The Great Resurgence of Rec Leagues

Getty Images / WH Illustration6 min readLast May, Nicole Kelley, 54, moved back to her hometown of Lansing, Michigan. Working from home and newly single, she was looking for an activity to help her get out of the house. When her neighbor suggested joining their township’s local kickball league, she decided it was time to channel the nostalgic vibes of her grade school playground days.And so are many others, apparently. Chances are, you know someone who’s recently joined a recreational volleyball, pickleball, or softball league. Recreational sports leagues are nothing new—but they’ve made a comeback in the past few years for a couple of reasons. “People miss having fun,” says Aja Campbell, CSCS, NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist, certified nutrition coach, and youth sports coach. Extracurricular activity is no longer reserved for kids; adults of all generations are looking to get active outside and meet people. Rec leagues have also become the perfect place to use the athletic skills they’ve been training in the gym in a real-life setting, she adds.“Working from home, working alone, you get lonely,” says Kelley. But now, she has the opportunity to get out of the house, get fresh air, and laugh with friends—and then hit their sponsored bar for drinks after.Plus, the benefits go well beyond simply getting some time outside. Ahead, find out what’s behind the rec league resurgence, and how you can join a league yourself.Making Wellness Social“People feel really disconnected from each other,” says Campbell. “They're craving a way to disconnect from technology and get back to building interpersonal relationships the old-fashioned way.” Folks want that pre-COVID nostalgia back when it was simpler (and less scary!) to make friends in real life. “I feel like we're slowly creeping back into that,” says Kelley.So, why rec leagues and not, say, book clubs? For “a mix of health and social” reasons, says Campbell. Hangouts have become more wellness-focused, as more people are choosing to run with their friends rather than drink. So, those who are already active and want to meet people in a fun, different way are seeking out rec leagues.“I was still in the process of really finding community,” says Ayli Carrero Pinedo, 34, who moved to Los Angeles five years ago, and joined her Volo volleyball league around two years ago. Through the team, she’s gotten the opportunity to meet lots of like-minded people who love to stay active. Plus, “there's the mental health benefits of the sense of belonging,” she adds.For Kelley, it’s been a great opportunity to meet new people of all ages; her team has kids as young as 19. “I'm the oldest on the team, which is hilarious to me because I'm only 54, but I feel like I'm one of the best in shape,” she adds.Nicole KelleyKelley’s kickball team has helped her meet new people and get out of the house after long days working from home.Additionally, participating in a rec league allows you to feel part of something bigger than yourself. “It helps with team building and forging friendships,” says Campbell. “When you think about just how stressful everything is right now, everything costs so much money, but you can play sports—and a lot of rec leagues are not super expensive.”Training Like an AthleteRecently, there’s been a massive conversation on social media about training like an athlete. “Everybody wants to be an athlete now,” says Campbell. For those who may be regularly training strength, endurance, or power in the gym, “this gives you an opportunity to actually apply those skills.”This can feel especially fulfilling for former athletes like Kelley, who played college basketball. “Once an athlete, always an athlete—you're always going to have that desire to compete and test your fitness,” Campbell adds. “For a lot of people that enjoy competition, it's a way to feel validated and fulfill that need.”Rec leagues can also help you find areas of fitness that you want to improve. If you start playing softball and you’re not throwing as far or running as fast as you’d like, you may decide your new goal is to increase your power output and aerobic endurance in the gym, says Campbell.At the same time, the competitive aspect of rec leagues allows you to push yourself a bit further outside of the weight room because people are watching and depending on you on the field or court. A bit of healthy competition and pressure can test “our mental skills, whether that be resilience, focus, confidence, or motivation,” says Natalie Léger, PsyD, a sport and counseling psychologist, certified mental performance consultant, and the owner of The Collective Edge, a sports and counseling psychology private practice in Washington, D.C.Being in a rec league can even help you stay accountable in your fitness routine while giving yourself something to look forward to. “It helps me really structure my day and at least know that I will have the opportunity to work out,” Carrero Pinedo adds. That feeling of accomplishment is critical for her.Similarly, Rebecca Forster, 74, recently rejoined her tennis league in Los Angeles County after four years off. She started missing tennis, the routine that came with it, and having an activity to brighten up her day full of work. “The game, the people, the competition—it keeps my mind sharp,” she says. “Being a part of something like this keeps you on your toes.”Rebecca ForsterParticipating in her tennis league helps keep Forster’s mind sharp.But you’re also motivated to show up for others. “I've made a commitment and can't let the team down,” Kelley adds.Free AgencyParticipating in a league can help people “learn a new skill or redevelop a joy and connection to a sport or skill that they engaged with more when they were younger,” says Léger. “There's something really powerful about being able to try something new, be creative, and also maybe just find more of a joy within sport.”That was the case for Heather Angus, 47, who played volleyball in high school and joined a Volo league in New York City two years ago. “You miss that whole aspect of whatever sport you played in high school or middle school, you want to join to keep the skill and also have fun,” she says.That can be comforting for people who may feel uncertainty in life, Léger says. It’s a low-stakes way of spending your free time that feels separated from the stress of the world. Instead, you’re using your sense of agency to choose what you want to spend your free time doing.Plus, giving yourself a few hours a week to play can feel empowering. “Play is fundamental to who we are as human beings,” says Léger. It offers major psychological, emotional, and social benefits—no matter your age—especially if you get bogged down by rigid, predictable work days as adults. “It's part of our development, to be able to tap into our creative mind of trying new things and seeing what we're capable of,” she adds. In her 70s, it’s been incredible for Forster to still be serving and hitting in real games.Play BallWant to get in on the fun? Try searching online for groups in your area through organizations like Volo, ZogSports, or YMCA. Your city’s parks department might offer low-cost leagues as well. Also, try talking to your friends who are in leagues and look within your community, like your gym, says Campbell.If you’re hesitant to join, ask to see if you can show up to a practice or game and get a taste of what it’s like, says Kelley. In many leagues, there’s an opportunity for players to sub in and out, so you don’t have to play the entire time. Additionally, a lot of leagues have different levels, from beginners to more advanced players, so you can always start at a lower level, Carrero Pinedo adds.Heather AngusAngus (in the middle wearing blue) has reconnected with her love of volleyball since joining her rec league.It’s normal to be a bit nervous after joining a league where you don’t know anyone. Return to your why—the reason you wanted to join a league—so you’re reminded of the value of the experience, Léger says.The good news: The type of people that gravitate towards rec leagues are naturally welcoming. “When you have a sport that really connects you, people just love the sport—so they're ready to let anybody in who actually loves it,” Forster says.If you never put yourself out there, you may be losing out on an opportunity to make friends. “My advice is to just try it—you have nothing to lose,” says Angus.Best of all, when someone asks you what you’re doing over the weekend, your plans to play softball with your 10 new best friends will sound far more interesting than theirs. “I actually like bragging about going to my kickball league—it sounds so adorably nostalgic,” Kelley adds. Ready to play ball?Find the Perfect Women’s Health Training Program for YouJustin SteeleRona Ahdout//Hearst Owned Addison Aloian is the associate health & fitness editor at Women’s Health, where she writes and edits across the health, weight loss, and fitness verticals. She’s also a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). In her free time, you can find her lifting weights at the gym, running on the West Side Highway in New York City—she recently completed her first marathon, the 2025 New York City Marathon—and watching (and critiquing!) the latest movies that have garnered Oscars buzz. In addition to Women's Health, she’s made an appearance on the Oprah Podcast and her work has also appeared in Allure, StyleCaster, L'Officiel USA, V Magazine, VMAN, and more.