By: Matthew S. Taylor
On Mar. 2, the School of Health and Kinesiology debuted the kickball intramurals. The sheer number of students participating across the three leagues speaks to the sport’s immediate popularity. The co-ed league alone boasts 27 teams with over 300 participants. The men’s league has 17 teams with over 150 participants, and the women’s league has six teams with over 50 participants. One-sixth of the enrolled undergraduate student body is participating in the new sport, as the overall attendance reaches over 500.
To put that number into context, pickleball debuted as an intermural sport in 2022 and amassed 65 participants. It increased to 125 the following year, yet that increase is only a fourth of kickball’s starting numbers.
For students who feel as if they are missing out, the final deadline to join a roster is Mar. 23, with the option to join a team by request or as a free agent. Teams must maintain a roster of at least seven players (and no more than 17), with co-ed teams requiring a balanced split of at least three males and three females.
While much of the difference can be explained by the larger teams, it is clear that the addition is a welcome one in the student community. So, what sets kickball apart?
For many, kickball fosters a unique social atmosphere. Jacob Boyd, a senior BT construction management major, noted that the inclusivity of the sport is what makes it stand out.
“Co-ed just gives you the opportunity to play on a team with all of your friends, guys and girls alike,” Boyd said. “Not many of Southern’s intramurals give that as an option, and I think kickball is the perfect co-ed sport.”
That sentiment of community and “trying something new” is a recurring theme among this year’s players. Chloe Armstrong, a sophomore kinesiology major, decided to form an all-girls team this season.
“Kickball is a great sport for people of all athletic abilities to come together and have fun,” Armstrong said. “This season, I made a girls’ team with a few friends, and we are all excited to play and try something new together!”
Other students joined for the chance to de-stress with familiar faces. Addy Van Zant, a freshman nursing major, said she joined to “have a good time with friends” and to use the hour as an escape from schoolwork.
For Brock Baer, a senior nursing major, the new league provided a final milestone. He said that he joined specifically to play one last intramural season with his housemates before their upcoming graduation.
Whether you are a seasoned athlete or someone just looking for an hour-long escape from the stress of nursing clinicals or business labs, the kickball field is proving to be the place to score a home run.
