Dodgeball in the MidWest

[aqualith74]

I'm currently helping to set up a League in michigan and I need some suggestions. anything of use will be greatly appreciated!

[randallfromorlando]

I can help you out some-
1. Is this a pro league or recreational?
2. If it's pro how do you plan to pay the players?
3. Do you have or plan to get insurance?
4. Where do you plan to play?
5. Do you have significant capital?

[aqualith74]

It's a rec league, but unlike other rec leagues we will ask people to sign on as "owners," the people who organize their team. They will get people to sign up for a try-out in their geographical area, and will select those players in a five round draft for their region. Our plan is to have four regions and 5 teams per region for a total of 20 teams. The regions will be paired with their closest region to form a ten team conference. The winners of those regions will participate in a round-robin tourney with a wildcard team from each "conference." This will determine our champion. Insurance will be up to the players to provide. We hope to acquire either through renting or buying, a field house in each region for the teams to play in. If that doesn't work we could always use munincipal facilities. I was also thinking of organizing this league as a feeder system for another, professional, dodgeball league. Yet, that depends on such a league forming and having success first. We'll see what develops!

[randallfromorlando]

99% of the time the league or group that rents a facility has to carry $1-2m in liability insurance. In this day and age it's almost impossibly to do any event without insurance. But if you have a collection of owners, it will spread out the cost. Due some research on insurance and add it in as part of a franchise fee.

Also try to get sponsors, to cover some of the prodcution costs (balls. equipment, unfiroms etc.)

Set up your league (owners, rules, draft, locations etc)
secure a place to play
then recruit players

Don't go after players if you can't find a place to host an event.

I'm working on a pro league based in Orlando feel free to email me, if you want to exchange ideas.

[aqualith74]

Good News! I've found a place to host my event virtually for free! For only $100 per team, the city will let me use the muncipal center. I've Decided to sanction my event via the IDBF because I can get a preferred rate from my insurance provider. I plan to begin advertising this fall, Hold tryouts in either September or october, hold a draft next January, and hopefully begin our season in June 2006. Perfect!

P.S. My Avatar is also our Logo, Tell me what you think, improvements, etc.

[randallfromorlando]

Good Job! You're on your way! I too have talked to the IDBF, but our styles of play are very different, so I'm going Independant. My target date is also June.
I like the logo.

[wncsport.com]

That's funny, I resigned as NC Commissioner from the IDBF because I was totally unsatisfied with them. After my Dodgeball World Cup, they claimed the event wasn't sanctioned (even though they never told me during the 8 months of planning that I had to get events "sanctioned," and never sent a form).

Also, they do zero promotion of events despite multiple requests to list my event. (NADA to their credit does a much better job.) And zero training of officials.

AND THE BALLS ARE HORRIBLE. THE PLAYERS WILL NOT USE THEM. THEY ARE TOO SLICK.

My info is listed on the NC page stating I'm the NC contact but I directly told them to remove it over a month ago. Despite all that, I finished the event on time and broke even, and most of the folks there had a good time. The main thing I need to work on is training officials for future events. I have contacted other groups about sanctioning the Dodgeball World Cup next year but I want a group that takes training officials seriously. If needed I can form my own association but the Dodgeball World Cup will be back for sure in 2006.

[wncsport.com]

I would check with nationaldodgeball.com and usadodgeball.com

Also, you're free to check on my sites www.dodgeballworldcup.com and www.carolinadodgeball.com

Referees are critical, esp. for events with cash involved. Recruit basketball and soccer officials if needed because they're already experienced enough not to take the childishness of some dodgeball players.

[aqualith74]

Hey, Thanks for the info. I needed more on IDBF anyways, so thanks.

Appreciate it!

[aqualith74]

Check out our official League Website!

www.scorebook.com/mmpda

[centurionhater]

You guys are actually playing DODGEBALL? Adults? Tell me when kickball starts.