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.
Football
Missouri Wolverines
Offers recreational flag and tackle football for kids from kindergarten through eighth grade.
North Suburban Youth Football League
Offers recreational flag and tackle football for kids from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Platte County Youth Football League
Offers flag and tackle football for grades kindergarten through sixth.
YMCA of Greater Kansas City
Offers recreational flag football in Jackson County and the Northland.
Soccer
Happy Feet
Offers soccer for kids from 2-5 years old in Lee’s Summit and the Northland.
Kansas City Athletics Soccer Club
Offers recreational soccer for 3 to 10 year olds in Raytown and Riverside.
KC Legends Northland
Offers a pre-competitive league for players not ready for the commitment of joining the soccer club yet.
La Liga KC
Offers recreational soccer for preschool through fifth graders.
Sporting Rec League
Offers soccer for boys and girls from preschool through second grade.
YMCA of Greater Kansas City
Offers recreational youth soccer in Jackson County and the Northland.
Volleyball
KC Premiere Volleyball
Offers recreational volleyball in the Northland.
Multiple Sport Offerings
I-9 Sports League
Offers baseball, basketball, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball and a multi-sport discovery program in Independence and throughout the Northland.
Northland Sports Alliance
Offers baseball, basketball, soccer, and softball in the Northland.
Upward Sports
Church based sports program that offers basketball, soccer, and flag football at select churches in the area.
