FAQs

  • Pick-up sports refer to informal, impromptu games that are typically organized spontaneously by a group of people who happen to be in the same place at the same time. Pick-up games are less structured, with fewer rules and regulations compared to organized leagues. The primary goal is fun and social interaction, with a dose of friendly competition as well. Pick-up sports provide a casual and accessible way for kids to enjoy sports and connect with others.

    According to the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, child driven games promote creativity, problem solving, conflict resolution, and social skills like communication, leadership and teamwork. The fun and child-centered goals of pick-up games can help promote life-long enjoyment of sport and a greater likelihood of sustaining physical activity into adulthood.

  • The Pick-Up Club is a pick-up style sports program for kids in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Check out all games at the “Game Schedule” link. Getting your child into a game is simple: click “Join a Game”, find an age-appropriate game that works with your child’s schedule, sign them up and show up for game time. No long-term commitments

  • Games vary from 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Please make sure to check the schedule for your game’s beginning and end time.

  • The cost to join a pick-up game is $35 per player. This covers facility rentals, Game Captain staff and administrative fees.

  • All games are located at either the Summit YMCA or the Florham Park Sports Dome. Please make sure to check the Game Schedule for your game’s location.

  • Games will begin promptly at the start time, so please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to game time.

  • Games are scheduled based on grade and gender. However, if you feel your child would benefit from playing in an older or younger group based on their skill level, that’s completely OK. The grade ranges are loose guidelines.

  • Part of the experience of playing pick-up sports is to give kids the opportunity to interact with kids a bit older and younger. You will be surprised how much kids learn from one another in a non-pressure athletic environment.

  • No prior experience is needed. Pick-up sports are a great introduction for first-timers.

  • Absolutely! We strongly encourage groups to sign up together, so please share the game’s sign-up link with friends. If you are looking to sign up a larger group and need assistance, you can reach us at hellopickupclub@gmail.com.

  • Players should wear athletic clothes and sneakers (shin guards if playing soccer). Please make sure they have a labeled water bottle. All other equipment will be provided (balls, flags, etc.).

  • Yes. Each game has a designated Captain. Captains are high school athletes who oversee the game. The emphasis of pick-up sports is to just let the kids play, so Captains will provide minimal intervention (of course, Captains leading younger-age games will provide more hands-on help with creating teams, timekeeping, etc.). Additionally, the staff at each venue will be available if need be.

  • Players can be dropped off as all games will be supervised. Please ensure a caretaker is back to pick your player up promptly at the end time. Parents/caretakers are welcome to stay and watch as well. Please ensure the best emergency phone number is attached to your player’s registration.

  • As long as the minimum number of players signs up, the game is on. Feel free to share your game’s unique sign-up link with friends to encourage them to join your game. 

    Minimum players needed to run each sport:

    • Flag Football: 8

    • Soccer: 6

    • Basketball: 6

    • Flag Football: 16 (8v8)

    • Soccer: 16 (8v8)

    • Basketball 10 (5v5) - there will be instances where there are two games running at the same time; therefore, the maximum total number of players that can sign up for a session will be 20.

  • You can cancel a registration for a full refund 12 hours prior to game time. That said, we understand kids get sick and last minute scheduling changes happen, so if you have to cancel within 12 hours, you will receive a credit to use for a future game.

  • The future Game Schedule will be made based on demand of sport, grade and gender.

    We reserve the right to change games as needed with sufficient notice. You will receive an email if a game gets canceled or changed.

  • The purpose of the Pick-Up Club is screen-free fun. Therefore, the use of smartphones will not be permitted during games. If your child has a smartphone, it must remain in their bag at all times.

    Please ensure an emergency phone number is included in your child’s registration, even if they have their own smartphone. Game Captains will reach you in case of emergency.