  Social
Exercise
In less than two years, Megan Shoup built
what the League Arlington was missing.
By Monica Cardenas
Some say it’s easy to meet people in an urban environment. Others believe just the opposite. If you fall into the latter group, rest assured. Megan Shoup has come to the rescue with the
Arlington Athletic & Social League (AASL).
 The AASL is just what the name implies: Arlingtonians playing in weekly games of softball, dodgeball, football, or volleyball, depending on the season. Teams are co-ed, and games always end with drink specials at
Mister Days, AASL’s sponsor bar.
Shoup, who is now 27 years old, grew up in Manassas and moved to Arlington following graduation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2001. After playing in a similar league in Baltimore, she recognized the opportunity here in Arlington.
“I saw the league work in Baltimore, and I had a blast playing in it with my friends,” said Shoup. “I realized Arlington would be a great market for something like this, where you have these sports leagues that offer a social opportunity as well.”
The league began modestly with just three softball teams, and grew to an average of twelve teams per league. With over 600 names on her mailing list, Shoup has her work cut out for her. Believe it or not, this is not her day job.
After earning her communications degree, Shoup began a career in television with Prince William County Government. Currently, she is a television producer for their government access channel 23.
“I’m taking classes for on-air and voice over, and that is something I’d like to get better at and work towards doing in television in general,” she said. “I want to keep my hand in television, but also see AASL grow and get more popular. Right now, it’s manageable, and I make time for it because I do want it to be successful.”
Of course, as it gets bigger, Shoup expects to need more help as she seeks to expand the leagues and increase the number of sports played per year. Currently, she handles most of the organizing and logistics herself, including finding proper facilities and contacting sponsors. While Shoup would prefer to play or just watch others have some fun, she occasionally referees.
But even when it’s work, it’s always fun for AASL’s owner. Arlington has proven itself as the perfect venue to bring people together in this type of league.
 “I’ve always loved Arlington,” said Shoup. “I’ve lived here since college, and I’ve always loved it. I think it’s a great place to live, work, and socialize. “Arlington has a lot of character,” she continued. “All the old houses and neighborhood bars give it a homey feel. Everything a young person wants to do is here in Arlington.”
In addition to these benefits, Arlington brings Shoup closer to many friends and family members. In fact, her brother occasionally helps referee games, and she is considering recruiting her recently-retired father to help grow AASL.
But to Megan Shoup, the greatest benefit to creating and running AASL is seeing friendships form and lives take course. One team has played in every season since AASL’s inception. And another used to be a group of strangers who became a group of friends. They were called The Randoms.
“They were just a random group of people I put on a team,” said Shoup. “Then they became friends. I love seeing that.”
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