Go Outside and Play! Pleasanton Offers Multitude of Sports to Get You Going

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Spring is in the air. Time to get out of your cubicle and enjoy some fresh air, exercise, and fun. What better way to do this than by taking advantage of the many sports activities offered through the City of Pleasanton's Parks and Recreation Department? Whether it is through a team sport such as softball or an individual sport like lap swimming, the city has a sport for you to enjoy. With parks and sport facilities located close to Hacienda, you can find time in your work schedule to get some exercise before work, during lunch or at the end of a workday.

Softball

One of the more popular sports with Hacienda businesses is softball. The city's business softball league is set up so that employees who do not live in the area can still play on a team, with games starting at 5:15 pm.

"We have a total of 47 business teams out of 50 spots for the spring league," says Softball Supervisor Dan Villasenor. "We have teams from companies such as ADP, Roche, Robert Half, Washington Mutual and Oracle."

The spring league began April 1, but there is also a fall league. "Registration for the fall league begins in June, with games starting in August" added Villasenor.

All softball games are played at the Pleasanton Sports and Recreation Park, Softball Complex located at 5800 Parkside Drive at Hopyard Road. The league offers a variety of times for games from Sunday through Friday evenings.

To start a team, pick up a registration packet at the Parks and Recreation Office at the city offices, or contact Villasenor at (925) 931-3437 or email dvillasenor@ci.pleasanton.ca.us to get more information.

If you do not have a team, but want to play, the city will find a team for you through their individual player program. The city attempts to place individuals on teams in need of players or, if there are enough individuals available, will create a new team. Call Villasenor for more information.

Basketball

If "hoops" is your game, the city offers an adult basketball league with men's and women's divisions. League play runs generally 8-9 weeks at a time, year round, with games played in the evenings from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm. Games are played at either Harvest Park Middle School or Pleasanton Middle School.

The summer league registration begins the end of May with games starting in early June. Teams can register at the Tennis and Community Park at 5801 Valley Avenue, or at the Parks and Recreation Office at the city's downtown offices.

New this year is the Free Agent Player program, available for individuals and newcomers. It allows players to compete in a recreational league without having a team. Free Agent teams are formed randomly.

For more information about all basketball programs, call Ian Anderson at (925) 931-3447.

Badminton

Drop-in badminton is available through the Open Gym program (see Open Gym Programs below) where adults can play on co-ed teams year round, at any skill level. Games are played at Harvest Park Middle School on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm, and Sundays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Cost is $5 for Pleasanton residents, and $6 for non-residents.

Bocce Ball

The bocce ball courts, located at Centennial Community Park, 5353 Sunol Boulevard, next to the Pleasanton Senior Center, are open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Equipment is provided.

The Adult Bocce Ball league offers beginner and advanced divisions with spring and fall leagues. Team registration information is available at the Tennis and Community Park at 5801 Valley Avenue. Games are played at Centennial Community Park. For more information, call Ian Anderson at (925) 931-3447.

Soccer

The Pleasanton Adult Sunday Soccer League (PASS) is a league of adult recreation soccer players with three divisions: Coed, Coed Premier and Coed Masters. Games are played on Sundays during the spring and fall, primarily at the Pleasanton Sports Park. For more information, visit the league's web site at www.pass30.net.

Tennis

Located at the corner of Valley Avenue and Hopyard Road, the Pleasanton Tennis and Community Park offers 10 lighted courts that are available on a pay-as-you-play basis. Other public courts are available throughout the city at community parks and schools free of charge. The Tennis and Community Park center offers three levels of adult lessons as well as classes for skill development. League play for doubles (ladies', men's and mixed) and a singles' challenge ladder are also offered. Courts are available by reservation or drop-in basis for open play. Ball machines can be rented as well.

Court reservations can now be made online at www.lifetimetennis.com, or by calling (925) 931-3449.

Volleyball

The Adult Volleyball League, offering coed teams in upper and lower divisions, added a spring league this year that began in March. The league also has fall and winter leagues. Games are generally played at either Pleasanton Middle School or Harvest Park Middle School. Team registration information is available at the Tennis and Community Park, or by calling Ian Anderson at (925) 931-3447.

Golf

Pleasanton's newest facility is the Callippe Preserve Golf Course located at 8500 Clubhouse Drive in an area known as Happy Valley. The course offers an 18-hole, par 72 course, driving range, lessons, clubhouse, pro shop and more. For more information, visit www.playcallippe.com.

Aquatics

The Dolores Bengtson Aquatic Center, located at 4455 Black Avenue, offers a wide range of classes and activities through its aquatic program. The most popular activities for adults include the fitness-lap swim program and water fitness classes.

Lap swimming is available for morning, lunch and evening sessions. Fees can be paid by single admissions, a 15-admission punch pass, or semi-annual and annual passes. Water fitness classes include the Water Exercise, Sunrise Workout, Deep Water Workout and Aqua Aerobics classes. Lap swimming is on a drop-in basis. Registration is recommended for the water fitness classes, but drop-ins are available for $7.

For more information, call the aquatic center at (925) 931-3420, or visit the city's web site at www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/services/recreation/aquatics.html.

Open Gym Programs

The Open Gym programs are available to adults 18 years and older, offering drop-in play for basketball, volleyball and badminton. For more information, call (925) 931-3446

Basketball
($3; for residents only)
Saturdays, 6:45 am to 8:45 am, Harvest Park Middle School
Mondays, 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Hart Middle School

Volleyball
($4 resident, $5 non-resident)
Sundays, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Harvest Park Middle School

Badminton
($5 resident, $6 non-resident)
Wednesdays, 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Harvest Park Middle School
Saturdays, 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Harvest Park Middle School
Sundays, 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Harvest Park Middle School

More information For a description of all Pleasanton sports and recreational activities, as well as access to the Pleasanton Parks and Community Services Activities Guide, visit the city's web site at www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/services/recreation.

Want to be a Coach?

Youth sports are huge in Pleasanton. Players come from other cities to play in Pleasanton leagues that are co-sponsored by the City of Pleasanton. However, many of the leagues struggle to find enough coaches for the teams. If you have ever considered coaching youth sports, then Pleasanton's leagues want you! You do not have to be a parent of a player to be a coach. Here is the contact information for each sport.

Baseball
Pleasanton American Little League: (925) 461-6542; www.pleasantonamerican.org
Pleasanton Foothill Little League: (925) 417-5440; www.pfllonline.org
Pleasanton National Little League: (925) 974-8106; www.pnll.info
Pleasanton Pony Baseball; (925) 600-7669; www.eteamz.com/pleasantonpony

Football
Pleasanton Junior Football League: (925) 277-8266; www.pjfl.com

Soccer
Ballistic United Soccer Club: (925) 846-7168; www.busc.org
Pleasanton Rage Girls Soccer Club: (925) 209-9983; www.pleasantonrage.org

Softball
Pleasanton Girls Softball League: (925) 846-3051; www.pleasantonsoftball.org

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