Not being on a college team does not mean you can’t be a part of a sporting organization. Many adult leagues and drop in sports are available in and near Pleasant Hill and throughout the Bay Area.

Several adult sports are played at Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District. The sports are played year round and are divided into winter, spring, summer and fall seasons.

Playing sports on a team is an excellent way to have fun, meet people and get moving. Pleasant Hill rec sports website states, “The leagues are designed to provide the community with an opportunity to participate in an organized sports activity. Our leagues are set up for competitive play, but the overall goal is enjoyable participation for all. The emphasis is purely recreational and is based on developing fun, enjoyment, good sportsmanship, and friendship.”

“It’s competitive and it’s fun playing with people with more experience,” adult league baseball/ softball player Cameron Boychuck said.

3-on-3 and 5-on-5 basketball leagues, adult boccé league, 5-on-5 adult flag football league, cornhole league, 5-on-5 adult soccer league, adult softball league and adult volleyball leagues are offered at the park.

City of Concord Parks & Recreation offers men’s, women’s and co-ed slowpitch softball in the spring for four weeks, the summer as a 12 game season with the possibility of double elimination playoffs and in the fall as a seven game season with a chance of advancing to single elimination playoffs.

Sunday and Thursday night 5 on 5 basketball leagues are available at Tice Valley Gymnasium in Walnut Creek as well as women’s and co-ed volleyball leagues on Monday and Wednesday nights.

There are many other sports offered in the area such as golf, tennis and kickball. Information on how to join can be found on your city’s park and recreation website.

For those of you that are just starting out and are not as competitive, there are also drop in and beginner sports available nearby.

Drop in basketball is held on Sundays from 8:00-10:00 a.m., Mondays from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Fridays from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Education Center Gym. Drop in badminton is Sundays from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  at Pleasant Hill Education Center Gym. Drop in cornhole is held on Tuesdays from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Winslow Center.

For those of you that don’t know what cornhole is, Pleasant Hill rec sports website describes it as, “a lawn game where players take turns throwing bags of corn at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. Platforms are placed 27 feet apart.  A bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point. Play continues until a team or player reaches the score of 21.”

Concord Parks & Recreation offers pickleball which they describe as “a low impact paddle sport played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net, a large ping pong like paddle and a plastic whiffle ball. Created for all ages and skill levels, the simple rules of the game make it easy for beginners to learn.”

Beginning players are encouraged to go on Monday and Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00 p.m. to meet other novice as well as experienced players that can help with getting started.

Tice Valley Gymnasium has drop in badminton, pickleball, volleyball and basketball. Information on updated drop in hours can be found on Walnut Creek’s recreation website.

Let’s not forget about bowling. Bowling leagues are easily found wherever you go and they are very enjoyable. League types range from youth to women to senior to adult mixed leagues. You can play at any skill level and do well.

Competing is just one of several reasons to join a bowling league. What keeps some league bowlers in the game is “seeing friends and the personal challenge to do better,” mixed adult league bowler Peter Vanderbout said.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, there are many places to play sports and be a part of a team in your area.