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By OLIVER MACK
Some College Park residents are playing volleyball at the University of Maryland (UMD) this summer, thanks to a half-price registration fee subsidized by the city.
The Terrapin Social Sports program will add pickleball teams in July, according to Julie Johnson, UMD’s assistant director for intramural sports and the Reckord Armory.
“Anything that gets people out and moving their bodies is a good thing,” College Park City Councilmember John Rigg (District 3), who plays on the program’s volleyball team, said. “It also helps to bring together residents in the local area of College Park and other surrounding jurisdictions. … Team sports are a great way of building community.”
College Park allocated $30,000 to offer 50% discounts to residents who wish to play social sports through RecWell, which operates the UMD program.
Social sports focus on team-based community building and social interaction rather than just competition, City Communications and Events Manager Ryna Quiñones said.
The program began last year to give community members the chance to play together in intramural volleyball and pickleball leagues. The initial cost, before discounts, is $85 to join the volleyball team and $50 to play pickleball.
The city council considered creating its own social sports league but instead partnered with the existing RecWell program, Quiñones said.
“We’re happy to help reduce the barriers, to encourage our residents to not only meet their neighbors, but kind of engage in these fun and active activities,” Quiñones said. “The other thing is that the University of Maryland has such wonderful facilities, and I think it’s amazing that our residents can utilize them.”
This summer’s volleyball program is already in full swing and pickleball matches will begin in mid-July, Johnson said.The teams, which play on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, do not have coaches and are officiated by the same referees who officiate UMD intramural sports during the school year, Johnson said.
Johnson added that participants can form their own teams or sign up as free agents to be added to an existing team.
“There’s a possibility that we’ll add flag football in future years,” Johnson said. “There’s possibilities for basketball in future years. We have a lot of leeway in what we offer because we have great facilities here on campus that we can use.”
Cat Peretti, a University Park resident, is the captain of a volleyball team made up of community members, including Rigg.
“It’s not about the competition as much as it’s just about getting out there and having fun,” Peretti said. “I think it’s a really great asset that the university runs, and I hope to see it continue.”