BILLINGS, Mont. (BVM) – For most Americans, our lives take on roughly the same trajectory when it comes to sports. At a young age we want to be active and part of a team, so we join little leagues and junior teams. Many of us will continue with those sports as we age, getting into more and more competitive leagues through junior high and high school. It’s here that few will be recognized as star players and go on to compete in college level or even professional level sports. The rest of us will simply play for the fun of it, getting involved in intramural sports so we can still claim we are athletes, but really we’re just looking to get together and have a good time with friends.

But what happens when you’re done with college and the day in and day out of everyday life takes hold? For most, our athletic days are relegated to watching others play on television. But for one couple in Billings, Mont., that wasn’t good enough.

When Sam and Greta Hensler moved from Bozeman to Billings, they were met with the typical response for the area: “Why would you move to Billings? There’s nothing to do there!” The young couple quickly realized that there was plenty to do in Billings, but what was really lacking was the social aspect they easily found in their old college town. Social by nature Sam, a structural engineer, and Greta, a dietitian, decided they needed to get involved.

The problem, however, was that many adult recreation leagues are so rigidly set up, that it’s difficult to join unless you already know someone in the league. For several weeks, Sam tried to join a local soccer team, but since he wasn’t already on a team (and he wasn’t bringing in a bunch of people to start an entirely new team) he was left out.

“The league organizers said they could pass my number along to the team captains in case they were looking for players,” Sam said. “Nobody ever called though.”

There had to be a better way. Joining a team shouldn’t only be possible if you already know the people. Instead, Sam and Greta knew that anyone who wanted to get involved should be able to get involved no matter who they knew.

That’s when it all started to come together.

When Sam thought about the sports he enjoyed, he realized it wasn’t all about competition. It wasn’t about being a star athlete or training hard to be the best.

“It’s about the camaraderie that is built when you get out there and have fun,” Sam said. “You find new friends and get the social interaction that we as humans crave.”

Sam and Greta sat down and created a new sports league, Sportsball — a league where even the name is goofy.

The idea was to get adults together to have fun playing sports, and then have everyone meet up at the bar afterward to further that social gathering. But because too many people are competitive and it’s win or nothing, this new league had to take out the competitive edge and essentially recreate that feeling you got in elementary school gym class. Everyone just runs around, has some fun, and makes new friends.

Thus, Sportsball opened offering a variety of sports throughout the year. These offerings included quirky spins on well known sports; such as ultimate frugby (a mix of ultimate frisbee and rugby), inner tube water polo, wally-ball (volleyball where bank shots off the walls and ceilings are legal), or trampoline dodgeball.

Removing all barriers, anyone can register via the website and they’re placed on a team. Those returning for season after season are mixed in with those who are just starting out on their Sportsball journey.

The real twist, however, is after the games are done.

“The sports are a ruse. A sleight of hand. A distraction if you will,” Sam said with a smile.

After college, most of us don’t get the opportunity to play sports anymore, so when these throwback to elementary school games come up, they’re immediately popular. The first season saw 40 register; now it’s closer to around 200 people every season with a total of 800 registered players.

The sports bring people together.

At the end of the game, each team is handed a ticket for a free pitcher of beer at the brewery that sponsors the league. The winning team is rewarded with an extra pitcher. Sports and beer fit together nicely so after the games are done, it’s time to socialize.

As pitchers are poured, teams pull tables together with opposing teams. As pints are sipped, lasting friendships are built, and in the end, nobody cares if they won or lost. Because in the end, it’s all about the friendships we build that will last beyond the edge of the playing field.