Guide to Youth Recreational Sports in Kansas City

January 30, 2023

There are tons of options when it comes to enrolling your child in a recreational sports league in the Kansas City area. Rec leagues are open to everyone and do not require kids to try out for a spot on the team. Often kids can request to be placed on a team with a friend (so long as they are the same age/grade) and many times teams are formed around school boundaries so if the kids go on to play school sports they will know some of their teammates.

Rec leagues are a great way to try out several different sports to determine what your child likes (or doesn’t like). Seasons are typically only a couple of months long and you can also try a shorter option like a camp to get a taste of a sport.

Rec leagues are also much less expensive than competitive and club sports and the time commitment is not as intense. The most affordable option is likely your local parks and recreation program or the YMCA. Some leagues have practice one evening a week while others have practice and games on the same day (great for busy families!)

Because there are so many options for rec leagues, ask your neighbors and friends which organization their child has enjoyed and consider these tips for picking a good youth sports program.

Mom Pro Tip

Don’t feel like you need to buy brand new gear when trying a new sport. Check out local consignment and thrift stores and seasonal consignment sales, sport re-sale shops like Play it Again Sports, or ask on your local Buy Nothing group.

This guide is broken it down by state and city, but since some leagues play in multiple areas there is also a section for those leagues organized by specific sport as well as a list of leagues that offer multiple sports. Don’t see your favorite rec league listed? Please reach out and let us know so we can add it!

Kansas Recreational Sports Programs

Gardner

Gardner Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, t-ball, and volleyball.

Kansas City/Wyandotte County

I-9 Sports

Offers baseball, flag football, and soccer.

Sporting Rec League

Offers soccer for boys and girls in early elementary school.

Turner Recreation

Offers baseball, basketball, boxing, football, softball, t-ball, tennis, wrestling, and volleyball.

Wyandotte County Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, kickball, soccer, and volleyball.

YMCA of Greater Kansas City

Offers Bitty Sports, KC Current Soccer, and KC Chiefs Flag Football at various locations in Wyandotte County.

Leawood

Blue Valley Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, softball, tennis, and volleyball (indoor and sand).

The J (Jewish Community Center)

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, t-ball, tennis, and volleyball.

Leawood Parks and Rec

Offers golf, soccer, t-ball, and tennis.

Lenexa

Lenexa Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and tennis.

Lil’ Kickers

Offers indoor soccer for kids as young as 18 months old through age 9.

Merriam

Legends Soccer

Offers a pre-competitive league for players not ready for the commitment of joining the soccer club yet.

Mission

Northeast United Soccer Club

Offers soccer for preschool through second graders.

Olathe

COR Kids Sports

Offers basketball and spring soccer for kindergarten through fifth graders at the Church of the Resurrection West location.

Kansas Rush

Offers recreational soccer for both boys and girls from preschool through high school. They also offer a winter indoor league.

Olathe Girls Softball Association

Offers t-ball for 4 to 6 year olds and softball for 6 to 16 year olds.

Olathe Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, and volleyball.

Olathe Youth Baseball

Offers recreational baseball for kids in third grade through high school.

Sporting Rec League

Offers soccer for boys and girls from preschool through second grade. Winter sessions are held indoors at Homefield in Olathe.

Overland Park

Blue Valley Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, softball, tennis, and volleyball (indoor and sand).

Sporting Blue Valley

Offers recreational soccer for kids age 4 to 17.

Shawnee

Johnson County Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, t-ball, and volleyball at locations throughout Johnson County.

Kansas City Youth Hockey

Offers learn to play hockey classes for kids age 3 to 8 at KC Ice Center in Shawnee. Once kids have learned the skills they can join the KC Stars team.

Spring Hill

Spring Hill Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, and t-ball.

Programs Offered at Multiple Johnson County Locations

Baseball/T-Ball

3&2 Baseball

Offers recreational baseball for kindergarten through high school aged kids and t-ball for preschoolers. Teams are formed based on grade and school district boundaries in Johnson County.

Basketball

Great American Basketball League

Offers recreational basketball for kids from 3 to 18 in Lenexa, Olathe, and Overland Park.

Football

KCFC

Offers flag football starting in kindergarten and tackle football starting in third grade. Teams are formed based on high school boundaries.

YMCA of Greater Kansas City

Offers KC Chiefs Flag Football for 5 to 18 year olds at various locations in Johnson County.

Soccer

Happy Feet

Offers soccer for kids from ages 2 to 5 at locations around Johnson County.

Heartland Soccer

Offers recreational soccer for third through twelfth graders at locations around Johnson County.

KC Fusion

Offers soccer for boys and girls from ages 4 to 14. Games are played in Lenexa and Shawnee.

Puma FC

Offers recreational soccer for ages 3 to 14 at locations in Olathe and Shawnee.

Soccer Shots

Offers soccer for kids from ages 2 to 8 at locations around Johnson County.

YMCA of Greater Kansas City

Offers KC Current Soccer at various locations in Johnson County.

Multiple Sport Offerings

I-9 Sports League

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, and volleyball in Leawood, Lenexa, Merriam, Olathe, Overland Park, and Shawnee.

Johnson County Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, t-ball, and volleyball at locations throughout Johnson County.

Upward Sports

Church based sports program that offers basketball, soccer, and flag football at select churches in the area.

YMCA of Greater Kansas City

Offers Bitty Sports for 3 to 5 year olds at various locations in Johnson County.

Missouri Recreational Sports Programs

Belton

Belton Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, t-ball, and volleyball.

Blue Springs

Blue Springs Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, t-ball, and volleyball.

Gladstone

Gladstone Parks and Rec

Offers basketball, flag football, soccer, and volleyball.

Grandview

Grandview Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, and t-ball.

Independence

Soccer Association of Independence

Offers recreational soccer for kids 3 to 18.

Kansas City

3&2 Baseball Club of Kansas City

Offers recreational baseball for first through eighth graders and t-ball for preschoolers and kindergartners.

Kansas City Parks and Rec

Offers basketball, boxing, soccer, and volleyball.

Royals RBI

Boys and Girls Club program that partners with Royals Charities to offer youth baseball, t-ball, and softball.

Sporting Brookside

Offers recreational soccer for kids from preschool through high school.

Lee’s Summit

Lee’s Summit Baseball Association

Offers a recreational t-ball and baseball league called the American League for kindergarten through high school aged kids.

Lee’s Summit Football Association

Offers flag foot ball for pre-k through seventh graders. They also offer tackle football for send through seventh graders.

Lee’s Summit Girls Softball Association

Offers recreational t-ball and softball for girls from kindergarten though high school.

Lee’s Summit Junior Basketball Association

Offers recreational basketball for kids from first grade through high school.

Lee’s Summit Legends

Offers a pre-competitive league for players not ready for the commitment of joining the soccer club yet.

Lee’s Summit Parks and Rec

Offers basketball, flag football, soccer, t-ball, and volleyball.

Sporting Lee’s Summit

Offers recreational soccer for kids from preschool through high school.

Liberty

Liberty Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, t-ball, tennis, and volleyball.

North Kansas City

North Kansas City Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, and t-ball.

Platte City

Platte City Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, t-ball, and volleyball.

Raymore

Raymore Parks and Rec

Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, t-ball, and volleyball.

Raytown

Kansas City Legends

Offers a pre-competitive league for players not ready for the commitment of joining the soccer club yet.

Raytown Soccer Club

Offers recreational soccer for 4 to 8 year olds.

Programs Offered at Multiple Locations

Baseball/ T-Ball

NKCA Baseball League

Offers t-ball and baseball for 4 to 18 year olds in Clay and Platte Counties.

Basketball

KC Northland Elite

Offers recreational basketball for kindergarten through third graders in the Northland.

Hockey

Kansas City Youth Hockey Association

Offers learn to play hockey classes at several locations including St. Joe, KCMO near the Plaza, the Northland, and Independence. From there, kids can join a team at one of the local ice rink clubs.