The Optimists

April 1, 2015 - 9 years ago

I recently saw this trailer on my Facebook feed, and it seriously hit me to the bone. It represents so much of Urban Rec and here is why:

Take a look. 

1. Sport is not always about the sport. The main reason I am passionate about what we do at Urban Rec is because I am passionate about bringing people together. Sometimes, we just need a good reason, a common interest, a common goal to get us together. It's part of what structures, and maintains long lasting relationships. 

2. Being juvenile is amazing. Most of our members are young, but one day, we are all going to be old. It's inevitable. Being young is a state of mind. Even as we see people approaching their 30's we seem to have this idea that being an adult means being serious, and.... well,boring! It doesnt have to be that way. Be a giant kid, have fun, laugh at yourself, and keep building new experiences always. I hope our members can take this methodology with them into their 90's.

3. Losing is OK. Learning how to be a good loser is such an integral part of playing sport, and playing life. If you can understand that sport is very little about winning, and very much about having a go. Now, I am not saying we are all going to get a participation medal at the end of the season. But be OK that you lost, and be happy for those that won. It's a very liberating feeling.

Learn More

Future Dodgeball Festival 2014 - A Huge Success! - Urban Rec

July 20, 2014 - 10 years ago

Urban Rec was very excited to host their annual Future Dodgeball Festival last Sunday on July 13th, 2014. The event was a roaring success with the anticipated 20 teams registered, and plenty more spectators, friends and family to boot.  20 teams from all over Sydney met on 4 courts over 3 hours, playing a total of 4 games each in the round robin.

The event was not going unnoticed across the Country with Today Weekend Show crossing live to the event, on national television and the hosts witnessing a small taste of what would lay ahead for the day. 

Nearby on courtside, with Budweiser as a major sponsor of  the event and “The Bud Bar” was in full motion, and proved an excellent resting place where patrons could donate money for buckets’o’bud, with 100% of their donation going to charity. All the while they enjoyed the funky 90’s beats coming from the (unreliebale) sound system.

While they waited dressed up as Bogans, ducks, and 90’s RnB bands, teams took advantage of the Bubble Soccer kindly donated by Kikoff Centre Fraser Park. For a small donation, teams were tumbling, and laughing, and really playing very little soccer, but having a fantastic time all the same.

By the time lunch came around, players had worked up a hunger, and thanks to Got Fries and The Sizzle, they were not disappointed. Well-fed players watched on as the finals teams for both the Scrubbers Cup, and Championship were announced. In a single elimination, and highly competitive round, only two teams would walk away with glory.

Drop Bears took out the Scrubbers Cup and Mixed Nuts took the Champions league, with Urban Rec Champion t-shirts, and a glistening silver cup to treasure till next year. The winners ceremony saw all teams showered with beer including the best dressed winners, Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies.  

A huge thanks is owed to our event sponsors, Budweiser, Kikoff Fraser Park, and Urban Rec. A humungous thanks and praise to all of the volunteers, who gave up their whole Sunday in the name of charity and fun. Without them, the event would not have been a possibility. We managed to raise$3500 on the day for Project Futures. 

Photos and Videos

Event photos can be found online here, and event video to be released in the coming weeks.

More Editorial and Media Exposure

Editorial in Timeout Sydney Online

Editorial in Timeout Sydney Magazine July 2014

Editorial in Weekend Notes

Editorial in Inner City Weekender

Live cross with Channel 9’s Weekend Today on Sunday 13th July

Live segment with Channel 9’s Weekend Today on Saturday 26th July

About the Charity

PROJECT FUTURES is a not for profit organisation, run by a passionate network of young and inspiring professionals. We raise awareness and funding for programs dedicated to combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation globally.

If you would like to join us for any of our Urban Rec Dodgeball Leagues, you can do so by clicking here to see when our next league is starting. Otherwise we look forward to seeing you all next year!

Learn More

Player Profile | Frank Lauria

June 20, 2014 - 10 years ago

Captain of Spaghetti and Dodgeballs and a tactical mastermind, Frank has the dubious honour of being the first (and hopefully last) player to have used his shoe as a projectile mid game. This resulted in the creation and implementation of “Frank’s Law”, outlawing this practice amongst many of his other antics.

---

Hey, what's your name? 

Frank L (codename Bangerz)

Which Urban Rec Sports do you play? 

Wednesday Night Dodgeball @ Marrickville

What's your team name? 

Spaghetti & Dodgeballs

What's a random fact about you? 

A former professional wrestler that wrestled under the ring name 'Frankie Fettucini' from 2008-2011, AWF Tag team Champion (http://www.awfwrestling.com.au/wrestler/328/Frankie+Fettucini.htm). Worked as a Pizza Chef as a teenager, now a Civil Engineer & Type 1 Diabetic by day!

Why did you choose UR and Social Sports over the more competitive sports played in Sydney? 

Location and we wanted to play dodgeball specifically... and it was more of a female friendly option than Rugby Union and the setting was more social between the teams and officials than other social sport set ups.

If in a Team, who did you decide to sign up with and why? 

Myself and fellow dodgeballer Gabriel Wong (codename WongFu) signed up to be able to do something uniquely exciting with an element of danger and sex appeal.

What is your best advice for someone who hasn't played your sport before, if they would like to come along to try? 

Just take a leap of faith and back yourself to make the run or throw and catch the 50/50 balls. Have no trepidations because in the social atmosphere UR has provided someone is always watching and ready to cheer you on and/or give advice or encouragement should you fail miserably.

Tell us about a funny moment on the court/field? 

I love seeing my typically shy friends unexpectedly rise to an occasion and take a catch or eliminate an opponent and instinctively become more assertive or aggressive in spontaneous moments. The one on one face offs at the end of a game are very much 'cometh the hour cometh the man' scenarios and in particular, I remember being dressed as a gorilla staring into the eyes of an opponent dressed as a shark each with dodgeballs and throwing arms cocked and wondering where else in the world would such a confrontation occur.

How long have you been playing your sport? 

Since May 29 Last Year (2013) This is my 4th dodgeball season.

What sport do you wish you could play? Or what sport are you choosing next season If not Dodgeball?

I would play Caged Soccer

Learn More

Be like Batman and stand up for sportsmanship!

June 10, 2014 - 10 years ago

Urban Rec prides itself on being the only truly recreational competition in Sydney. We offer a place for the beginners, people trying new sports, and getting back into it, to come together in a place where people are like minded, fun and friendly, without feeling intimidated. This is the life blood of our business, and what separates us from the "regular" competitions on offer in Sydney.

Things to remember at all times when playing in any Urban Rec League:

You will be playing beginners or people that don't want to go toO hard

As mentioned, we are the only club that offer a space for people to come and learn. If you are a more experienced player, you need to be conscious of that, and be aware of the newbies, go easy on them, coach them, and help them learn and improve. Secondly people sometimes come to Urban Rec to "retire" after playing in more serious leagues it's a place people can join when they don't want to take the game or themselves too seriously. 
 

We don't tolerate aggressive teams

Social Sports is ALL that we do. If you want to play hard, and aggressively, frankly you're in the wrong spot. There is nothing wrong with some healthy competition, but we do FUN best, and that should always be top of your mind when you are playing in our leagues. Moving from Urban Rec to more serious leagues is OK, we get that. If a team scores lower than a 2 in rec points, three times in a season, they will be asked to leave the league. This is our commitment to keeping the fun teams in the league happy. 

We don't tolerate aggressive people

Don't be a di*khead. Its that simple. Every single one of you have signed our code of conduct and we will hold you accountable to that. If any aggressive behavior is displayed by individuals, we will ask you to play elsewhere,  in a league more appropriate to your level, or attitude to sports. Under no circumstances should you put your team, or any other teams down, during a game. It's just not on. Participate for your own enjoyment, and benefit. 

Learn how to win and lose gracefully

If you are a sucessful team, and you know it, when you play the less experienced teams, don't go your hardest, and show them who's boss. Destroying them on the scoreboard will leave them feeling horrible, and you looking like a team of douchebags. Likewise, if you are losing don't get aggressive, or defeated. Just enjoy the game, and have some fun with it. Sometimes playing better teams can help build up your skills. Don't give up and throw your hands in the air, no one likes a tantrum!

If you are a captain of a team you are also the captain of fun

This means you are an ambassador for the recreational side of our leagues, not only are you responsible for making sure your team has fun on the court or field you are in charge of the fun off court. This means getting your team together for drinks at the Clubhouses, or joining in on some of the social stuff we do. You have a great honour bestowed upon you, and your team are relying on you! If you're not a captain, be a champ and get involved anyway. 

We play mixed only sports for a reason

Because it's better. Mixed sports are more fun, more relaxed, and more interesting. Always make sure you have a min of 2 people from either sex on the court. This isn't to measure performance, it's so we can enjoy a mash up of characters, skill level, and attitudes. Everyone out there is going to be a different height, weight, and experience level to you. So enjoy it. 

For a list of other policies we use for our leagues click here. 

Hopefully all of this is a relief to you all, and a reminder that you have indeed signed up to the most fantastic league in Sydney. If any of this makes you feel uncomfortable, please try and turn that frown upside down. Maybe this is not the right league for you, or maybe you just needed a gentle reminder to have a blast and enjoy you weeknights being out and about, social, and having a laugh with your friends. 

As always, keep it active. social. fun. 

Learn More

Player Profile | Jenna Mitchell

April 7, 2014 - 10 years ago

This player is one of our favourite and oldest friends. She came to us at the end of 2011 without even a pair of runners to her name, and determined that sports were simply not for her. Two years later, she has played in five season of Urban Rec, and holds a Champion shirt to boot. What an amazing story, and what a fabbo chick.

---

1. Hey, whats your name?

Jenna

2. Which Urban Rec Sports do you play?

I am currently playing Fast 5 netball and caged soccer

3. What's a random fact about you?

I hate driving at night, and I get annoyed when people go through skip bins. 

4. Why did you choose UR and Social Sports over the more competitive sports played in Sydney?

Before signing up to Urban Rec, the thought of playing any sport (social or otherwise) did not interest one little bit, after a bit of convincing from friends who needed an extra player in their touch football team I decided to give it a go (begrudgingly), I figured the best way for me to get any exercise would be having a run around with mates.

5. If in a Team, who did you decide to sign up with and why?

Mainly friends and friend’s partners.

6. What is your best advice for someone who hasn't played your sport before, if they would like to come along to try Urban Rec?

Just go along, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to play, the refs are all really good and supportive and you eventually get the hang of it. No one gets angry if you can’t catch or kick or run… they will just laugh at you instead!

7. How do you socialize with your current or past teams, off the court?

We quite often go out for dinner and beers after a game. Last season our team organised a fancy dress pub crawl (I personally think the ‘fancy dress’ was just an excuse so some of the boys wear extremely short shorts….)

8. Tell us about a funny moment on the court/field?

The last end of season Netball game was pretty funny to watch. Each quarter had a new rule which everyone had to follow, by the end everyone was just running around like idiots with no idea what was going on.

9. What is your favourite thing about team sports?

Having fun while exercising

10. What sport are you choosing next season?
Not sure at this stage – dodgeball looks like fun.

Learn More

Ten Benefits of Playing Social Sports

April 2, 2014 - 10 years ago

We are all well aware thet being fit and healthy is good for you. That's a given. But what specifically can sport do to our health and well being? Here are the top 10 benefits sport is bringing to our members, daily. 

---

1. Build friendships

Ever feel like since you hit 25 you suddenly stopped making friends? There is something about Sydney that means as soon as you hit quarter century your bestie making days are behind you. Sport is the ONE thing that brings people together. It doesnt matter who you are, where you are from, what you do, or how much money you have, everyone has their story to tell about sport. Some play, some watch, but everyone has a connection through sport. Urban Rec prides itself on bringing people together on, and off the field. The comradery a team feels after a big win (or even a big loss) is something that can rarely be found in any gym. 

2. Improve Your Mood

Its virtually impossible to step off that field feeling worse than before you started. The endorphins are running, the energy is high. Physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that make you feel happier and more relaxed. Fact. Team sports in particular provides a chance to unwind and engage socially, all while making those lungs work overtime. Hello cardio!

3. Sharpen Your Focus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) reports that regular physical activity can help you keep important mental skills sharp as you age, including thinking, learning, and using good judgment. According to the American Heart Association, doing a mix of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities, which are common to most sports, three to five times a week for at least 30 minutes can provide mental health benefits.

4. Reduce Stress

When you are physically active, your mind is distracted from daily stressors, freeing you to think more creatively. Exercise reduces the levels of stress hormones in your body, such as adrenaline and cortisol. At the same time, it stimulates production of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters that can help lower your stress levels. Endorphins may even leave you feeling more relaxed and optimistic after a hard workout on the sports field.

5. Keep Depression At Bay

“Go out and play” is good advice not only for children, but also for adults who are feeling blue. Researchers at Duke University studied 156 people with depression who were randomly assigned to treatment of solely aerobic exercise, exercise plus an antidepressant, or an antidepressant alone. After four months, all three groups showed improvement in depression symptoms, but after 10 months, the exercise only group had the lowest rate of depression recurrence.

6. Improve Sleep

The Mayo Clinic notes that sports and other forms of physical activity can improve the quality of your sleep, helping you to fall asleep faster and to deepen your sleep. A good sleep means you wake up feeling refreshed, and ready to hit the day head on. If you do play sports late —evening practices within a few hours of bedtime may leave you too energized to sleep.

7. Boost Confidence and Self-Esteem

The regular exercise that comes with playing sports can help boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. As your strength, skills, and stamina increase through playing sports (ant they will), your self-image will improve as well. Sports provide you with a sense of mastery and control, which often leads to a feeling of pride and self-confidence. With the renewed vigor and energy that comes from physical activity, you may be more likely to succeed in tasks off the playing field as well as on it.

8. Don't give me that 'time' crap!

Does the thought of exercising make you want to lie down? According to the Mayo Clinic, even 10 to 15 minutes of exercise can improve your mood. So if you are feeling completely uninterested in playing sport one night, get down there, and just sub in for a half or a quarter. Not only did you not let your team down, you have made a difference to your body. 

9. Leadership Skills

Sports teams give you an opportunity to surround yourself with competitive people and role models, and learn from them both. If you are slightly more experienced than a new player, you can find yourself sharing hints, and tips you have learnt along your way. Providing wisdom and encouragement, is building your leadership skills you may not know you have. These skills transfer off the court instinctively, voulenteer to be captain, and build your own personal skill base. 

10. Sports Nutrition

When engaging in sports for the first time, you may feel hungrier than usual. This is normal, because your body is expending much more energy than it is used to.

Here are some nutrition tips to help keep you healthy while you participate in sports:

• Eat fat. About 20 to 25 percent of energy comes from fats, so to keep energy levels high, your body needs you to consume fat.
• Make sure to eat before, during, and after your sport. The helps maintain blood glucose levels, which in turn will help enhance your sports performance.
• Keep hydrated! When playing a sport, your body loses a lot of fluid, which can cause dehydration. This is dangerous – and potentially fatal – so drink plenty of water.
• Eat a balanced diet. An athlete's diet should include plenty of complex carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fats.
• Limit salt and simple sugar.
• Don't fast!

Learn More

New Club Wide Policies for Substitutes and Forfeits

April 1, 2014 - 10 years ago

In recent times, Urban Rec has been working to develop a fair policy for substitute players and forfeits. The below policies and will take effect immediately club wide.

It is fantastic that to date, there has been a real sense of community, comradery, and helpfulness across the teams and leagues, but these rules have been brought in to ensure our ever growing community is addressed as simplistically, and fairly as possible.

Not all of the below elements are new, but borrowing players from other teams, will no longer be an option. If your team (with or without additional subs not on your team roster) cannot field with the minimum number of players (four), you will be forced to forfeit the game and encouraged to play a friendly.

SUBSTITUTE PLAYERS

1. Substitute players are allowed to play and fill in for you or your team members during the season.
2. Any new players will need to sign up as an Urban Rec Member, and acknowledge the waiver, and Code of Conduct online before the game. It is the sole responsibility of the team captain to ensure any substitute players have become members, and acknowledged the waiver. If someone is playing on our fields without doing this, they are doing so illegally, and will be asked to leave.
3. Teams are not allowed to borrow, or substitute players who are rostered on another team within in the league. 
4. If a team has paid a team fee, subs can play free of charge.
5. If the team has paid via individual signup, that player will need to pay a $10 casual fee to Urban Rec staff for that game.
6. If you turn up for your league and you do not have the minimum number of players to make a side (4, for most sports), you must forfeit the game. You are encouraged to borrow players, and have a friendly game. No score will be recorded. No Rec points will be recorded for the team that forfeited

FORFEITING A GAME

1. We encourage you NEVER to forfeit a game. If you have to, please let Urban Rec staff know ASAP so we can let you opponents know with good notice.
2. Your team may* be liable to pay the opposing team a $100 default fee for not allowing them to play their weekly game. (*This is specifically for repeat offenders)
3. If you turn up for your league and you do not have the minimum number of players to make a side (four), you must forfeit the game. You are encouraged to borrow players, and have a friendly game. No score will be recorded. No Rec points will be recorded for the team that forfeited.More details on the rest of our policies can be found online here.

If you have any questions about the new policies please get in touch with your Event Host or League Manager or email us [email protected]

Learn More

Player Profile | Daniel

February 20, 2014 - 10 years ago

Hey, what's your name?

Daniel or “DanMan” to the people I tolerate the most in the world.

Which Urban Rec Sports do you play?

Fast5 Netball at the moment, Dodgeball to start in the VERY near future.

How long have you been playing with Urban Rec?

I have been playing with Urban Rec now for around 9 months… We could almost have a baby together.

What sports do you play with Urban Rec?

WELL I play Netball, soon to be Dodgeball as well, and give Will and Madeleine as much grief as possible.

What's a random fact about you?

I may or may not molest my friends every chance I get, especially when alcohol is involved… #sorrynotsorry OR Depending who you ask, but my friends will tell you: “DanMan hates the world, but is actually a nice guy…”

Why did you choose UR and Social Sports over the more competitive sports played in Sydney? 

I prefer UR to the other competitions as it is fun and social, there is not one horrible or overly competitive person in the entire competition, everyone is there for the same reason, to have fun :-)

If in a Team, who did you decide to sign up with and why?

I am in the Coconut Catchers this time around as it is a mashup team of random individuals – it is the best way to meet new people.

If on an Individual team, how have you gone getting to know your new team mates?

We are already Facebook friends, so I assume it is going well and will be Best Friends for FOREVER!

What is your best advice for someone who hasn't played your sport before, if they would like to come along to try?

Don’t take it seriously; the teams are all here for fun. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?

Tell us about a funny moment on the court/field?

One time when I was GK I wasn’t fully aware of my surroundings, I may or may not have collided with the Goal Post and may or may not have knocked myself out… The ball was at the other end of the court… there was no-one around except the opposing team GS… Awkward .

What if your favourite thing about team sports?

Apart from the social aspect, I like it when a team can laugh at themselves and just have fun on the court

What sport do you wish you could play? or what sport are you choosing next season?

Definitely Fast5 or Fast7 again, and Dodgeball

Any final last comments on Urban Rec that we can share with other members considering to join us?

Since starting at UR I have had nothing but good times, Mads and the team are friendly and helpful. The teams are all good sports and here for fun, so if you want a laugh and some exercise, come on down…

Learn More

Player Profile - Harvey Shepherdson-Beck - Sydney Sports Club

October 29, 2013 - 11 years ago

World, meet Harvey. He is a solid human, and we are chuffed to have him as one of our crew.  He came into Urban Rec as ain individual, and he has been quietly conquering ever since. 

---

Hey, what's your name?

Hey, my names Harvey

Which Urban Rec Sports do you play?

I currently play touch football, but just finished an exciting season of dodgeball

What's your team name?

Our team is called 'The Rocky Sonics'

What's a random fact about you?

I played in a Rock/Metal band throughout my teens

Why did you choose UR and Social Sports over the more competitive sports played in Sydney?

I do some more competitive indoor and outdoor soccer on the side. So I like UR for the social interaction and keeping up my fitness. Plus it's a good excuse to catch up each week and stay in touch.

If on an Individual team, how have you gone getting to know your new team mates?

We've kept a small companion of friends since our first season of Touch football, so now we all just sign up together

What is your best advice for someone who hasn't played your sport before, if they would like to come along to try?

Great!!,you make friends easily on an individual team as you're often always working together anyway, so everyone learns to get along. It's all about taking that first step, If you don't give it a go, your never going to know. 

Tell us about a funny moment on the court/field?

We had an 80's dress-up themed dodgeball game as our final match last season. I decided to wear some bright orange glasses as part of my outfit. At the start of the match I realised the glasses restricted my vision too much on the field, so I put them to the side. Final few minutes feeling confident about our teams chances, I decided to wear them again.After stepping back on the court for a few seconds, I jumped behind a player, turned my head, then bang!!, a ball straight to the face, glasses go flying, pieces everywhere ,guess it wasn't meant to be.

How long have you been playing your sport?

I've played one season of dodgeball and am currently playing my second season of touch, so almost a year between both now.

What sport do you wish you could play? or what sport are you choosing next season?

I wouldn't mind trying out 'ultimate frisbee' at some point. But for now I'd be happy to continue onto another season of touch; it's just that fun I can't get enough.

What is your favourite thing about team sports?

Team sports are the best for group bonding and keeping fit together. Sometimes it's not always about the sport itself, but the people you play with that keeps you coming back for more

Learn More

Annual Festival Guide

September 12, 2013 - 11 years ago

We have taken the liberty of creating Sydney, or maybe even Australia's BEST list of cool, different, and maybe less popular Festivals. (With a few regular goodies in there too). 

Think we missed one? Let us know, this is an evolving list for a constant supply to all UR members, and we want it to be contributed by all the cool people that attend the Festivals, YOU! So have your say. 

What's more, please add some comments for tips, and ideas in the comments section. I.e. Did you know if you go to Falls Festival in Melbourne they don't sell ice onsite at the camping ground, so you have to take a bus into town, and get it! We should add that for sure. 

Anyway, here it is. Hope you like it folks!

Learn More