Welcome back to another Trying New Things! In this monthly column, I try a health, wellness or fitness endeavor to help you decide for yourself if it’s something you want to give a go. We’ve been all over the board with our activities, but after last month’s article on walking, a very individualized activity, I thought it would be fun to try a team sport – recreational softball.

What Is It?

People have been getting together to play sports since ancient civilizations, including running, swimming, archery and wrestling. In the United States, recreational sports grew with the development of playgrounds in the late 1800s. They grew even bigger with the development of intramural sports in colleges. NC State University was the first college in North Carolina to develop intramural sports programs all the way back in 1924.

For this recreational sport endeavor, I joined a rec softball team that I heard about through a friend and joined for around $30. It consists of 15 people of a variety of ages and skills, getting together twice a week to play slow-pitch softball for an hour.

There are some nuances within the rulebook that differ from conventional softball and baseball, and to be forthright, I often just listen to the others on my team that are more familiar. For example, everyone starts their at bat with one ball and one strike, there must be an even amount of men and women on the field at the same time, and the order of when people bat must be a man then a woman. If any of these rules are broken, even accidentally, the team receives an extra out as a penalty. 

Beginner Friendly?

If you don’t know the first thing about softball, that’s perfectly fine. The team I play on is very beginner friendly. Kids hang out in the dugout, we switch positions every inning just to try something new and no one gets upset over mistakes. The focus is on having fun, being social and enjoying a few evenings outdoors each week.

Of course, not every team in the league takes the same approach. Some are far more competitive; they’ve beaten us by 20 runs and aren’t shy about debating calls with the umpires. Personally, I’m glad to be part of a more laid back group, but for those who thrive on competition, there are teams that match that energy, too.

Did I Feel Like I Was Working Out?

I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I struggled to get out of bed the morning after my first softball game.

Part of it was the sprinting. I can’t remember the last time I had to launch into a full speed run, but those 90 feet from home plate to first base reminded me just how tough sprinting really is and how valuable it might be to add into my workouts (maybe even as part of a future Trying New Things).

Another component that I did not anticipate to be so hard on my body is batting. The twisting motion, especially as someone without a background in tennis or golf, is entirely new to me and did a number on my back. It was a reminder that even movements that seem simple can challenge your body in unexpected ways. I did not feel like I was working out, but my sore muscles were proof that, while it didn’t feel like exercise at the moment, my body certainly knew otherwise.

Even without knowing the other members of the team, I had a great time chatting and playing softball. I certainly will be joining rec sports in the future, especially if I move to a new place as it is a great way to immediately be thrown into a social circle. If softball isn’t your thing, there are basketball, volleyball and even ultimate frisbee groups to join and find people that are interested in the same things and want to play outside a few times per week.