By Channing Hubbard

Columbus offers a variety of arts, entertainment and nightlife. Perhaps surprisingly, however, is it also offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy alternative activities, or "sports," to be exact. These playful and often obscure events offer Columbus residents a way to get some exercise and have fun at the same time.

If the lure of exercise is not enough, some of the activities offer a chance to give to charity. Play for a good cause. What's not to love about that?

Here is a list of some of these opportunities to check out and sign up for.

Andy 24

On Aug. 15-16, beginning at 7 p.m., the 10th Annual Andy Starinchek Memorial Tournament marks its anniversary milestone. Poignantly organized by friends and family, it highlights the 10th anniversary of the death of Andy Starinchek.

On Aug. 1, 1998, Starinchek was killed in a hit-and-run accident while out riding his bike in Westerville. To honor his memory, friends and family created a 24-hour Ultimate Frisbee tournament - a game he loved.

“One of the highlights for me is to be able to bring hundreds of people together — the vast majority of whom had never met Andy — to do something for him and for the community,” says Paul Devine, friend and tournament organizer.

When the tournament made money during the first year, Starinchek’s family decided to donate the funds in Andy’s name to the Salesian Boys and Girls Club of Columbus, which encourages youth participation in sports. To this day, every cent earned is donated to the charity.

Prior to the tournament, participants sign up to play, as much or as little as they want, in a game of Ultimate Frisbee that runs for 24 straight hours. Tournament organizers put together player packs that include T-shirts and sponsor donations, in addition to providing food for the entirety of the event. Additionally, the participants’ names are entered into a raffle from which they draw 24 hourly prizes as well as several grand prizes in the final hour. This year, the grand prizes include a one-week stay in Panama City, Fla. and various autographed OSU memorabilia.

Running the event has not proved easy. They must keep costs down, battle weather conditions, schedule the large numbers of participants and try to consistently raise the bar for donations.

“The first year, we had about 100 people. We all played pretty much all night, and then about 80 of them left at 8 a.m., and there were 15 of us left that had to play for another eight hours before reinforcements came. I would call that a challenge,” Devine says.

Now that numbers are no longer an issue, the 10-year anniversary marks a challenge of its own.

“This has always been an effort to give a positive moment to an otherwise dismal and devastating situation. But still the remembrances have been — there has been a lot of mourning associated with this event. So there is a conscious effort this year to move toward reflecting on positive aspects of and feelings toward Andy’s life,” Devine says.

Event organizers are continually seeking sponsors. To find out more about sponsorship, sign up for the tournament, or to learn more about Ultimate Frisbee, visit http://andy24.org.  

RASCBall

If 24 hours of play is not enough, there are plenty of weekly sports in which one can get involved. RASCBall — a game that combines elements of many different sports into one — is certainly one of them.

In 2001, “The Game” consisted of eight or nine high school buddies passing time during summer vacation. Today, “that one game,” renamed RASCBall, has become, to the players and creators, a very legitimate sport.

“This is the perfect sport, in our opinion. There are issues with every sport — football is too brutal, a lot of people don’t want to learn to skate for hockey, and there is too much stop and start in basketball. RASCBall takes the best parts of each of these games and creates one streamlined game,” says creator Mike Crosky.

Originally created by then high school students Mike Crosky, Matt and Rich Gubsch, RASCBall, or Revolution in Athletic Street Competition, began as a new twist on street hockey. Throughout high school, they continued to play with their group of friends, the game evolving as they played. It was not until graduation that they looked to expand their horizons and make it a community game.

Consisting of two teams, RASCBall is a game of six-on-six, with goals scored by shots kicked, thrown or headed into the net. It begins with a “Jump Off,” in which all 10 players fight for the offensive after the ball is sent in one direction or another. For two 35-minute halves, the game is nearly continuous, with very little stop and start.

Anyone can participate, sports fans and athletes alike. The only thing required is a pair of tennis shoes. Games are on Sundays at 7 or 8 p.m., and practices are Tuesday at 7 or 8 p.m. as well.

For more information on the sport, or to learn how to get involved, visit www.rascball.com or contact Mike Crosky at .  


Kickball League

For those who are perhaps less athletically inclined, and more apt to seek social interaction and fun, the Arena District Kickball League may be more suitable. The league began in 2004, when the Arena District Athletic Club sought ways to bring awareness to their programs and new energy to that area of Columbus.

“Kickball is just a fun game that anyone can play — you do not have to be a great athlete to participate. It brings back memories of being a kid again,” says Bill Brown, Arena Athletic Club general manager.

The first year, there were 14 teams and they played on Thursday evenings. In four years, the league has grown to 39 teams, with games on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“It did not take a lot of effort after that first season to get interest in the league. Word of mouth spread very quickly to the point where we now have to turn away teams,” Brown says.

For all of its playground associations, the league involves some aspects of competition. At the end of the season, the teams play a single elimination tournament. The Arena District League winner also faces off against the Capital Cross Roads League winner in a City Championship game. And of course, the league winner receives a trophy at the end of the season.

But generally speaking, the game is more fun than competitive, and the social interaction is the reward for involvement. Kickball’s greatest enemy comes in the form of rain.

The league runs from June through August, and the kickball fields are located in McFerson Commons. Anyone 18 or older can participate. For more information, visit www.arenaathletic.com, or contact Brown at 614-461-7785.