When you're trying to meet new people, it helps to put yourself in settings where you don’t have to make friends in a single two-hour event. A large city can become so overwhelming, and structuring your time so that you have an automatic “social hour” with a sports league can be great for your social life, particularly if you are in your 20s and a lot of your friends are coupled up.
Not convinced yet? Let’s go over some reasons why joining a sports league is something you SHOULD do this summer.
1. It’s a tradition in Chicago: Softball and beach volleyball are both traditions in Chicago. With hundreds of teams to choose from, someone you know will probably be joining a league (or leagues). In addition, Chicago is the nexus of 16-inch softball, which is not really found anywhere else.
2. It’s a good way to meet people without breaking the bank: How much do you spend when you go out for dinner or to a bar? Probably too much. A sports league basically runs you about $10 per game (plus your bar bill afterwards), so it’s a cheap and easy way to meet people, and it can easily be a whole-evening activity.
3. It’s not that competitive: I’ve heard this one a lot: “But I’m not good at it!” There are competitive leagues out there, but many of the co-ed softball, volleyball and kickball leagues are purely for fun. I have yet to hear someone tell me that their volleyball or kickball team was too good. While softball may be a bit trickier, we have the “16-inch mush ball," so that's another reason to not be fearful.
4. There are leagues on any night of the week: I’m assuming you’ve got a schedule that keeps you busy, but whether you prefer to be available on the weekdays or weekends, there’s a time slot for you.
5. It’s the one time of year when people are genuinely friendly: Chicago winters tend to keep us inside, but once the summer starts, people come out of hibernation. People start smiling and remember why Chicago is a great place to live. Chicago is considered a friendly city, and a summer sports league is a great way to see that in action.