IQ Solutions Softball - Team Spirit! Yes!

July 24, 2012

Contributed by Valerie Hermes, Information Specialist II

Given the historic Supreme Court decision on health care reform, organizations of all types have an opportunity to help their employees understand how health care reform impacts them—from explaining health benefits to engaging in various health promotion and corporate wellness initiatives.

At IQ Solutions, the Wellness for Life committee is dedicated to doing just that.

Our Wellness for Life team champions healthy living and health literacy by providing fun-filled activities to encourage staff members to exercise, eat right, and be active. These activities range from walking contests and workout groups to cooking classes and health fairs. Of all these choices, there is no doubt that the company’s co-ed, slow-pitch softball team is my favorite.

Softball Is a Homerun

Every Wednesday evening—unless of course it’s a thunderstorm—I put on bright red socks, grab my glove, and report to the field with an enthusiastic and cheerful spirit ready to play softball with my fellow IQ Solutions colleagues. The games only last an hour but are jammed packed with big hits, great catches, and towering homeruns.

Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines

One of the best parts of playing in the weekly softball games is the physical activity involved. According to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults ages 18 to 64 need at least:

• 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate activity, which includes walking fast, dancing, and raking leaves.
• 1 hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous activities, which includes jogging, jumping rope, swimming laps, or riding a bike on hills.

For me, softball is a great cardio workout of moderate intensity—though, an often exhilarating one! You’re constantly moving around, and you are always sweating (especially in this summer heat and humidity!). The run from homeplate to first base with the ball in play is one of the most exciting experiences during the game. On top of the extremes you feel during this 60-foot sprint, you have coaches, teammates, and even opponents hooting and hollering support.

Team Spirit

I love playing softball for IQ Solutions because it keeps me in shape and builds camaraderie among my fellow co-workers. My heart rate is always up, even when I’m standing in right field waiting with great anticipation for a ball to come my way. At bat, I love the adrenaline I get when I smack the ball, even if it lands right into the other player’s glove. Most of all, I love the spirit of the players that I work with, and I am proud to be part of a team that builds its members up and always has a good time.

Being a part of this team makes me love softball more, because the sport provides an opportunity to have fun and be physically active, and it creates a great bond among the team members. Being on the team is a great way to meet people from other parts of the company, and it fosters a more collaborative environment back in the office. In other words, softball also benefits my mental and emotional health!

Incentives at Play

Another great part of our softball squad, is that other co-workers, friends, and family are encouraged to participate in the games by sitting in the stands and cheering. For showing their support, they receive a participation raffle ticket, which can be redeemed for rewards from the Wellness for Life committee later in the year.

Wellness Unites

I thoroughly enjoy softball because the competition keeps me active and allows me to re-live my dreams of being a professional cheerleader. That’s part of the fun. I love to cheer on my co-workers because it feels so good when my team members root for me. It really pumps up the team spirit and unites us as one team, and one company.

GO IQ SOFTBALL!!!