The Chattanooga area is rich in recreational possibilities, both outdoors and indoors. It falls just short of the full range of A to Z, going from archery and auto racing to yachting.
Area YMCAs have a variety of recreational offerings for individuals and teams, for adults and children. Their numbers are as follows: downtown branch 423-266-3766, North River 423-877-3517, Hamilton 423-899-1721, Henry 423-266-4844, North Georgia 706-858-0590.
The following list gives some specifics about where to go or whom to call for particular forms of recreation.
Archery
Instruction, gear to buy and a practice range for adults and children are available at Choo-Choo Archery-Etc. at 4270 Bonny Oaks Drive (423-622-6849). Private and group lessons scheduled.
Auto racing
Chattanooga Region, Sports Car Club of America (www.crscca.com), including teen driving schools. One-third-mile oval dirt tracks: Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip, 706-891-6803; Cleveland Speedway (including race-driving instruction) 423-479-8574; North Georgia Speedway at Chatsworth, 706-695-3313.
Badminton
Seniors play regularly on Wednesdays (10 a.m.-noon) and sometimes on Saturdays at the Brainerd Recreation Center. Call Gene Blaes at 423-624-0501.
Baseball
Many community associations for youth play. Also, there is the Chattanooga NABA League (president Jeff Santaite, chattanooganaba@charter.net or chattanooganaba@gmail.com) for adults.
Basketball
Community youth leagues, including through Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department centers and Upward programs in some churches, plus adult leagues through some recreation centers and area YMCAs. AAU/YBOA programs for girls and boys throughout the area, including the Chattanooga Basketball Foundation (boys and girls ages 5-10, Book McCray at 423-227-7206) and TNXtreme girls (Juan Hansford, 423-635-0999, or www.tnxtreme.com).
Billiards/darts
Chattanooga Billiard Club East (423-499-3883) has a youth league in addition to 8-ball and 9-ball leagues for adults. Many other food and drink establishments offer billiards and darts competition.
Bocce
The ancient Italian cousin to lawn bowling can be played at Heritage Park in East Brainerd, at the Marina Pointe apartment complex (for members of the Chattanooga Bocce Club, www.chattabocce.org) and at some club members' homes. Dr. Frank Knight, the club president, is building a four-court indoor club at 1811 Dodds Ave. Call him at 423-886-4179 for information.
Bowling
There are leagues for every level from novice to elite and from children to seniors, as well as nonleague bowling. Chattanooga-area centers: Holiday Bowl Brainerd (423-899-2695), Holiday Bowl Hixson (423-843-2695), AMF Tri State Lanes in East Ridge (423-867-2281) and Valley Entertainment Center in Dunlap (423-949-4089), which also offers roller skating. There are two Galaxy centers in Cleveland: 423-472-4254 and 423-473-8738.
Boxing
Amateur youth clubs include Red Bank Boxing (Skipper Fairbanks, 423-877-4113) and the Westside Boxing Club based on Central Avenue (Andy Smith, 423-847-7682). Joe Smith (423-400-8472) has been a USA Boxing regional representative and national vice president and was team manager for the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxers.
Canoeing/kayaking
See www.tvccpaddler.com for information about the Tennessee Valley Canoe Club. The Outdoor Chattanooga number is 423-643-6888. Canoe rentals are available at Greenway Farm in Hixson (423-842-6629) and Canoe the Sequatchie in Dunlap (423-949-4400).
Disc sports
The Chattanooga Ultimate League has coed team play for ages 15-older at Camp Jordan Park. See www.nakedpretzel.com for details. An increasing number of disc golf courses in the area include The Sinks off Access Road in Hixson, Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, the Jack Mattox complex in Catoosa County and Cloudland Canyon State Park near Trenton, Ga. See www.chattanoogadiscgolf.com for some event information and message exchanges.
Football
Community youth leagues. Women's tackle football with the Chattanooga Locomotion (www.gochattanoogalocomotion.com) and minor league men's teams including the Chattanooga Steam (www.steamfootball.com) and Tennessee Crush (tennessee-crush.com). There are adult flag leagues through some area YMCAs and the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department (423-643-6055).
Gymnastics
Children and youth programs at Tennessee Academy of Gymnastics in Chattanooga (423-894-3910), Gymnastics Center of Chattanooga in Ooltewah (423-238-5258), American Elite Gymnastics in Catoosa County (706-861-4500) and Garner's Gymnastics in Hixson (423-842-5407).
Hang gliding
Tandem flights and instruction at Lookout Mountain Flight Park (706-398-3541 or 800-688-5637).
Inline hockey/skateboarding
Chattown Skatepark (423-757-2076) next to Finley Stadium is a Chattanooga Parks facility offering roller hockey and bicycle motocross. See www.bikechattanooga.org for information on Choo Choo Rollers group skates.
Lacrosse
Increasing opportunities in the area include Signal Mountain and Middle Valley (www.mvya.org) youth club organizations. McCallie School coach Troy Kemp (423-493-5630) is a resource for areawide participation.
Racquetball/handball
Play and competition through area YMCAs and the Sports Barns (downtown 423-266-1125, Lee Highway 423-855-0091, Hamill Road 423-870-2582).
Rock climbing
Some of the best climbing places east of the Rockies are near Chattanooga, including Sunset Rock, the Tennessee Wall, Rock Town and Buzzard Point. Instruction and practice offered by The Adventure Guild (423-266-5709), and by the Tennessee Bouldering Authority (423-822-6800) and Urban Rocks Gym (423-475-6578).
Rowing
Instruction and competition through Lookout Rowing Club and Chattanooga Junior Rowing at the Chattanooga Rowing Center (423-622-6846).
Rugby
The Chattanooga Rugby Club welcomes men, women and youth participants. See www.chattanoogarugby.com. Also, Nathan Daugherty at the Hamiton Family YMCA (423-899-1721) was putting together a club league for area high schools as well as a youth flag league this year.
Running
The Chattanooga Track Club (www.chattanoogatrackclub.org) sponsors and helps with a variety of road and trail races from 5-kilometer to ultra-marathon distance, plus triathlons. Annual highlights include the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon in July and the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon in early November in the nation's oldest military park. The downtown Sports Barn (423-266-1125) provides triathlon training, and Rock/Creek Outfitters (www.rockcreek.com) sponsors a series of trail races. The Chattanooga Jets are a successful youth track and field club.
Scuba diving
Choo Choo Diving & Aquatic Center (423-899-1008) or Leisure Time Dive & Ski Center (423-622-1335). The latter also offers snow ski instruction and equipment.
Shooting sports
Benton Sporting Clays in Polk County (423-338-6034); Carter Shooting Supply in Harrison (423-344-1099).
Soccer
Area YMCAs and community associations for youth and some adult play, including Redoubt (423-899-4180), Camp Jordan Arena (423-490-0078), U.S. Elite Training (indoor leagues, 423-843-9511), Premier Soccer Academy (423-847-6565); Hispanic League, Sergio Ramos (423-362-0148). The Chattanooga Football Club (chattanoogafc.com) offers high-level men's play in the National Premier Soccer League.
Softball
Community associations for girls' coach-pitch and fastpitch play, plus organizations throughout the area for adult slowpitch leagues. Included are leagues at the city of Chattanooga's new Summit of Softball (Richard West, 423-643-6055 or 423-595-4540), Camp Jordan Park (Pete Gates, 706-935-5100), the Jack Mattox complex in Catoosa County (Adam Wilson, 423-903-2123) and the Hixson Kiwanis League (Bill Gotschall, 423-875-3092).
Swimming
Lessons from the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department, YMCA, McCallie School and others. Chattanooga Parks outdoor pools at Warner Park (423-697-1330) and Carver Recreation Center (423-622-7665); indoor pools at Brainerd (423-425-3600) and South Chattanooga (423-425-3550) centers. Chattanooga Area Swim League summer competition in communities from Cleveland to Calhoun (Ga.), and a separate "fun league." Year-round youth training through the Baylor Swim Club (423-267-8506, ext. 267), the Scenic City Aquatic Club (John Woods, 423-634-7606) and the city of Chattanooga (Peggy Grall, 423-697-1385). River Rats masters competition for adults (Stan Corcoran, 423-493-5536). For the Baylor Diving Cub, which has a competitive springboard team for youth and adults, call John Bonds at 423-267-8506, ext. 654.
Tennis
Instruction and competition through the Chattanooga Tennis Association (423-843-2456), Champions Club (423-870-3112), Manker Patten Tennis Club (423-266-6767), Racquet Club in Hixson (423-842-9622) and Fairyland Club on Lookout Mountain (706-820-0766). Play available on parks department courts, including Warner Park as the home for the Chattanooga Racqueteers adult competition team.
Therapeutic recreation
Includes wheelchair basketball, power soccer, CHIPS golf, wheelchair tennis, adaptive cycling, rowing and water ski opportunities. Call Elaine Adams with the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department at 423-697-1345.
Volleyball
Adult leagues, including coed, through Chattanooga recreation centers and some area YMCAs. Junior Olympic girls' programs throughout the area, most notably the huge Choo Choo City Volleyball Club organization (e-mail Paul Brock at superp@bellsouth.net) for multiple age groups. Call Warren Barger (423-875-9635) about seniors play.
Weightlifting
Beyond a variety of area fitness options that include weights and weight machines, Steve Fauer with Tennessee Speed & Strength (423-870-4060) works with teens for competition, and Ed Stec of Flintstone Fitness Center (706-820-2681) holds bench-press competitions for men, women and teens.
Wrestling
There are several kids clubs in the area, particularly in communities with strong high school programs. UTC has one with an areawide pull. Contact Mike Hatcher at 423-303-0760.
Yachting
Privateer Yacht Club, established on Lake Chickamauga in 1940, sponsors local, regional and national levels of competition and conducts instructional camps for youth. Call 423-877-9411.