Tennis and golf are no longer the games of choice for Hudson County’s young power players. These days there is just as much networking going on the sidelines of the dodge ball court and in the dugout on the kickball field.
Whether it’s to meet people, stay active, or just to have fun, adult sport leagues featuring old-school sports like kickball and dodge ball are hugely popular with the area’s young adults.
Kicking and screaming (for more)
Most people over the age of 20 can’t remember the last time they played kickball. But in recent years, the sport has been gaining popularity among older crowds. And who wouldn’t be reminiscent of the reverberating “thwang!” that echoed when your foot hit the sweet spot on that brightly-colored rubber ball? Even for those less-competitive, it was an attainable athletic goal.
According to Anthony Nappi, founder of Hoboken Kickball, that is just one reason why the sport is making such a big comeback. “I don’t think it takes a huge amount of athleticism,” said Nappi. “It’s something everyone can get involved in.”
But Megan Robinson, captain of this year’s all-girl squad, the “Missfits,” begs to differ. “You really do need athletic ability to make it to first base or to keep the ball on the ground,” said Robinson, who used to play field hockey and soccer. Robinson, 32, is an eighth grade teacher. She admits that her students tease her for playing the same sport they do.
“They know, and they think I’m very strange for doing it,” Robinson said.
Nappi founded Hoboken kickball in the fall of 2004. He was inspired by his friends from Indiana who started leagues as a way to meet people. The idea has been very successful from the start. The first year he made up flyers, and he has not had to advertise again since.
“Pretty much after the second season we’ve relied on word of mouth.” Nappi said.
Hoboken kickball fields about 14 teams of over 200 players in the spring and fall, with almost seven full teams on waiting lists for each season, he added.
Carly Ringer, Captain of the team “Scores,” said that though there is a social component, there is definitely a certain amount of competition.
“The competition is actually kind of fierce. There’s a mix of teams who are there for fun and others who are there for blood,” Ringer said.
Childhood regression or taking out aggression?
From yuppies to leggings to hair rock to Reagan, the eighties are back, whether you like it or not. And as the children of the eighties come of age – or, perhaps more accurately, refuse to do so – the things they grew up with are once again popular.
VH1’s I Love the 80s, and films such as Old School and Dodge Ball help us recall those halcyon days when listening to Whitesnake and pegging your friends with a red rubber ball was really, really, rad.
So when members of Robert Herzog’s sports organization approached him about expanding into dodge ball, Zogsports founder Herzog had to play around with the idea. Literally. “We had about 20 different balls in the office and we were throwing them at each other,” Herzog said. Remembering how those rubber balls could really sting, Herzog was concerned for players’ safety. They finally settled on foam Nerf balls for regulation play. Herzog founded Zogsports in Manhattan over four years ago, as a way to bring people together and raise money for charity.
Herzog, who saw the first plane hit his office while he was on his way to work in Tower 1 on September 11, said he was inspired by much of the good work he saw afterward.
“I decided I would combine sports, a social aspect and charity to keep that altruism going,” Herzog said. A percentage of each teams’ registration fee goes to the charity of their choice. Some of the local charities that have benefited include the Hoboken Homeless shelter, the Boys and Girls club, the jubilee center and Meals on Wheels.
Spiked punch
Compared to the on-court antics in dodge ball and kickball, Hudson County’s Spike League seems like the pro leagues. Founded by Hoboken resident Nunzio Izzo in 1999, the co-ed volleyball league is the more serious older sibling of the bunch.
Izzo even attributes his league’s success to the birth of the other leagues: “I started a sport league and other people decided to jump in,” joked Izzo.
Though the game itself is a more serious sport, its players have just as much fun. “There’s a healthy level of competition,” said Spike League player Hsiao-Liang Chang. But, she added, “Our goal is also to have fun. It’s recreational, but it is also competitive. Everyone wants to make it to the playoffs.” Originally from New York City, Chang has been in Hoboken for two-and-a-half years. She said she joined the league as a way to keep up with her game and to meet new people.
Fond memories
Many members of adult sport leagues join to rekindle fond memories. Whether or not they take the sport seriously is another question.
“Because we did this at the ages of 12 or 13, that’s where our mindset is,” said Dan Kanacki, a player on “I hit it…twice,” the league’s reigning champions.
“If we could win just on laughter, we would win every game,” said Diana Tokic, who plays on the same team. But Tokic said that it’s not all fun and games – the sport is actually physically demanding.
“Believe it or not, it’s not easy,” Tokic said. “You’re running, avoiding the ball and throwing.”
The game is so physical, that one of Kanacki and Tokic’s teammates, Eric, shattered his knee during a match. He had to have surgery and was out all season. Though he was unable to play he became the team’s coach, showing up to the dodge ball matches in a three-piece suit and clipboard.
So how does Kanacki, 32, prepare for a game? Forget eating a bowl full of Wheaties. “I pop three Advil and probably have a beer if it’s a late game,” Kanacki said.
Working hard and playing harder
Hoboken’s young residents are known to play as hard as they work. And that may be the reason that the area has attracted so many adult sport leagues. They provide young professionals with an outlet to let loose, have fun and meet new people.
Robinson, a member of the kickball league, said that each team in her league is provided with their own cooler for storing tasty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. And every Sunday after games, most players meet up for a happy hour at The Dubliner.
Happy hours are also an important part of Spike League and Zogsports.
“After winning we celebrate we’re still alive,” said Kanacki.
Many players have met friends and significant others through the sports. Others have even found business contacts. Kanacki, an account representative for a publishing company, said he has found clients through his dodge ball team.
“This is the perfect excuse to network,” Kanacki said.
Comments on this piece can be sent to mfriedman@hudsonreporter.com WHERE TO PLAY:
Registration is already full for Hoboken Kickball, but Anthony Nappi is still accepting names for the waiting list. For more information go to www.hobokenkickball.com
To spike it with the members of Nunzio Izzo’s Spike League volleyball, go to www.spikeleaguenj.com. Spring registration is still open.
Zogsports’ Hoboken dodge ball league has decided to keep registration open until March 30. For more information go to www.zogsportsnj.org.
DODGE BALL RULES:
Two teams begin with six balls on the court. The object is to eliminate your competition by hitting them with a ball. If you hit an opponent, he or she has to leave the game. If you catch a ball that is thrown at you, the person who threw it has to leave the game and you can allow one of your team mates back in.