downtown, but we aren’t racing horses. We race daschunds. I was able to volunteer at this event by registering racers and working the starting block. I also got the opportunity to volunteer at Gem City Shine, a fundraising event hosted by Dave Chappelle downtown in August 2019. Giving back to the community is easy when your friends are always finding events and opportunities.

I Found a Side Hustle

My kickball career with Sportcial ended in 2017 due to an unrelated knee injury. Instead of wishing me farewell, the founders of the league offered me a job as a kickball umpire. This quickly turned into a consistent side job, now entering my fourth year as an umpire, and I’ve expanded to run the bowling league as well. The number one focus of this job is to make sure everyone is having fun and getting along, which further supports the focus on socializing. It’s also allowed me to develop skills like conflict management, peer leadership, and customer service.

Ready to Sign up for Your Own League?

Joining that kickball team completely transformed my experience living in Dayton. Because of Sportcial, I’ve met hundreds of people, gotten involved in my community, and developed my own skills. Anywhere I go around the city, I always run into someone I know from Sportcial. This league is focused on connecting people and building community, both of which I’ve experienced firsthand. So sign up for an adult sports league, who knows what great things could happen. And if you join Sportcial, I’ll see you out there!