HEALTHY LIVING
SUMMER SPORTS
Find activities to play, watch, and enjoy this month BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE After most sports and events were cancelled last summer due to the pandemic, families are ready to hit the field, stadium, and parks for some outdoor fun. Whether they’re looking to watch competitive games or find sports to get involved with, there are several options around town they’ll want to check out. SEC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT Thousands of college baseball fans will roll into Hoover for the SEC Baseball Tournament May 25-30 at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. The event features the Top 12 baseball teams in the SEC. Seeds 5-12 meet in a single elimination format on the opening day, followed by doubleelimination games Wednesday through Friday. Then, it will return to single-elimination games on Saturday, with 17 total games throughout the tournament. Fans are encouraged not to bring bags, but if they do, the bags must be clear or a small clutch. Gates open to the stadium an hour prior to the first game on the first five days of play and 90 minutes prior for the championship game. The event will have complimentary parking, along with shuttles for off-site parking. SOCCER CLUB Tryouts for both of the Hoover Soccer Club’s programs — Competitive Program and Junior Phantoms Academy Program — take place this month. The Competitive Program’s tryouts will be May 17-19 at the Hoover Met Turf for children born between 2003-2009, and Phantoms Academy Program tryouts for children born between 2010-2013 will be May 24-26 at Riverchase Sports Park. The summer camps for these programs start in June and July. Children can also tryout for the HooverVestavia Soccer Club, with both the boys and girls born between 2003-2010 having tryouts May 26 Bham Family May 2021
Above: The SEC Baseball Tournament returns to the Hoover Met May 25-30. Below: People of all ages and skill levels can play pickleball.
15-16 at the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex (SHAC) and the Hoover Met Turf. For more information, visit Hooversoccerclub.com. PICKLEBALL Combining the elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, pickleball is a game all ages and skill levels can enjoy. Vestavia Hills Parks & Recreation offers a pickleball program, and no experiences is necessary. Instructors will be on-site to teach the game, and players will be matched based on their skill levels. Equipment is also available to be checked out. The program is held at Vestavia Hills CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
