Over the Line World Championship draws thousands to San Diego beach
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2023 Over the Line World Championship in July. Photo: Tristan L. Juárez via Old Mission Beach Athletic Club
Beach, bats, balls and booze — the four essential elements of Over the Line, a uniquely San Diego sport.
What's happening: The 2023 Over the Line World Championship, sponsored by the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club, drew roughly 15,000 people to Fiesta Island over two weekends.
- More than 700 teams competed at the 70th annual party disguised as a tournament. Team names are filled with pop culture references, political humor and sexual innuendo.
Details: The game resembles drunken Wiffle Ball in a way.
- The "field" is triangle-shaped area attached to a rectangle-shaped area drawn in the sand.
- A batter stands at the top of the triangle and swings at a ball tossed by a teammate kneeling beside them.
- Hit the ball over "the line" where the triangle and rectangle connect without the three opposing teams' field players catching it.
- There are imaginary bases for ghost runners, which is how scores or runs are tallied.
Of note: The event is written into the city's municipal code as one of the few summer events allowed at public parks and beaches.
The bottom line: The longevity of the game is a big part of what makes it so special. Plus, it's the only real summer beach party you can (legally) have in San Diego with alcohol.