THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY AUGUST 18,2011
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KELSEY CIPOLLA
kcipolla@kansan.com
It is just another Sunday evening in the Kaw Valley Kickball League. Players from the Blue Collar Press Rockets drip sweat as they try to find a way to rally and pull off a victory. They have only won two games this season, and every game counts as they try to improve their record before the playoffs. Sarah Riley stands at home base and watches the big red ball roll toward her.
Kickball is just one of the unconventional intramural sports KU offers. In past years, schedules included foosball, dodgellball, wallyball — a hybrid of volleyball and handball played in a racquetball court — and quickball, a sport Beck described as a form of wifffe-
"Kickball is an interesting example in that it is a huge hit with the city parks and recreation leagues and yet it has not really taken off at KU," said Matt Beck, the intramural coordinator for KU Recreational Services. "We've tried kickball leagues and tournaments and receive very little interest in playing."
Riley and the other players on the field are members of a league that has become so popular that there is now a wait list for teams that want to play next season. The Bleeding Kansas Dodgeball League, also played in Lawrence, has experienced similar success. But KU students have not yet fully embraced the playground sports trend.
ball with similar rules to baseball and is played indoors.
Despite these unique offerings, Beck said that traditional sports like basketball are more popular with students, and although kickball is fun, it is not taken as seriously as other sports.
Riley, a senior from Overland Park, said that the reason kickball games haven't taken off could be because the intramural programs are not promoted enough to get students' attention, or that students are more comfortable playing familiar sports.
"I think it would be great to see more unconventional sports played in Lawrence and on campus," Riley said. "I think they draw a different crowd of people and get more people involved in some really fun sports."
One notable sport introduced to KU last year was Quidditch, the pastime of the wizarding world depicted in the Harry Potter series. The University's club team goes to tournaments and play opponents such as Louisiana State University, Wichita State University and Texas Tech, said team member Zack Castilleja, a junior from Kansas City.
Edited by Marla Daniels
"I'm constantly looking for the next big thing that we can add, but I am open to student suggestions," he said. "Let's hear them."
And there are plenty of opportunities for students to introduce new sports like Quidditch to campus said Beck.
Aaron Pando kicks for his team, the Blue Collar Rockets, Sunday afternoon at South Park. Thirty-two different teams separated into eight divisions that compete in the league.
Jake Wilson, pitcher for the Tacolertactys, tosses the kickball toward home base. The league's regular season runs from June 5 to Aug. 7.
LOOKING FOR A NEW WAY TO FLEX YOUR MUSCLES?
Start a team in the Kaw Valley Kickball League. For more information go to kawvalleykickball.com
FIRST RUN FILMS
Jake Wilson, pitcher for the Terdactyls, throws for the first pitch of the game. Kickball games are played every Sunday at various places in Lawrence through the Kaw Valley Kickball league.
Dave Owens kicks the ball for his team, the Blue Collar Rockets. The league concludes with a tournament held Aug.14 to Aug.28.
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