Gay sports leagues New York City
Gay sports leagues
in New York City.
Out x Out documents 9 LGBTQ+ sports leagues in New York City covering 12 sports, each verified on the league's own site as of October 2026.
THE LEAGUES
9 leagues, 12 sports.
Sort by any column. Seasons and fees are what each league published in October 2026; the register link goes to the league’s own sign-up page.
Softball · 1Volleyball · 1Kickball · 1Dodgeball · 1Flag Football · 1Rugby · 1Hockey · 1Bowling · 1Running · 1Pickleball · 1Soccer · 1Basketball · 1
| Sports | Register | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Apple Recreational Sports Founded 2007 · LGBTQIA+ people and their allies; players choose the Open division or the Women, Trans, & Nonbinary (WTNB+) division · all leagues are open to all skill levels unless otherwise stated; beginners are pointed to leagues labeled Social | Bowling, Dodgeball, Kickball, Pickleball | Fall 2026 leagues run Sep–Dec across all four sports; seasons average about eight weeks; registration opens around 20–40 days before the first day of play | $115 per season (kickball, dodgeball); $145 per season (bowling, most pickleball); $170 per season (Long Island City pickleball) — Fall 2026 | — | Register |
| Big Apple Softball League Founded 1977 · open and inclusive to all regardless of race, religion, age, gender expression or sexual orientation | Softball | Spring and Fall seasons; double-header slowpitch games on Saturdays and Sundays; Fall Ball 2026 registration closed | not published | — | Site |
| Front Runners New York Founded 1979 · open to all LGBT and LGBT-friendly athletes; minimum age 18 · no pace or experience requirements; runners and walkers at all ability levels | Running | year-round weekly fun runs, coached workouts and long runs; annual membership (2026 registration open per the Join page) | $30 per year basic membership | — | Register |
| Gotham Volleyball Founded 1981 · everyone is welcome at single-session programs (open plays, friendship tournaments, clinics); seasonal Division Play via tryouts · 12 divisions from Division 1 (advanced) to Division 12 (newest players); new Division Play players must attend tryouts | Volleyball | two 10-week seasons: Spring (February–May, tryouts from January) and Fall (September–December, tryouts from August); Fall 2026 tryouts closed, Spring 2027 tryout info due in December; open plays and tournaments year-round | not published | — | Register |
| New York City Pride Hockey Association Founded 1999 · a safe-space for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies; Rec League players must be NYCPHA members · Rec League for novice and intermediate players; competitive teams in divisions D8b through D5 (all currently full, alternates by captain approval) | Hockey | Rec League: two seasons per year, Spring/Summer (March–August) and Fall/Winter (September–February); registration typically opens 6–8 weeks before each season; games Sundays at Chelsea Piers Sky Rink | not published | — | Site |
| New York Gay Football League Founded 2004 · inclusive to all but catering primarily to the LGBTQ+ community in and around New York City; Open Division (no gender-based restrictions) and Women's+ Division (players who identify as cisgender males are asked not to register) · players range from complete beginners to advanced | Flag Football | two 10-week seasons: spring (early March–late May) and fall (mid-September–mid-December); Fall 2026 registration closed, mailing list open for Spring 2027 | $150 per season | — | Register |
| New York Ramblers Founded 1980 · all people, regardless of skill level, sexual orientation, gender, race or religion; prospective members may attend two free practices before joining · regardless of skill level; 'New to the Sport' resources and BetterPlayer practices | Soccer | internal league four times a year (winter, spring, summer, fall) with entry by lottery; practices in spring, summer and fall | annual dues (amount not published); league entry averages $90 per player | — | Register |
| Pride Basketball League NYC Founded 2006 · members and friends within the LGBTQIA+ space; Men's+ Division and Women's+ Division · advanced and recreational divisions (Men's+); advanced (A), intermediate (B) and recreational (C) divisions (Women's+) | Basketball | Fall 2026 season (Men's+ Division registration listed on the site); other season timing not stated | not published | — | Register |
| Village Lions RFC Founded 1989 · membership is open to everyone, whatever their sex, age, race, religion or sexual orientation; Men's and Women's+ sides · no experience required | Rugby | 2026 season: Men's 15s and Women's+ 15s matches Sep–Oct (Empire GU Division III), Men's 7s in summer; training Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Bronx; players can join at any point in the season | not published | International Gay Rugby | Register |
Seasons and fees are copied from each league’s own site on the date in the methodology note and change year to year. Confirm on the league’s registration page before you pay.
MORE IN NEW YORK CITY
- LGBTQ+ guide to New York City · bars, events, neighborhoods
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Gay sports bars Out x Out lists in New York City, for watching the game after yours.
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Out x Out documents 9 LGBTQ+ sports leagues in New York City covering 12 sports, each verified on the league's own site as of October 2026.
Method: each row was checked in October 2026 on the league’s own site or registration page; leagues we could not verify there are held back, not counted. Run a league we missed? info@outxout.com.