But last summer, she found another way to score. Pecchia, 30, of Warwick, used the app to recruit 46 players for Clubwaka kickball teams in Pawtucket. Founded in as the World Kickball Association, Clubwaka offers sports leagues and social activities for adults. Friends persuaded her to join the club five years ago, even though she had strong social anxiety.
She quickly made a strong circle of friends, and became a league manager. Having fun and meeting new people seems in line with what dating app users are looking for as well.
So Pecchia decided to start swiping on everyone regardless of their appearance, sex, or interests and invite them to play kickball. The only requirement was having a good time.
She updated her profile to include information about the kickball league, and also about the Cupid Undie Run, a one-mile, wintertime, run-in-your underwear at Fenway Park in Boston, to benefit neurofibromatosis research.
Then she started swiping. The responses on the dating apps ranged from enthusiastic to obscene. Pecchia says she got an email from the company a few weeks later, warning her that, based on her profile, she could be banned for soliciting people. Shortly after the warnings, on Jan. Pecchia emailed Tinder Support to ask what rules she violated but Tinder responded with links to the Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.
