One of the things that draws people to WAKA is the fun community
atmosphere that the league creates.
Article updated: 7/29/2010 5:22:14 PM
There are huddles of World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA) kickball
teams standing and sitting in the grass, and supportive friends dot the
fringes of the field on a warm but overcast weekday afternoon.
These kickballers are committed. No rainstorm will keep them from the fun and community they experience in the WAKA kickball league here in Richmond. Even with dark skies overhead, the game goes on. The league is committed to fun, health, and community.
WAKA is an organization in existence for 12 years now. It began in the Washington D.C./ Northern Virginia area, and continued in popularity until there are now WAKA kickball leagues as far as England.
One of the things that draws people to WAKA is the fun community atmosphere that the league creates. Three-year league veteran Mike “Bush” Bushmeier says that staying playful and young at heart was imperative to surviving the stress of the work week.
“Every Thursday we wake up and we know we’re gonna play kickball and we’re going to see all of our friends. We see each other on the weekends too. But Thursday is our day to go out and play a game with each other.” he adds.
Part of Thursday nights activities include after-game hangouts at local restaurants. Asked how he stays fit and healthy while eating out after games, Bushmeier says that in addition to playing kickball with WAKA he also works out during the week and trains for marathons as well. “I try to stay active all throughout the week.”
According to Scott Coston and Bushmeier, WAKA is committed to not only fun and staying fit but also giving back to the community.
Coston explains that during each season the WAKA leagues will raise funds to help benefit charities in the Richmond area.
Bushmeier, who has been on the board of directors for the past few seasons, says that the league has been able to raise $1000 to $2000 to help charities such as Comfort Zone Camp or Richmond Casa. One of the creative ways the board has developed to raise money for charities is collecting donations in a fundraising game they call “Penny Wars”—where teams collect change from teammates, parents, and friends throughout the week. As they collect coins in the penny wars jar, points are attributed for pennies.
For more information go to www.kickball.com. for a listing of the leagues. Also check out WAKA on Facebook and Twitter to get up-to-date week-to-week info on the fun and action.
Article first appeared in SBQ Issue #14, May/June | 2010
