The newest sport under the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ) banner is, well, a flashback to most of our childhoods.
It's kickball, complete with the ever-popular red, rubber balls.
And, yes, you can throw the ball at your opponents to get them out.
'Kickball was a sport I thought about, oh, about the same time the badminton league was formed [ in early 2005 ] . Kickball is just something that I've always wanted to do,' said Lucas Wonn, the kickball co-commissioner who shares the duties with CMSA veteran Doug Malm.
'It's a total flashback. We're using the red rubber ball that you remember from way back when, although the ball we're actually using is much larger ball than what you're used to because we're playing indoors. Out ball is 16 inches in diameter.'
Kickball made its debut July 22 at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. All games are played on Tuesdays.
The sport will, hopefully, be played outdoors next summer, Wonn said.
'I think it's going to be a very popular sport. Whenever I say kickball, people always smile because of their past playing,' Wonn said.
There are eight teams for the inaugural season, with seven-inning games slated for 50 minutes each.