Find Your Perfect Rec League in Lafayette, LA
While the Acadiana region is perfect for families, it also offers a range of activities and opportunities for adults, making it easy for them to discover new hobbies and find a sense of place. Rec leagues, like volleyball, softball, soccer, pickleball, tennis and more, can be found throughout the Lafayette, LA, area. These allow participants to exercise while meeting new people, making friends and simply having fun.
“There’s a lot of programming that goes on in public spaces here,” says Ben Berthelot, president and CEO of Lafayette Travel, the tourism promotion and marketing organization for Lafyette Parish. “There are so many different ways to engage with people. We have a very welcoming community, so nobody is a stranger.”
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Finding Community
For Lafayette transplant Kathy Ruckstuhl, community comes through her work with the Acadiana Community Tennis Association, where she serves as president. The association works to support and develop tennis in Acadiana. There’s a massive collaboration among private and public tennis courts throughout the city, she says, which reflects Lafayette’s strong sense of community. Through the association, experienced players can join men’s, women’s or mixed leagues. Plus, the association offers a program called Tennis Apprentice, which includes four weeks of instruction and four weeks of league play. Participants receive a free racquet, and the experience is a great introduction to the sport and association.
“As many people as we can touch – if they’re kids or adults, if they have special needs, if they are recreational, if they just want the social aspect or are competitive – we’re going to try to put out grassroots programs in the public parks that are going to be available for them to become part of that tennis community,” Ruckstuhl says.
Bringing People Together
In addition to tennis, soccer is another popular rec league found in the Lafayette, LA, region. LA Krewe FC, a semipro soccer team playing in USL League Two, sponsors a new adult league called Youngsville Super League in conjunction with South Side Youth Soccer. League games take place on Sundays at Youngsville Sports Complex. Joan Oliva, technical director of LA Krewe’s youth soccer program, says soccer is one of the fastest-growing sports in the area. There are nearly two dozen adult teams that play in three divisions throughout the year through Youngsville Super League.
“Soccer is something that brings people together,” Oliva says.
Speaking of the Youngsville Sports Complex, this area jewel is home to six soccer fields, four softball fields, five baseball fields, batting cages, 10 tennis courts, five sand volleyball courts, a 1-mile walking path and so much more. It’s a massive gathering place for sports and recreation lovers of all ages. The complex hosts adult leagues in volleyball, softball, tennis and pickleball.
A Place to Socialize
For those who prefer more socializing than sweating when they recreate, Pétanque Lafayette has the answer. Similar to horseshoe and bocce ball, pétanque is a French game rooted in ancient history. Players throw or roll a steel boule (or ball), trying to get it close to the jack (or target). There are public pétanque courts in Girard Park in Lafayette. The group plays twice a month, and because they are affiliated with Alliance Française de Lafayette, whose mission it is to promote the French language, members sometimes socialize in French.
The Lafayette Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture Department takes advantage of its more than 35 parks to run adult sports leagues in the Lafayette, LA, area. These include co-ed basketball, softball and football, all of which are held for 12 weeks. Basketball and softball begin in March, while football begins in September.
“Lafayette offers one of the most exciting and diverse lineups of adult recreational sporting activities in the region,” says Timothy Sensley, director of the Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture Department. “Whether you’re looking to stay active, meet new people or just have fun after hours, there’s something for everyone, from competitive leagues to casual play. It’s all about community, connection and bringing joy through movement and play.”
Another great place in the Lafayette, LA, area to consider joining a rec league is Lafayette Pickleball Club. This 16,000-square-foot, climate-controlled facility boasts six courts and hosts open play, leagues and tournaments. While membership is available, it is not required.
Fun for Students
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers a wide selection of rec leagues for students to take part in, including flag football, volleyball, indoor and outdoor soccer, basketball, softball and 4v4 volleyball. Plus, recreational tournaments in spikeball, ping pong, singles and doubles tennis, badminton, dodgeball, racquetball and kickball are also available.
No matter how you choose to get active, the Lafayette, LA, area offers plenty of rec leagues and programs for adults to socialize, make friends and have fun.
“Our government has done a great job of providing various programming and services, not just in Lafayette but all the surrounding communities in our parish, to accommodate the wishes and desires of its citizens to be able to experience recreation,” Berthelot says. “We like to say we work hard, and we play hard. It’s part of our culture and how we are.”
This article is sponsored by the Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission, Lafayette Economic Development Authority and One Acadiana.