Registration deadlines, social events coming up for LGBTQ+ sports leagues in Illinois, Iowa

It’s the season to sign up for LGBTQ+ sports leagues or tap into almost a dozen roller derby games, sports events, or social events to support the leagues.

Leagues in Chicago, Des Moines, Iowa City and the Quad Cities are seeking registrations. Events are happening in the next month in Davenport, Des Moines, Iowa City and Long Grove and North Liberty in Iowa, and in Chicago, East Moline, DeKalb and Rockford in Illinois.

Here’s a rundown of all that’s coming up through January and February:

The first deadline this month: today, for winter volleyball and dodgeball with the Pride Sports League of Central Iowa.

Deadlines coming to sign up for dodgeball, volleyball, roller derby, basketball

All of these leagues offer an array of sports opportunities throughout the year, so check their sites often. Here are the league deadlines coming up this month:

Today, Jan. 4: Last day to register for indoor dodgeball and volleyball with the Pride Sports League of Central Iowa. Play begins Jan. 11 and continues every Sunday through March 1. Registration is $35 per player; sign up for Pride Sports League here.

Fri., Jan. 9:  Last day to register for volleyball with OutSports Quad Cities. Individuals or full teams welcome; play begins Jan. 21 and continues through March 4 at Alan Shepard Elementary School, 20 W. Grove St., Long Grove. Participation is free; sign up for OutSports volleyball here.

Fri., Jan. 9: Last day to register for W+ dodgeball with the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA).  All skills levels are welcome, and W+ leagues encourage cisgender females, transgender and nonbinary players. Games happen at Lake View High School, 4015 N. Ashland Ave. Play begins Fri., Jan. 9, and continues every Friday through April 17. Registration is $84.56 if you’re already a CMSA member, or $116.06 if you’re not yet a member (includes membership fee); sign up for W+ dodgeball with CMSA here.

Thurs., Jan. 15: Last day to sign up for the Des Moines Roller Derby Bootcamp. You’ll learn basic skating skills; stopping on skates; safe falling; and how to give and take hits. Admission is $75 for the 12-week course, which runs every Thursday evening through April 2. Sign up here for the Des Moines Roller Derby Bootcamp.

Fri., Jan.16: Last day to register for open basketball with CMSA. Games happen at the Broadway Armory, 5917 N Broadway St., with play starting Jan. 17 and continuing through March 28. Registration is $137.41 if you’re already a CMSA member, or $169.21 if you’re not yet a member (includes membership fee). Sign up for open volleyball with CMSA here.

“Barbed and Dangerous,” a chance to learn about roller derby with Barbed Wire Roller Derby of DeKalb, Ill., is among 11 LGBTQ+ sports-related events or social occasions by the leagues.

Events Everyone Can Attend to Support the Sports Leagues

Fri., Jan. 9: Bowling with the Lambda Softball Association (LSA) of Eastern Iowa at Bowldogs, 1355 Hayes Lane, North Liberty, Ia.

Sat., Jan. 10: Bulls Night with Stonewall Sports-Chicago at the United Center,  1901 W Madison St., Chicago. Enjoy the Chicago Bulls as they take on the Dallas Mavericks, and help raise money for Stonewall Sports-Chicago’s philanthropic efforts. Each ticket purchase raises $5 for the sports club. Get your ticket here.  

Sat., Jan. 17: Juanna Rumbel Championship with the Windy City Rollers. The roller derby teams of Hell’s Belles, The Fury, Manic Attackers and the Double-Crossers will compete against each other for this annual title, named after the league founder. Admission is $25 (free for children); get your tickets to the Juanna Rumbel Championship here.

Sat., Jan. 17: Barbed and Dangerous with Barbed Wire Roller Derby. Take an hour to learn about the history of the DeKalb’s roller derby team, and the sport in general. 2 to 3:15 p.m., DeKalb Public Library.

Sat., Jan. 17: Cabin Fever with Barbed Wire Roller Derby. Enjoy an informal skating competition; open to all skill levels and genders.  Kishwaukee YMCA, 2500 Bethany Rd., Sycamore, Ill.  Sign up here by Jan. 14.

Sun., Jan. 18:  Gayme Night Pinball with Pride in Motion. This new league for the Quad Cities gathers for fun and games at Midwest Ale Works, 537 12th Ave., East Moline, Ill.

Sun., Jan. 18: 9-Pin No Tap Tournament with Chicago Pride League. For these tourneys, you can score a strike if you knock down nine pins on your first ball. Participation starts at $30; money raised helps fund the league, including prizes and charitable donations, year-round. The tournaments are 9:30 a.m. to noon at Waveland Bowl, 3700 N. Western Ave.  Sign up for the 9 Pin No-Tap Tournament here. 

Sun., Jan. 25: Open Skate Night with the Rockford Rage Roller Derby. At SkateCo, 3209 N. Main St., Rockford, Ill. Check the Rockford Rage Facebook page for more information.

Sat., Jan. 31: Pride in Paperbacks Book Club with Pride in Motion, 2-4 p.m. at Skip-a-Long Childhood Center, 3520 Crow Creek Rd., Davenport, Ia. Participation is free.

Sun., Feb. 15: 9-Pin No Tap Tournament with Chicago Pride League. For these tourneys, you can score a strike if you knock down nine pins on your first ball. Participation starts at $30; money raised helps fund the league, including prizes and charitable donations, year-round. The tournaments are 9:30 a.m. to noon at Waveland Bowl, 3700 N. Western Ave.  Sign up for the 9 Pin No-Tap Tournament here. 

Sat., Feb. 28: Skating with LSA of Iowa. Gather at Glide and Glow Skate City, 1676 Sycamore St., Iowa City Ia. Admission is $17, including $5 devoted to concessions.

Ongoing Registrations for CMSA, Quad City Rollers camp

Here are events you can sign up for at any time in the coming weeks:

Quad City Rollers: Weekly boot camp, 9 a.m. every Saturday, Eldridge Community Center and Rollerskating Park, 400 S 16th Ave., Eldridge, Ia. Email recruitment.qcr@gmail.com or register here.

CMSA Open Pickleball and W+ Pickleball. PFor both leagues, play begins Jan. 21 and continues through March 18. Open pickleball takes place  at SPF Chicago, 2121 N Clybourne Ave, Building 1, and W+ Pickleball happens at SPF All Day, 3800 N Milwaukee Ave. You can sign up anytime throughout the season starting Monday (Jan. 5), for a fee of $184.98 if you’re a member or $216.78 if you’re not yet a member. Sign up here for CMSA Open Pickleball, and sign up here for W+ Pickleball.