The favorite playground sport of kickball is making a comeback in the Tuscaloosa community this spring.
Welcomed to Tuscaloosa last summer, GO Kickball has already made an impact on young professionals in the community. Operated through Atlanta-based GO Sports Unlimited, GO Kickball is cited as the “premier social experience.” The league saw such success over the summer season that it continued into fall, and is gearing up for the spring. With warmer weather approaching, league organizers hope to see an increase in registration.
Kyle Church, marketing director for the local GO Kickball organization, said he believes kickball serves as a nice break from traditional and digital networking. He said GO Kickball brings a fun and active aspect to fostering relationships and building networks with those around you.
“Sometimes it’s tough to break away from friend groups, but this is an excellent way to branch out and even put your foot in the door for job possibilities,” Church said.
The GO Kickball league differs from University-run intramural sports in that it is focused on networking, not necessarily the sport itself. All teams are co-ed, with anywhere between 15 to 30 players per team. League rules state that at least four women must be on the field at all times, so teams are encouraged to stack their rosters to include as many players as possible.
Each GO Kickball game will be officiated by referees trained by the league. Additionally, a league statistician will be in attendance to keep stats for teams and individuals. Players can check the website regularly for the latest power rankings and overall stats for the league.
Reid Peacock, a senior majoring in advertising, was unable to participate in the league this past fall due to conflicts, but he said he is looking forward to the spring season.
“When I heard about GO Kickball coming back for the spring, I started to put together a championship-worthy team,” Peacock said. “I’ve already met a lot of new people just by recruiting friends of friends.”
GO Kickball has partnered with local establishments such as Innisfree Irish Pub and Moe’s Original Barbecue to provide food and drink specials for participants after the games on Wednesday nights. GO Kickball requires all participants to be over the age of 21, so that they can take full advantage of the specials provided by the sponsors.
“We’re more of an older league – 21 and up. Our main focus is for young professionals to get out and to get social,” Church said.
The registration deadline for captains and free agent players is Feb. 17. Interested participants can register through the organization’s website at gokickball.com/Tuscaloosa or visit the organization’s Facebook page.
