As three moms sat together watching their children play at a McDonald’s playland birthday party, they were reminded of the exhilaration of their youth and began sharing stories of days gone by.

Soon, though, the conversation turned to ways they could recapture some of the joys they knew they had not outgrown.

On that day, the Lehighton Adult Kickball League was born.

Critical to the league’s success was finding a home, and the East Penn Sporting Club offered its facility.

League organizers — with the help of the board of directors and manager Joe Rogowitz — transformed dugouts, the concession stand and playing surface into a perfect spot for the league.

At the same time, word of the league created a buzz in the community and sponsors jumped on board. As coed rosters filled up with players ranging in age from 21 to 60-plus, the group secured equipment, shirts, insurance and volunteers, and they were off!

What transpired for those five teams, the multitude of fans who turned out each night, the East Penn Sporting Club, and the greater Lehighton community was nothing short of magical. What started out as a simple idea to have some fun with some friends transformed into something bigger and better than any one of the organizers imagined.

Bringing back childhood

Behind the veil of playing kickball, a simple game from their youth that anyone can play regardless of skill, so much more was experienced. It reunited old childhood friends, some of whom hadn’t seen each other since they finished playing Little League on that very same field, and it created new relationships.

It brought together people from different walks of life who may never have had a chance to know or interact with each other. It enabled many players to rekindle their competitive spirits, albeit in an environment that never let the competition overtake the fun.

Players in their 20s got to show off their athleticism and youth by diving for balls, making spectacular plays and reminded some of the older players what they were once able to do. It also gave some of those players a chance to be on the same team as a parent or even grandparent, and it’s difficult to think of many organized sports in our area where that exists — playing in a competitive game, on the same field, at the same time with your mom or dad.

For those who are a bit past their prime and have children, it provided an opportunity to reverse the roles they have played for years. They’ve spent countless hours sitting on the sidelines, watching their children’s dance, gymnastics, wrestling and soccer practices and matches. Now it was the kids’ turn to sit one out, and the parents’ turn to take the field, gearing up with their own cleats and uniforms.

Those same children also experienced something that is too often lost in today’s society. As their parents competed, children experienced important social skill development and growth without direct adult guidance or a playground. They were forced to be creative and make up their own games — dig in the dirt and look for bugs, climb a tree, and work out conflicts without a parent coming to the rescue. There were no time outs — just kids being creative and working it all out among each other.

Supportive generations

The activity provided the type of childhood experience most of us had, but have very few opportunities to give to our children today. It was also a bit of a role reversal. Instead of cheering on your son or daughter it was sons and daughters cheering on their parents.

You heard things like “you can do it mom” and “that’s my dad out there” and parents got to feel a sense of pride that rarely presents itself in that way.

In a very practical sense, it was a great form of exercise and entertainment for those involved.

There were high-fives, pats on the back, fist bumps, and also at times frustration, when you misplaced a kick, the ump made a bad call, or your strategy didn’t pan out. The highs and lows of sports — it was all there — but that is what makes playing an organized sport so great.

More than anything else, whether you won or lost, it was fun! It was this great combination of a league filled with competition that never lost sight of the fun, sports are supposed to be.

At the end of the day, it was the relationships you formed, the friendships you made, the camaraderie of it all, that tipped the scales and took the sting out of bad plays you might have made or the game you lost.

Making memories

For those who participated that were in their 60s — well kudos to them. Not only did they get to play with family members, but they set a great example for others about how it’s never too late to try something new.

They brought with them a winning spirit and sense of class and dignity that reminded the rest of us what being a part of a team is truly all about. They celebrated every good play, regardless of what team made it, and gave words of encouragement to both teams when a mistake was made. They taught all of us a thing or two about what it means to be a true teammate.

Of course, pulling off an activity like this helps to underscore the adage that “it takes a village.”

For those who volunteered, it gave them a new sense of purpose, which is something we all need in our lives, but is more difficult to find, especially once we reach retirement age. The league never would have worked without them.

For many in the community, the league became a regular part of their weekly entertainment schedule.

Kickball is more of a spectator sport than many might think. There is constant action — since everyone kicks the ball — and there is a play made or attempted with every kicker. That also means there’s an equal chance to cheer on a great play or laugh heartily at a botched one. Either way, it’s entertaining.

In the end, the league was great for the community. It revitalized the area for the summer, gave people something to look forward to, and brought people together consistently who hadn’t seen each other in a long time. In doing so, it formed a bond among those involved that will last.

The league was a greater success than anyone imagined it would be. It restoked the competitive fire that still burns in some, offered a fun respite from life’s daily grind for others and provided laughs and some awfully important life lessons for all.

While it is obvious that you are never going to beat “father time,” it’s nice to know that the competitive fire still burns and the will to win is still there, no matter what your age.

For two months in Lehighton, on a field in East Penn Township, something incredible happened — a field of dreams — we don’t recognize life’s most significant moments while they are happening.

But if you build it, they will come.