Kickball Makes a Comeback on the South Shore

If you grew up playing kickball, chances are you remember exactly how it worked.

There was usually a red rubber dodgeball somewhere in the school, and the moment there was a little free time, that ball somehow became a kickball. Recess, gym class or any other opportunity to get outside seemed like the perfect excuse to start a game.

Now, kickball is making a comeback on the South Shore.

The Patchogue PAL kickball summer program is keeping that childhood energy alive each week, giving local young people an opportunity to get outside, stay active and, most importantly, have some fun.

The program is about much more than kicking a ball and running the bases, however. It also gives local youth an opportunity to connect with law enforcement mentors in a relaxed and positive environment.

Through the program, participants are building teamwork skills, developing friendships and creating relationships with members of the local law enforcement community. It's a chance for kids to see the people behind the badge in a different setting while working together toward a common goal.

And, of course, there's plenty of competition mixed in.

Kickball is one of those games that doesn't require expensive equipment, complicated rules or years of experience. You need a ball, a field and a group of people willing to have some fun. That's part of what makes it such a great activity for a community summer program.

For the kids participating in the Patchogue PAL program, the weekly games are providing plenty of opportunities to stay active while enjoying the summer.

Programs like this are also a great reminder that sometimes the simplest activities can have the biggest impact. A game of kickball can turn into an afternoon of laughter, teamwork and memories that kids carry with them long after the final out.

And let's be honest — there are probably plenty of parents watching these games who are having flashbacks to their own childhoods.

The red rubber ball is back, the bases are ready and kickball is once again bringing kids together.

Sometimes, the best ideas really are the ones we never should have stopped doing.