ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Intramural sports are alive and well at Robins. On average, 120 to150 people participate in each of the sports that are offered. 

Those offerings include basketball, soccer, flag football, golf, softball, indoor volleyball, racquetball and bowling. A varsity men's and women's basketball league competes against other bases.

Each unit has a contact for a sport representative. Teams are usually made from those units, but occasionally a person will want to participate and the unit doesn't have enough interest. Those free agents can be picked up by another team.

Practices are held twice a week, and games are scheduled on four nights a week.

Sports are a way for people to not only build relationships with team members but to have a creative outlet for physical training.

"It gives them an opportunity to cooperate with their fellow team members to have fun. It gets their competitive juices flowing," said Kenneth Porter, sports director at Robins Fitness Center.

Retirees are also welcome to play on intramural teams. Some of those basketball teams have been quite competitive, Porter said.

Racquetball is quite popular. Most of the courts will be full in the afternoon hours, said John Enterman, fitness and sports manager at the Robins Fitness Center.

The racquetball season begins this month. Usually there are half a dozen teams which compete against each other in singles and doubles.

There are no costs involved except for bowling for lane rental and golf, for the greens fees.

Last year, there were 10 golf teams.

Because military members have unique circumstances with deployments and TDYs, seasons and game schedules are flexible.

"They play until they can't," Enterman said.

New sports are being added as interest grows. A disc golf tournament will be held this spring and there will be a street hockey demonstration held in March. Although geared toward the military, all intramural sports are open to any base ID card holder. 

Editor's note: For more information, contact your unit sports rep or call Porter at 472-7680 or 478-222-7680.