Fun and fitness: Team sports are fun for all ages and abilities

Learn More and Get in the Game

High fives and huddles aren’t just kids’ stuff.

Team sports combine fun and fitness along with a good dose of camaraderie for all ages.

“It’s good exercise but you also make friends for a lifetime,” Darrin Frizell said.

Frizell grew up playing soccer and baseball but the Englewood resident got hooked on volleyball when he was 21.

“I’m addicted to it now,” he said with a smile. “It’s great to get out and have a couple hours of fun.”

Whether you’ve been hooping it up since you were a toddler or haven’t played organized sports in your life, there are plenty of opportunities to be part of the team.

Love of the game

It wasn’t exactly a convenient commute but that didn’t stop Seth Iiames.

Iiames had played ice hockey since he was 8 years old and wasn’t about to quit, even when he moved away to attend college.

“I played in a league in Troy so I’d drive down from Bowling Green on the weekends to play,” Iiames said. “The first time you go out and play hockey, you’re hooked for life.”

Almost two decades after he laced up his first pair of hockey skates, Iiames, 27, still enjoys getting out on the ice but you don’t need years of experience under your belt to enjoy the game.

“Whether you’ve played 20 years or two weeks, you can lace them up and play,” Iiames said. “I’ve played with guys who were on the ice for the first time and they had a great time.”

Like Iiames, Robby Poteat has been playing sports since he was a child. The University of Dayton assistant athletic director has been on the basketball court since he was 4. Poteat plays in the Kettering Recreation Basketball League as well as early morning pickup games several days a week.

“I’m a competitor at heart, and the leagues are a great source of exercise,” Poteat said. “I also despise doing cardio on treadmills, and a good full court game of basketball is much more entertaining, especially during the colder winter months.”

Fun and fitness

Playing a team sport has benefits beyond breaking a sweat.

Karli Hiskey, an athletic trainer with the Miami Valley Hospital Sports Medicine Center, recognizes the value of camaraderie in team sports.

“It’s a great way to make new friends and, if you are new to the area, it’s a great way to meet people,” Hiskey said.

Team members are often times more likely to follow through with their fitness goals.

“When you’re team is counting on you, you’re more likely to show up,” Hiskey said.

As with any new form of exercise, Hiskey recommends getting physician approval before getting started. And preparation and moderation are both critical.

“You want to eat right, stretch and warm up before you start playing,” Hiskey said. “And start at a level you are comfortable with and play at your level.”

Recreation centers usually divide leagues based on competitiveness so beginners can play in a fun league while experienced players can get their competitive fix. Take the Canes & Pucks Adult Hockey League at Hobart Arena or the more competitive Megacity Hockey Club in Dayton.

Beginners, no matter the sport, need not worry about signing up.

“Anybody can play, even if you’re picking it up for the first time,” Frizell said. “And you can play as often as you like.”

Something for everyone

Kickball, volleyball, dodge ball, basketball and, even, corn hole — recreational sports are not one-size-fits all at the Dayton Sport and Social Club.

The DSSC was founded last year by Tyler Schroeder and Matt Adams and fielded its first teams in the spring. Since then, more than 300 people have participated in one of the many sports the club offers.

“The YMCA leagues are phenomenal, the only thing that is sometimes missing is the group mentality,” Schroeder said. “Here, the whole group — both teams — goes out together after a game. The social aspect is a big part of the league.”

If you can’t field an entire team, don’t worry. You can submit as many players as you have or go in as a free agent and Schroeder will find a team for you.

Recreational sports opportunities are available throughout the Miami Valley at community recreation centers and YMCA locations. Some church groups even field teams making it easier than ever to get active and have fun year-round.

“Let yourself get absorbed into a good recreational team in any league and create an identity for your team,” Poteat said. “Putting forth effort into your team or leagues composition will keep you motivated to keep coming back.

“In the end, it’s all fun, games, and good exercise.”