No hocus pocus, just focus from Paul Churchill and Steve Klopmeyer, founders and operators of OverTimeSports (OTS) Bozeman. Bozeman’s first independent adult recreational sports league, OTS shows promise in their ability to deliver their vision: an adult recreation hub, offering a variety of sporting activities, a streamlined participation process, an on-line news forum, as well as a strong social network in the valley.

Originally conceived by Paul Churchill, the need for OTS became apparent when he moved to Bozeman and hoped to branch-out, make new friends and enjoy a good game of flag-football. To Churchill’s surprise the valley did not even have a flag-football team, and when he attempted to sign up for other activities, who to call, where to call, and how to enroll was more than tough to follow. After successfully enrolling in kickball, Churchill was introduced to Steve Klopmeyer who worked for the Bozeman Recreation Department. Inspired by his experience with community activities and his love of sports, Klopmeyer quickly took to Churchill’s idea and Over Time Sports was born.

Starting small, OTS currently boasts four major sports: kickball, flag-football, cornhole, and dodgeball. Each activity enjoys a season that last approximately two months with kickball starting in June, Flag-football in September, cornhole in November, and dodgeball in January. Open to adults age twenty-one to one hundred, games are scheduled, refereed, and organized by OTS. When asked if OTS intends to expand the number of sports they offer, Churchill replied with a smile, “it all depends on what the customers want. If we get the feedback, we’ll add it. We’re open to just about anything…who knows, maybe even kickball on roller skates.”

The enrollment process is easy, whether as a team or an individual. Participants can simply go online and follow the short prompts and be set-up for a season of fun. If the online system is not your thing then both Churchill and Klopmeyer can be reached via email or phone. Who to call, where to call, and how to enroll is all taken care of by OTS online or in person. Robyn Chupka, an OTS player said, “It’s a great after-soccer season activity. A great program that is really well organized and super flexible.” Worrying about referees and game locations are additional particulars that OTS organizes, which helps put the relaxation back into recreation.

Once a season is underway, game updates, statistics, and pictures are frequently posted on the OTS site. This helps keep players up to speed on their team’s status…and the status of their competition. Members can also create a personal login profile to receive email updates and encourage regular communication between the OTS staff, teams, and players. According to Klopmeyer the entire goal of the site is to provide a, “simple, low-maintenance, self-explanatory,” tool to schedule recreational sports into people’s lives.

OTS has partnered with a number of local businesses such as the Pour House, Spectators, Insty Prints, The Rockin R Bar, and Play It Again Sports. With the help of these sponsors OTS continually strives to meet their number one goal…to have fun! Post-game celebrations do not simply end with high-fives and handshakes. Playing teams, winners or….other wise, can enjoy pitchers of beer and snacks compliments of some of the finest pubs and eateries in Bozeman.

On the green the vibe is the same; fun is the ultimate goal. Just walking onto the field, a greenhorn can immediately feel the cheerful camaraderie. But what is more impressive is that it all comes from such dynamically different people. Different ages, backgrounds, and sports experience, it’s all the same at OTS. Sean Williams, who was recruited at his workplace, Northwest Airspace Technology, says, “everyone has great sportsmanship, no forced athleticism, everyone can play.” And while white-line fever doesn’t seem to be a problem, players and teams enjoy a healthy sense of competition. Randy Taylor from a Rocky Mountain Bank based team summarizes his experience so far as a, “Blast! Hangin’ with friends, competition, the sun, what more could you want?”

With the valley growing, and people’s lives not getting any less busy, it may be time for a cohesive adult recreation league to surface. A dark horse, OTS may be just what the valley needs to streamline and facilitate the adult sport options, in other words to create an adult recreation hub in the Gallatin Valley. Between work, school, family, you name it, it is easy to forget how important recreational activities, especially team-based ones, can be to balancing life. Mallory Walters, OTS kickball player summarized this idea when asked why she joined, “Fun! We get to be adults but act like kids…I’m here to stay!”

As Michelle Laxson, member of The Rubber Busters, so eloquently put it, “who doesn’t like a game of kickball on a Thursday night?!”
Want to learn more?   Visit overtimesportsbozeman.com    

Julie Gandulla is a freelance writer and speaker, as well as a writing and communication consultant. Owner of Zen Shorts In The Rockies, Julie strives to inspire and empower others to communicate effectively with the spoken and written word. www.zenshortsintherockies.com