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This is all about the amateur art of pick up sports, so you hardcore, shove or be shoved, uber-competitive types out there, take your mad skills to another field or court. The idea is for newbies to the area and you athletically or non-athletically inclined to find a sport out there and more importantly to meet new neighbors and friends in the process. Fortunately, options abound in our fair city to link up and shoot, throw, catch, run, etc.

Denver Highlanders: Rugby seems like an odd intro, and that’s the point. This is a men’s only league, but welcomes all kinds to practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 - 8 p.m. They meet in Jacobs Park in Cherry Creek. Be sure to brush up on your rugby terms, mostly for your own macabre interest: “blood bin,” “group of death,” “maul,” and “scrub” stood out.

For the ladies, you may need to have some experience if you want to join the nationally-recognized Black Ice Rugby team, but they do welcome all experience levels to come and give-it-a-go.

Sports Monster: Broomball? Dodgeball? Bowling? Sure. This company out of Columbus, Ohio that organizes, markets, and operates adult rec leagues around the country also manages the more conventional sports in flag football, basketball, hockey, volleyball, and softball. For the refs and corporate oversight, you will have to fork over a registration fee to participate. But this takes the sweat out of  those needing an extra push to meet others.

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Bladium Denver: Football (the soccer kind) players, the Bladium arguably is the best name out of this group, and from youth - adults, you can get involved in intramural-like leagues. The indoor arena is a wow factor as is the other sport they host in hurling. No, not curling, hurling, the Gaelic sport that is two parts baseball, one parts lacrosse and soccer, and a dash of American football. I found this article to be a useful intro of this sport that allows you to wield a wooden axe.

Core Ultimate and Mile High Ultimate: Disc-in and find a place to pick-up and flick away. Core Ultimate and Mile High Ultimate provide a thorough list of times and locations you can play America’s other favorite sport, or at least Colorado’s.  

MOMS RUN THIS TOWN: They do and boldly so. Hundreds of chapters exist nationwide and Denver moms, you can walk, run, or jog and get social hour in at the same time. Click through to the Facebook and find out more, because I couldn’t join.

By Daniel Webster