Adventure Log: #2 Kickball

"Why kickball?" you might ask. Well, honestly I don't really know, but it sounded like a good idea at the time. Anyone who knows me knows I do not fair well in team sports. At summer camp, my mom gently talked me out of taking lacrosse and steered me towards dance classes and knitting; it was for my own safety and the safety of others. I know this about myself, but when we moved to Charlotte, we joined a kickball team to try to meet some people in our new city.  Our friends Molly and Joe recruited us onto their championship team, Hold My Beer And Watch This, which had recently traveled to Vegas for the World Series of Kickball. Not a joke. 

Now kickball sounds like an elementary school PE game, right? No pressure. It's a game with simple rules, simple strategies, and you don't really sweat much. I got this. Well, Katie, NOT SO in the World Adult Kickball Association! Be prepared to practice on your own time, strategize your kick technique, and get dirty. And be prepared for some intense pitches, people. I'm not talking a gentle lob by a half asleep fourth grader. I'm talking a side arm thrown spinning, bouncing, curving ball rocketing towards you and a strike zone, yes a strike zone. 

The first time I witness a WAKA pitch by our very talented team captain, my jaw hits the field. WHAT?!?!? Why am I here? Panic sets in, my palms start to sweat, my chest gets splotchy... Welcome to my nightmare. I can see it now. I shamefully kick and miss the ball, strike out and slump back over to my disappointed team. They try to be positive, but in the outfield, a fly ball bounces off my nose, breaking it, and scoring the other team four runs in a home run. I am back in fourth grade. Is there a cheerleading squad? Can I bail? Why did I do this to myself?!?!

Ok, so my nightmare scenario was far from the truth. While WAKA games can get intense, the association is a great way to meet people in a new city. You play an hour long game with competitive but very nice and supportive people, after which you caravan to a local sponsor bar and enjoy a $1 beer with all the teams before heading home. There are midseason parties, team birthday parties, and many fun times to be had. While kickball ended up not being a great fit for me because of my retail schedule, I would recommend it to anyone in a new city. Just don't panic when you see that first crazy pitch! 

Check out WAKA to find out more and to join a league in your city. Kickball is very hip right now!