Where To Find Pick-Up and Organized Adult Sports Leagues Around Philadelphia
Because having fun is just as important as staying active.
Looking to play rec or pick-up soccer, basketball, volleyball, football, and more? These Philly-area sports organizations, like Philadelphia Sports Leagues, offer pick-up games and leagues for you to enjoy. / Photograph by Lanie Brunner.
Recreational sports were childhood staples for so many of us. Think back: you, a seven-year-old, gap-toothed kid, trying to hit a ball coming full-speed out of a pitching machine. Or, this: you, a fifth-grader in school-color mesh shorts, winding up to kick a rubber ball into the gym bleachers. We know you’ve been there. Though many adults might feel like they don’t have the time to make rec sports a feasible hobby, there are a whole slew of Philly-area sports leagues looking to change that mindset, one meetup at a time. Whether you’re looking to play soccer, kickball, volleyball, or virtually any other sport, these five organizations will help get you back on the field in no time.
Casa Soccer League
Join for: Organized soccer for every skill-level
Calling all soccer enthusiasts! Casa Soccer League is a nonprofit providing over 8,000 community members organized, all-level soccer throughout the Philly area. Managed solely by volunteers, Casa offers five competitive divisions (11v11), three open-level divisions (7v7), and a women’s only league (8v8). Games are played on fields in and around Philadelphia, including the New Athletic Field at Bryn Athyn College, McCarthy Stadium at La Salle University, and Penn Park at the University of Pennsylvania. Even better is that one of Casa’s missions is to give back to the community. Their annual footgolf outings, with the Shane Kelly Memorial Fund, have raised over $20,000 in college grants for high school soccer players.
Manayunk Sport and Social
Join for: The low-key, fun atmosphere
Whether you’re based in Manayunk or can get there by train, you’ve got a year-round league option that has some major chill vibes. Manayunk Sport and Social is focused on participants having a good time, which to them means a combo of organized athletics and post-game fun. They offer leagues in basketball, darts, football, kickball, soccer, volleyball, and soccer — each with seasons ranging from 7 to 10 weeks including playoffs. Registration, which can be done as an individual, group, or team, includes high-quality equipment, referees, championship shirts, league prizes, and (the best one) a free post-game drink.
Meetup
Join for: Finding a bunch of casual pick-ups and leagues
If Eventbrite and Facebook Events had a child, Meetup would be it. The online platform allows users to create and organize interest groups for the purpose of hosting in-person events. Meetup seems to be a huge hit for Philly-area pick-up and organized sports leagues. If you browse the “Sports and Fitness” category, you’ll come across a bunch of sports opportunities, like recreational coed kickball meetups in Montgomery County, pick-up soccer games in Philly, ultimate frisbee pickups in Elkins Park, and even pickleball matches in Chestnut Hill.
Philadelphia Sports Leagues
Join for: All the options
With over 100 offerings, Philadelphia Sports Leagues is a massive hub for sports leagues for grown-ups. They offer both pick-up and organized leagues, general activities, and social events for basketball, floor hockey, soccer, softball, tennis, kickball, and more. Their leagues span pretty much every neighborhood and suburb of Philadelphia, from the Navy Yard all the way out to West Chester. No matter which sport you choose, you can register as an individual, with a group, or lead a team as captain. Plus, their leagues, tournaments, and events happen year-round (six total seasons) and at all hours of the day — their new early morning pick-up soccer, basketball, and volleyball leagues start next week.
Philly Kickball League
Join for: Reliving a childhood pastime
Since 2006, Philly Kickball League has been letting Philadelphians tap into their middle-school gym classes with casual, yet competitive kickball games. From April through August, they meet every Sunday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Starr Garden Park. PKL operates by a “don’t take yourself too seriously” mindset, encouraging every player to simply have fun (evidence: their first official rule is “No whining”). Each team is required to have a mix of males and females, with no more than 10 players on the field at a time. Registration, which typically opens two months before the season begins, costs $36 per person. All fees go back into the league to cover game-day necessities like a referee and use of the field.
