For many of us, some our fondest memories and best friends stem from when we were involved in sports. Also for many, becoming a professional athlete is an idealistic dream and for a precious few, that dream actually becomes a reality.

The bonds that form between teammates, the thrill of working together for the win, celebrating in victory and consoling one another in defeat, can be some of the most important lessons one learns in life.

But when most of us take that first step into the adult working world, the ability to remain active, at least in a team sport, becomes limited.

Luckily for Richmonders, that's all about to change.

While Richmonders may be familiar with River City Sports and Social Club, which offers only five traditional recreational sports including dodgeball, football, kickball, volleyball and wiffleball, there's soon to be new competition in town, known as the Virginia Adult Intramural League (VAIL).

"Back in the spring we wanted to start something up in Richmond that was an outlet where you can meet people and socialize, but also be active," said Brad Turner, co-founder of VAIL.

"The sports we are doing will combine college intramural sports with college tailgating sports. We're going to have beer pong, corn hole and dingle ball, but then we're also doing dodgeball and bowling. We want to eventually implement the more conventional sports like football and soccer, but we figured we'd start small."

Sponsors for the league will include various local watering holes where team members can socialize, and talk a little smack, after games.

VAIL will kick off its first season in August with dodgeball and they are now accepting team and individual registration. Registration will end on July 31 and it's looking as if games will begin on Aug. 7.

An information and registration night will also take place from 6 to 9 p.m. this Thursday, June 26 at Curbside Café, located at 2525 Hanover Ave.

But when the summer winds down and it's time to take the sports indoors, what better way to start than with the rousing, competitive and highly enjoyable game of beer pong, paired up with college football season?

"We're definitely focusing on more of the social aspect of the league," Turner said. "Members are encouraged not to take winning or losing too seriously; we're really just hoping to offer members a good product at an affordable price."

A long-term goal for VAIL is to make these programs available to Richmonders year-round, allowing people to participate in a variety of team sports and maintain a fun, social atmosphere.

A highly important part of VAIL, both for Turner and his fiancé Caroline Harvey, VAIL's other co-founder, is the community aspect they hope to provide for league members and the city itself.

"We definitely want to give back to the community," Turner said. "We're making use of the Parks and Rec. systems, for example our dodgeball will be played at the Randolph Community Center, and we plan on donating at least 50 percent of whatever money we bring in to the Community Parks and Recs."

As with any adult sports league, participants must be at least 21 years of age or older, will be required to sign a waiver and pay a $45 participation fee.

VAIL also offers it's members a monthly newsletter complete with "on the field" and "off the field" news, updates, results and rankings and whatever buzz is circling around the "water cooler."

"More and more people are coming to Richmond from UVA, Virginia Tech, JMU -- because a lot of companies are based here," Turner said.

"We're hoping to offer these people something different from the monotony of going to this bar on Friday and this club on Saturday, with a week night outlet for people to socialize and meet and maybe do something else on the weekend, like to get together at a park and do something active…and then maybe go socialize!"

Richmond adults and young professionals looking to add a little activity and socializing to their week can head to vailsports.net and register as an individual or as a team for the league's inaugural sport, dodgeball, set to begin games on Aug. 7.

For more information, call (804) 397-2071 or send an email to info@vailsports.net.