how to find people to play sports with

You can have access to the best sports equipment and newest facilities, but if you don’t have people to play with, those things don’t really matter. The reason sports are such a powerful tool for bringing communities together is that they highlight how much we need each other. Humans are social creatures; to accomplish lofty goals and live meaningful lives, we have to connect with others. However, connecting with other people about the things that matter is difficult without the right tools. 

More than anything else, eseo’s mission is to strengthen communities through sports. We know that playing sports offers tremendous benefits to mental and physical health, and that healthy individuals build caring communities. That’s why we provide the resources you need to play the sports you love. If you’re having trouble finding people to play sports with in your neighborhood, don’t worry — we’re here to help. Visit eseo online to connect with Philadelphia sports players near you. 

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Local Directories

Local directories are underutilized resources for sports players, probably because many athletes don’t realize they exist. Online directories are like digital phone books; they provide a list or catalog of relevant websites. When it comes to Philadelphia sports, there are a few directories that are especially useful for connecting with players and resources.

— GuideStar Directory: a national resource for charities and nonprofits across major U.S. cities. When you search GuideStar for Philadelphia sports, you get hundreds of results for sports clubs and associations 

— Cause IQ: a national directory that includes nearly 8,000 Pennsylvania recreation, sports and social clubs, as well as Philly sports nonprofits 

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Search Engines and Websites

When people talk about search engines, they’re generally talking about Google, but a search engine is actually any program that allows the searcher to filter results from a database by using keywords. Several sports websites (as well as social media platforms) act as search engines for Philadelphia sports resources. 

— Heyday Athletic: a website and search engine that allows visitors to search for Philadelphia sports leagues by location and sport

— Meetup - Philadelphia: a national website that allows visitors to join and search for local sports leagues, teams, clubs, pickup games, events and more

— OpenSports: an all-in-one pickup sports platform that lists nearby events and pickup games

Social Media Accounts

When it comes to social connection, social media can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can help people stay up-to-date on recent events and meaningful causes, and may even help people who’ve been estranged by geography to reconnect. On the other hand, it can provide a false sense of connection and foster loneliness when used for the purposes of comparison. 

Despite its drawbacks, social media can be an effective tool for connecting athletes with other sports players and organizations. Social networks like Facebook are home to sports pages that facilitate real-life meetups. Keep reading to find social media pages for Philadelphia sports players. 

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Facebook

If you’re trying to meet other athletes to play sports with, Facebook pages for pickup games and sports clubs are a great place to start. With most pages, you can simply request to join the group, and upon approval, start making connections. 

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— Stonewall Sports - Philadelphia: a non-profit sports league offering multiple opportunities for LGBTQIA+ athletes and allies across Philadelphia 

— T3 Philly: a multi-sport triathlon group based in Philadelphia

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Instagram

Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, has many Philly sports groups and clubs. Although its mobile app operates as a decent search tool, Instagram is difficult to navigate on desktop. It’s also inaccessible to users who don’t have an account. 

— The Philly Basketball Project: a nonprofit organization that underserved youth with sports equipment, resources and game opportunities

— Philadelphia Tennis Club: a nonprofit tennis club and the oldest African-American owned tennis club in the nation

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Twitter

Though less popular for sports group pages, athletes looking for players, clubs and game opportunities can find decent results on Twitter. Hashtags provide an additional means by which to narrow searches. 

— Philly Volleyball: the leading group for adult pickup volleyball in Philadelphia

— Philly Kickball: a recreational kickball league that plays weekly games at Starr Garden

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Activities With People Nearby

At the end of the day, there are athletes like you all over the world, searching for people to play sports with. Luckily, the internet can be an invaluable tool to finding them, if you know where to look. Sports directories, search engines and social media platforms can provide you with a vast sea of results, but filtering through them to find what you’re looking for can be daunting. When you’re looking for sports resources in your community, eseo is your best bet. Our website is intuitive, easily-navigable and provides visitors with the most relevant sports resources. Let eseo help find players near you by visiting us online today.