For most people, the mere mention of the word kickball conjures memories of cruel playground activity. It was a recess-time sport that somehow slipped through all cracks of acceptable social conduct and made every child susceptible to broken noses, deep bruising and an emotional distress hardly measurable by physical injuries.

Obviously the trauma I incurred from my days on the school playground still resonates all these years later, and I feel relatively confident in saying that I speak for others when it comes to my negative sentiments for this not-so-playful pastime.

However, there are a select few (ok, a few thousand), whose childhood experience of this game is so opposite of mine that they’ve actually maintained their involvement well beyond their adolescent years, and in some cases have even made a part-time job out of this playground game.

Running the gamut of die-hard athletes to twenty-somethings looking for an outlet to release their pent-up professional energies, kickball has become the new Happy Hour.

“It’s definitely a mix. You’ve got some teams that go out there to hang out with friends and to meet new people. Then, you’ve got some who are really striving to win all their games and dominate the sport. It’s so successful because of that good mix; you don’t need to be a Division I athlete to have fun,” said Derek Young, Public Relations Assistant for the World Adult Kickball Association and kickball convert.

Yes, believe it or not, there are actually enough adults who haven’t yet let go of their grade-school experience that they’ve created a demand for an internationally recognized organization to support their kickball revival.

WAKA currently caters to over 50,000 kickballers in the U.S. alone, all 21 and over (this is a social activity, after all). Regions throughout the nation create their own kickball divisions, which are comprised of no more than 16 teams and 26 players, all of whom take their role in the WAKA about as serious as a heart attack. Considering the mother of all kickball tournaments is at stake—that is, the Founder’s Cup—it’s obvious that the WAKA has no room for players like, well, me.

“The company is a virtual company, so we have staff spread out all over the place,” said Young, who currently works out of their Tampa Bay, FL division, but started as just another WAKA member in a Washington D.C. division.

In its 11^th year of play, WAKA helped to stimulate this new generation of kickball with a simple idea that started between friends in 1988.

“Like all great ideas, it started in a bar; three guys living in post-collegiate world wanting to relieve the stress of work, and have fun getting to know other people, as well,” said Young of the founding fathers’ original 150-person organization.

Since becoming the cue for other social athletic organizations relying on this young professional demographic to fuel its’ success, WAKA continues to “blow up every season”.

Taking their love of the playground sensation one step further, there are even a select group of professional kickballers who vie to represent their region, and take their athleticism (and alcoholism) on the road to face opponents from around the country.

“Growing up, everybody played it [kickball]. It’s about bringing the youth back out of you; that’s the main reason I play. It’s kickball! I played it in third grade,” said an excited Eric Simpson, the newest member of the St. Louis pro team BigBallers.

Holding down a day job as a Coordinator for an IT Consulting Firm in Missouri, Simpson admits that his interest in the sport started out as not much more than a non-competitive, social activity that just “kind of progressed.”

“I’m competitive by nature. I grew up playing sports. So, obviously there’s going to be some competitiveness behind me, but I’m there to have a good time,” admits Simpson, letting out a few laughs as if to acknowledge how all this kickball talk must sound to someone as skeptical as myself.

Representing the Midwest region, Simpson and his teammates will spend next year’s spring and summer months traveling from city to city, kicking around a red rubber ball, whacking a few opponents on base, and cracking open a few cold brews, all in an effort to maintain that “good time” so many have found in this sport.

And a sport it most certainly is. While I can't fully wrap my brain around anyone's willingness to get whipped in the gut by a ball when the teacher's not forcing you, I do appreciate the seriousness of the kickball league and the attitudes of those who participate. Hell, just attempting to make a professional team is no laughing matter.

Showing up to his local St. Louie field, Tower Grove Park at 8 a.m. one fateful Sunday morning, Simpson and 45 other kickball hopefuls were tested in fielding, kicking, throwing, distance, and accuracy (that's not counting the other 20 people who showed up for a second round of tryouts later in the week).

WAKA may promote a casual, social environment of kickball fun, but the pro league is not for the faint of heart.

“The people who made it are more hardcore than other people, so I was surprised when I made it," laughed Simpson. "I’m not really [hardcore]. I showed up with a beer and just thought, 'it’s kickball'.”

Simpson’s honesty was refreshing, considering I had a hard time just mustering up some serious questions to ask him. But, before I have every pro league kickballer filling my inbox with hate mail, the more I talk with Simpson and Young, the more I realize the respect this new after-work activity demands. 

Sure, the entire league (professional and amateur) is riddled with explicit team names (Big Balls, Tits, you name it!), graphic team logos and nicknames donning the team jerseys, and of course, the constant consumption of alcohol. But, when the game is underway, there are only serious athletes to be reckoned with on that dirt field.

 A co-ed activity that promotes sportsmanship, drinking, traveling and even canoodling? Maybe it’s time I get over my childhood memories and give this game a second chance. Besides, it may be my only way to get Tommy to notice me…