Should you play in sports leagues with coworkers?

When you were in elementary school, you played Little League baseball and peewee football. In middle school, you tried out for the junior varsity teams. By high school, you were a basketball star. It didn't stop there. In college, you were a walk-on for your school's soccer team. Maybe you even spent your spare time playing intramural volleyball and softball.

If this describes you, a lifetime sports lover, why should your participation in team sports suddenly be cut off when you enter the corporate world of commuting, conference calls and committees? The good news is it doesn't have to. Not only are adult sports leagues growing and thriving, but it's possible to find one through the company you work for. Now, instead of competing with (and against) classmates, you'll be joining your co-workers on the field.

The benefits of playing in a sports league with your office mates are numerous. The recreation allows you a way to improve your health and fitness, and the competition gives you a chance to bond and build trust with the people you spend 40 hours a week with [source: Schafer]. It can also offer a welcome way to unwind from a high-pressure job [source: Hooper].

Of course, competitive sports with your co-workers isn't all high-fives and backside pats. When things get tense on the field, grudges can be carried back into the office. And even the positive aspects of team spirit can sometimes work against a company if its employees develop more loyalty to their co-workers than their jobs [source: Harvard Business Review]. But as long as you keep the downsides in mind and let fun, out-of-office time stay just that -- fun and out of the office -- you can reap the benefits of competitive sports with co-workers.

If your company doesn't already have a team, you can start one yourself. Keep reading to find out how.

How to Organize a Sports Team with Your Co-workers

By far, the simplest way to get a team together at your workplace is to spread the word. If you have the official sponsorship or support of your company, you can do this by posting notices on break-room bulletin boards or sending out e-mails. Make your contact information available and collect the phone numbers and e-mails of interested employees. If your team won't be a company team, it's best to approach co-workers informally.

Depending on what sport you'll be playing, you may have more sign-ups than you need. In an instance like this, you can go a couple of ways: Maintain one team and rotate the players, or create an intracompany league with multiple teams. Avoid holding tryouts, as you can cause resentment in co-workers who don't make the cut.

Once you've collected participants, you'll need to get organized. You may want to establish playing positions, practice times and a rules overview. If you're in need of gear, ask team members to donate fees or equipment. If your team is corporate-sponsored, your company may supply things like clubs, balls, rackets and even uniforms. It never hurts to ask.

You'll also need to find competitors. To locate a league or other company teams, visit an adult sports league site like Sportsvite.com. You can also build interest by posting announcements on community bulletin boards or Web sites.

The next page has lots more information on adult sports leagues.

Should you play in sports leagues with coworkers?

How to Organize a Sports Team with Your Co-workers

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