• See related Sun-Times article
• Special section: Race for the Olympics
All: Chicago Sports and Social Club Holy sports offerings, Batman! If you've ever had a hankering to try rock climbing, kayaking, dancing and more—or want to hone your superstar skills—Chicago Sports and Social Club is the place for you. Most leagues are co-ed and run for seven weeks, plus playoffs. As with most other sports sites, you can sign up with a group of friends or coworkers, or test the waters solo. Fees vary by activity, but the money will get you a team T-shirt. Sorry, kids: You've got to be 21 or older to participate.
All: Players Sports Group Want to keep it simple? Players Sports (and social club) has the summer basics covered: kickball, volleyball, soccer and softball. Sign up by yourself or with a team. Prices vary, depending on the league, but your fee buys you eight games, officiating and T-shirts. Most games are held at facilities on the North Side. And as long as team activities don't take place in bar, you can play if you're at least 19 years old.
All: Sports Monster Keep your inner cookie monster in check by playing in one of Sports Monster's summer leagues. Summer registration is now open for beach volleyball, softball, soccer, kickball, tennis and more. All skill levels are welcome. Depending on which sport you choose, co-ed, men's or women's teams are available, and prices start at around $100 for non-member individuals. Members get discounts in exchange for an annual $50 fee.
Cycling: Chicago Cycling Club Want to be taken for a ride? Hop on your bike and join the CCC for one of its free rides, which take place a few times per week. We love that in most cases you don't need to register, either. Whether you've only recently removed your training wheels or you've been a rider since way back, the CCC has rides to meet your needs...from 12 to 100 miles. Oh, and did we mention that most rides are free?! (Thought so, but we're that excited about it!)
Dodgeball: North Avenue Beach Sports We dare you to think of a better location to play dodgeball. NAB's Thursday night dodgeball combines outdoor fun with a pretty hefty emphasis on beer. (Guess what winning teams get?) Grab a bunch of your friends and sign up as a team, or sign up as a "free agent" to be placed with an existing group. Cost is $95 per person or $1,145 per team (8 to 20+ players) for eight weeks of play if you sign up by May 14. Bonus: Teams must be 40 percent female. NAB Sports offers roller hockey, too.
Golf: Chicago Park District Golf Instruction Take a swing at golf by scheduling private lessons from a golf professional at one of the Chicago Park District's driving ranges. Whether you seek to sharpen your skills for your next trip to the links or you have never picked up a club, an instructor can outline a course of action for you. Group and individual lessons are available at the Diversey and Jackson Park Driving Ranges by appointment. Fees vary by instructor.
Kickball: Chicago Kickball We don't have a time machine, but playing this childhood favorite will have you feeling like a kid again. Chicago Kickball only costs $53 a player, but individual slots fill up fast (there are no more team slots available), so waste no time if you want to play in this Winnemac Park league. Games start on May 9. We love what the group advertises on its website: "Chicago Kickball is for the kickers, lovers and drinkers." Sounds way better than the P.E. days of elementary school.
Martial arts: Degerberg Academy of Martial Arts The Karate Kid was one of our favorite movies growing up. But karate is just one of many martial arts forms available these days. Degerberg Academy has at least 20 in its ongoing lineup, from kickboxing to tae kwon do and judo. A month of group adult classes and a martial arts uniform would normally set you back about $160, but the $20 trial program buys you a half-hour semi-private class, a tour, a uniform and two classes a week for the first month. Can it get better? Yes! As an adult beginner, you'll never be stuck in a class with children. Whew!
Rowing: Lincoln Park Boat Club Who hasn't taken a stroll along the lakefront and wished they were friends with someone (anyone!) with a boat? Wish no longer. Even if you aren't a member of LPBC, $130 buys you an introductory sculling class and three private lessons. For $180 you can take a month-long sweep rowing class. Become a member for $315 a year to get 24-7 access to most of the club facilities and equipment. (Students get a discounted membership rate.) You'll be row, row, rowing your boat in no time.
Running: Chicago Area Runners Association If you're running on empty, it's time to try training with a group. CARA offers training programs for runners of all levels, whether you're a beginner or marathoner. Beginning running (eight weeks) costs $75 for non-members while marathon training (18 weeks) costs $180 for non-members, but price breaks are given to past participants and CARA members. Training runs begin in either Lincoln Park or downtown. Don't want to pay to run? CARA's site lists free fun runs (group runs from three to six miles) put on by area running stores.
Running: Chicago Endurance Sports We runners are a picky bunch. We search for the perfect training program until we find it...and perhaps that perfection will lie with Chicago Endurance Sports for you, where everything from beginning running to marathon, cycling and triathlon training is offered. Fees vary by program. Intro to running costs $110, marathon training costs $190, the cycling program costs around $160 and triathlon training costs $250. Discounts are given to CES alums.
Soccer: Chitown Futbol Summer's great and all, but the threat of skin cancer is such a drag. Cue Chitown Futbol, an indoor soccer league and facility located at 2255 S. Throop. Bonus: you can play on a men's, women's or co-ed team almost year-round. CF offers three sessions—summer, winter and spring—which consist of 13 weeks of league play plus three weeks of finals. $130 buys you individual registration, team lineups and a team T-shirt. Have a wee one who wants to get in the game? Check out the Lil' Kickers section on CF's website.
Tennis: Midtown Tennis Club Watch out, Serena Williams! Midtown Tennis Club prides itself on turning out skilled tennis players. Everyone from adult beginners to experienced and youth players are welcome at this gym/tennis club, which is located at 2020 W. Fullerton Ave. Members, who pay $95 monthly dues, can take private lessons ($64 per hour) or grab a friend and take a swing at group instruction (106—yep, 106—lessons for $105).
Triathalon: Chicago Tri Club Tri it, you might like it. The Chicago Tri Club offers group swimming, running and cycling workouts to its members. Most workouts are open to athletes of all abilities and speeds, and take place weekly, year-round. The $50 membership fee buys you access to members-only group workouts, a coolmax club T-shirt, admission to monthly clinics and social events.
Volleyball: Lincoln Park Volleyball Like to play volleyball but aren't hip to the commitment of joining a league? Lincoln Park Volleyball's pick-up games are just the ticket. Every Tuesday and Thursday through September, from 5:30 p.m. until the sun goes down, volleyball enthusiasts play on five courts located west of Cannon Drive, north of the North Avenue Beach pedestrian bridge and south of the lagoon. The cost? A $1 donation. (Smile.)
