OUT Sports League players. (Photo courtesy John Teixeira)
TAMPA | The Orlando-based OUT Sports League has announced its expansion to Tampa Bay, beginning Oct. 14 with weekly kickball games at the Rubin Padgett Sports Complex.
The LGBTQ+ recreational sports organization was created to provide a safe space for members of the community to meet and interact. It initially operated as part of a California-based league before Commissioner John Teixeira formed OUT Sports in 2021.
“We decided to go independent because it better served the community,” he explains. Since then it’s grown to offer kickball, dodgeball, soccer, volleyball and cornhole to more than 1,600 players.
The inaugural kickball season will run through Dec. 2, with no games Nov. 25 but a makeup game scheduled for Dec. 9. They’ll be played 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays for players of all skill levels, gender identities and sexual orientations. The league also held free, pick-up games Oct. 7. View photos below:
The Tampa expansion is the result of a merger with Rainbow Sports League, which previously offered inclusive games in the region. OUT Sports lowered players’ fees, chose a new location for gameplay and created other benefits ahead of the new season.
“Games were not being played at a field that was centrally located and because it was so far away, it was hard for the players to get the social experience that they may have wanted afterwards,” Teixeira says. “I also thought it was a bit cost prohibitive, so we lowered the cost from $75 to $50.”
League registration fees cover the cost of equipment, insurance, T-shirts and more, including social activities like weekly afterparties at Bradley’s on 7th in Ybor. Captains can create teams of 12 or more, players can join existing teams if invited or the league can place individuals on teams.
Registration is ongoing and OUT Sports expects between six and eight teams for its first Tampa season. To assist in coordinating the expansion, Teixeira brought on Andrew Jones as a league manager.
“People are excited to have OUT Sports League in in Tampa,” Teixeira says. “We have over 1,000 players every season in Orlando and because of that, we’ve had a lot of players who have lived in or moved to Tampa. They’ve been spreading the buzz that we’re going to try to make some positive change in the Tampa Bay sports community.”
OUT Sports hopes to expand operations in 2024 to include dodgeball, soccer and sand volleyball. The league is also working on hosting a statewide kickball tournament with other local sports organizations next year.
“I’ve always thought that one of the most important parts about recreational queer sports is that they provide an opportunity to meet other queer people offline; off their apps and in person,” Teixeira says. “A queer sports league helps provide social activities on and outside of the field and we’re excited to expand to Tampa.”
For more information about OUT Sports League and its upcoming season, visit OUTSportsLeague.com/Tampa.
