The Best Summer Sports Leagues in Toronto

The best summer sports leagues in Toronto include a range of popular athletic activities as well as niche sports. For seasoned athletes or recreational players, participating in a club or league is a great way to enjoy the warmer weather, stay in shape, and meet new people.

As evidenced by some of the smaller leagues on this list, the quality of a Toronto sports league is not necessarily defined by the size of its membership. Being part of a tight, dedicated group of enthusiasts can often provide a more rewarding experience than a larger one. And the more grassroots the community, the more welcoming it usually is to newbies.

If you ask me, the best sports leagues provide experiences as social as they are athletic. Get back into a favourite activity or try your hand at something new, and chances are you'll shed pounds, acquire skills, and gain friendships and team bonds that endure on and off the field.

Here are the the 12 best summer sports leagues in Toronto as voted by readers of this site.

Toronto Sport and Social Club

The TSSC not only offers sports like soccer, ultimate Frisbee and tennis, but you can also sign yourself up for cooking and photography classes, speed dating, Amazing-Race style urban adventures, and much more. With a multitude of co-ed and single-gender activities for teams and individuals happening year round, the Toronto Sport and Social Club truly has something for everyone.

Toronto Roller Derby

Members of ToRD are fast on their quad-wheeled feet and fiercely loyal to their sport and community. An all-female operated organization, Toronto Roller Derby is the largest flat-track derby league in Canada, providing an especially supportive athletic and social environment for girls and women.

Not So Pro Sports

Not So Pro Toronto offers outdoor sports like flag football, softball, ultimate Frisbee, and rowing; indoor options like basketball and floor hockey; as well as a variety of clinics, bootcamps, and parties throughout the year. Even if their summer offerings aren't your thing, you might want to mark up the cooler months of your calendar with their ski and snowboard club excursions.

Toronto Dodgeball Association

Who doesn't love a little dodgeball? Recreational, intermediate, and competitive players can get their fix with the Toronto Dodgeball Association. All of their summer leagues are played on outdoor sand courts, and each 60- to 70-minute game is officiated by two referees. Every team has a shot at having their name engraved on the championship trophy, and the league throws team pizza parties after playoff games, to boot.

Toronto Ultimate Club

TUC is the place to get involved in Toronto's ultimate Frisbee scene. This year marks the not-for-profit, volunteer-driven club's 30th anniversary. Offerings include skills clinics for beginners, hat tournaments, pickup games, year-round co-ed and single-gender leagues for all skill levels, and a separate league for juniors aged 18 and under. Warning: start chasing plastic with these folks, and you may find it hard to quit. Stall eight, stall nine, up!

Toronto Kickball

Remember elementary school gym class kickball? If not, refresh yourself every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Alexandra Park. Simply put, a group of guys and gals come together to play a sport that's like baseball, but with kicking. And then they go out for drinks (okay, maybe not quite like elementary school). It's free to participate, newcomers are welcome, and wacky outfits are optional.

Toronto Recreational Sports League

If you're a resident of the Yonge and Eglinton area, the Toronto Recreational Sports League will cater to your needs. All of their field and gym locations are located as close as possible to the intersection. If there's a place you can't find by yourself, their site lists helpful directions to each of their facilities. Sports offerings include baskbetball, soccer, and ultimate Frisbee. All leagues are recreational, co-ed, non-contact, and for adults in their 20s and 30s.

Toronto Services Soccer League

Toronto's soccer fanatics need to look no farther than the TSSL. League membership consists of anywhere between 80 to 110 teams at any given year. Games are held all over the city, from Centennial Park in Etobicoke to Seneca College, Glendon College, and Sunnybrook Park. Individual players looking for a team can fill out a submission form and be sorted into a team based on experience and preferred position.

Extreme Toronto Sports Club

In the summer, the XTSC's offerings include outdoor field and turf soccer, dodgeball, and ultimate, and indoor court volleyball for adult recreational league players in Toronto. Benefits include competitive pricing, same game locations, referees, various free games and tournaments, and more.

League of Bike Polo

For those looking for some fun on two wheels with balls and mallets, there's Toronto's league of bike polo. Bike polo calls Scadding Court Rink in Alexandra Park its home on weeknights and Sunday evenings. The best way to keep up with the pick-up league is to stay tuned to the league Facebook page or by following them on their Twitter.

Beach Blast

Do you crave beach volleyball all year long? Beach Blast brings it, with indoor and outdoor sandbox courts at 15 Leswyn Road in North York. The league runs 365 days a year, and you never have to worry about being rained out of your plans for some fun in the sand with friends.

Scarborough Adult Baseball League

Started in 1985 after a series of semi-organized pick-up baseball games, the Scarborough Adult Baseball League grew from its initial four teams to its current 10-team, two-division configuration. Games are played on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with most games taking place at Wishing Well Park.

Toronto Roller Derby photo by DAVIDARTEMIW PHOTOGRAPHY and dodgeball photo by Toronto Dodgeball Association. All other photos by Jennifer Tse.