A COMMISSIONER'S PERSPECTIVE ON SUCCESSFUL SENIOR SOFTBALL LEAGUES

Sept. 1, 2010

Marvin Kaplan

Commissioner, Cushing Senior Softball League

Many of us have a strong passion for playing competitive and recreational softball. The most important component in the formation of a softball league is the members who have this strong love for the game. What are other components necessary to take a league from an OK level to an exceptional status?

Ten years ago, when I started playing senior softball, I could not wait to join a league….any league. I had not played softball for over 30 years, and although I always had a love for the game, as a working senior executive travelling half of my time, there was no time in my schedule to play softball.

When I retired and joined a league, I could not wait to play. I met many players with the same goals in mind. After a few months in the league, I realized there was constant bickering among a number of players. Idle chatter occurs in all leagues. In fact, you will always find a small minority of people in any organization chronically complaining about anything and everything. I call these people the 5 percenters. Five percent of people generate 95 percent of the chatter. The content of these idle chats or rumors is not the issue; the concern that we all have is the irritation it causes among other members in the league.

Eight years ago, a few of us started a new softball league. The Cushing Senior Softball League started with 40 players. Now, we have 140 members. We are a recreational league of 55+ year old players, and is considered one of the more successful and competitive leagues in South Florida.

As commissioner, my goal was to establish the best league possible. To achieve that objective, I used my experience as a healthcare executive in running a start-up, and fast growth company that achieved sales of $150 million. As we formed the league, a board of directors was set up; documents, rules, and code of conduct were created.

So is there a difference between an OK league and an exceptional league? You bet there is. First and foremost, everyone in the organization; Board of Directors, Managers and Members must all be on board with the mission, purpose and goals of the league.

What I learned is that there are a few essential factors that must be integrated in the formation of a league. You need to establish open and honest communications with members. This is accomplished in a variety of ways, namely, by emails, old-fashioned face-to face discussions and a monthly message sent by the commissioner on informative topics. In addition, we have set-up a website which provides daily updates of our league, information about our members, and links to other softball sites. Enforcement of the rules, regulations and code of conduct are essential documents. Selective enforcement of rules is both inappropriate and unacceptable, because it creates confusion and inconsistency, and it is one of the major reasons why rumors and complaints take place among players.

There are a few ways to measure your league’s performance:

1. Growth of membership

2. Attrition of members

3. Membership feedback

4. Reduction of idle chatter and rumors

Operating a softball league is no different than running a small company. Proper planning, enforcing the rules and effective communications are essential factors in operating an exceptional league.