Features

Spotlight: Sports Leagues/Teams in South Florida

February 29, 2024

There are so many Gay sports leagues/teams here in south Florida that I did my best to list as many as I can find. However, not being a sports aficionado I am sure I missed a few. If you know of any I missed, please let me know so that I can add them to the online feature and have for the future.

Rainbow Sports League (RSL) was founded with the philosophy that all people are welcome to participate in a safe, social, and inclusive environment. The purpose of RSL is to engage members of the LGBTQ+ community in healthy, active sports and activities by creating and managing structured games, leagues, and tournaments in a consistent and organized fashion. They feature kickball, soccer, Cornhole, sand/grass volleyball, dodgeball, and flex pickleball. To find out more visit them at Rainbowsportsleague.com.

South Florida Flag Football League is the premiere LGBTQIA Flag Football Organization located in South Florida. The SFFFL is a member city of the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL), and has grown from 3 teams to over 10 teams since its inception in 2007. The SFFFL has both an open division and a women’s division, with each division fostering competitive play, team building, weekly social events, and fundraisers! All skill levels are encouraged to join! In addition to local league play, members of the SFFFL are also provided tournament play opportunities at national NGFFL tournaments including annual tournaments such as: Gay Bowl, Florida Sunshine Cup, and Pride Bowl. The SFFFL is also a registered and active 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and participates in regular community service events including back to school drives, food drives, and other events, collaborating with organizations including the Miami Dolphins, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department. For more information, go to Sfffl.org.

South Florida Amateur Athletic Association – They are a LGBTQ+ softball league committed to providing an opportunity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ participants and allies to compete in an environment welcoming and open to the our community. Founded in 1994 as the South Florida Softball League, now SFAAA, has emerged as the premiere softball league for LGBTQ+ athletes with over thirty teams and almost five hundred members. Two seasons are held annually, one beginning in late February and the second at the beginning of September. A draft and tryout clinic are held prior to each season to help new members find teams on which to play. Five competitive levels afford the opportunity for anyone to play, regardless of their athletic ability or skill level. On a broader level, the SFAAA is affiliated with the International Pride Softball (IPS), formerly NAGAAA, and plays in accordance with the playing rules established by the United States of America Softball (USA). In maintaining these affiliations, SFAAA is afforded the opportunity to compete on a national and international level with other slow pitch softball leagues across the country and around the world.

Nadadores Swim Team – Gay, Straight, Young, Old, Male, Female, Aspiring Olympian or Just Learning, Nadadores Swim Team of South Florida is the team to swim with. Coached practices, Beginning and Intermediate Lessons, Ocean Open Swims and Meet Support – they do it all, and they have a good time doing it. Whether you’re trying to lower your 100-meter time or just trying to get to the end of the pool, go join them. Affiliated with U.S.M.S. (United States Masters Swimming) and I.G.L.A. (International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics), they hold coached pool practice three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday), offer swimming lessons every Saturday, and sponsor a weekly Sunday ocean swim. New to South Florida or just passing through? They welcome short term visitors to join them! Considering joining our swim team? Your first two(2) practices are free so you can have a feel of what their practices look like and eventually you could join them for brunch or dinner after practice – a great way to get to know some like-minded, water loving locals! The Nadadores Swim Team of South Florida is a Miami-based not for profit 501(c)3 corporation managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. For more information, go to: Nadadoresswimteam.org.

The South Florida Tennis Club, also known as SFTC, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to develop and coordinate tennis activities for the LGBT community and friends in the South Florida area. SFTC is dedicated to supporting competitive and social tennis activities. Membership is open to players of all skill levels. The SFTC also contributes to charities within the South Florida community each year. They offer a competitive spring and fall Tennis Ladder for singles and doubles, team tennis, tennis socials, regional tournaments and two annual GLTA sanctioned tennis tournaments. For more information, go to: Sftc.us.

Miami Mavericks Tennis Club – is a non-profit organization promoting tennis and a healthy lifestyle to the Gay and Lesbian community in Miami-Dade. Founded in 1989 by John Rubi (RIP), Miami Mavericks Tennis Club (MMTC) was founded on the principle of creating a safe and enjoyable outlet for GLBT tennis enthusiasts in Miami-Dade County. It has grown to become a great social outlet as well as offering plenty of opportunities for competitive tennis at all levels. They recognize that their organization is measured not by the number of members they sign up to, but by the quality that each individual experiences as a member. The Miami Mavericks Tennis Club Foundation is a non-profit that promotes national and international tennis competitions and healthy lifestyles in Miami-Dade County. Their goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable outlet for the youth and adults of the GLBT community while educating through the sport of tennis. Whether it’s recreational tennis, social tennis, competitive tennis, team tennis or beginner tennis, there’s no shortage of events to take part in. For more information go to: Miamimaverickstennis.com/.

Front Runners & Walkers Fort Lauderdale is a running, walking, and social club. The club is made up of LGBTQ individuals and friends within the Fort Lauderdale area. They do not discriminate against race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, or athletic ability. The group creates a positive atmosphere through planned activities where you can be yourself. For more information, go to frwfl.org.

Night Runners West Palm Beach (NRWPB) was established in 2016 as part of the International Front Runners community. In 2018, NRWPB incorporated into a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, joining Road Runners Club of America. Today, walkers and runners from Palm Beach County, and surrounding communities, join to celebrate diversity and the LGBTQ community that encompasses family fun and community unity. Their volunteer board members and committee members ensure that Night Runners WPB continues to provide free weekly runs for all the community members with no club/membership dues. For more information, go to Nightrunnerswpb.com.

Gay Polo League – They inspire and empower those individuals who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender via the promotion of and participation in the sport of polo. GPL Polo Club promotes the sport of polo as a means to provide equality, pride, diversity, inclusion and confidence for those individuals who face discrimination simply due to identifying themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, gay or other non-traditional sexual or gender identities. GPL works to create an atmosphere that affirms and supports the understanding and acceptance of all individuals regardless of race, sex, gender/sexual identity or sexual orientation and works to promotes goodwill and camaraderie in the community. Their ongoing goal is to raise money at their flagship event, the International Gay Polo Tournament, to help LGBTQ+ organizations better serve our communities. Their battle cry is “the slightest difference makes all the difference.” For more information, go to Gaypolo.com.