So What are Your Necessary Ingredients on ...

[Reginald Rutledge]

establishing and maintaining a league?

Miniature football leagues are some of the most fluid clubs imaginable. People come and people go. Many things, at least in the DFW, factor into participation.
I know we've had our share of strikes, discontent, and personal conflict among other things. But I always wondered what kept the guys coming back for more every year? Even after breaking up as a league.

For the DFW, the number 1 thing I think is so important is having a strong core of dedicated coaches. We have about 7 or 8 coaches that you count on. They do the bulk of the officiating, keeping people informed, and are the most selfless individuals.

Another thing which has been vitally important is a wanting/willingness to share information. It is important that our least experienced coach is made aware of all the information. Guys bend over backwards to give coaches the necessary tools to make them a winner. The strength of our league depends on our weakest link.

Making yourself accessible is very important. Sometimes I know I am not accessible for practicing/scrimmaging but some of these guys instinctively buddy up with others and work on things.

Something else that seems to work here is the conference call. It usually starts with someone like a Don Hudson, Pep Woods, DeWone McDaniel, or Robert "RD" Don, and we get to talking about what's happening in the league. We get a pulse of who needs to be pumped up and go after that person.

Sometimes after a huge loss, we invoke the "48 hour rule". Coaches are not allowed to talk to the media (especially after a loss). This gives them time to cool off. Although this league is for the fun of it, naturally any great competitor wants to win. So if you ask a coach "What happens" after a loss, you may get a tirade out of him. So that is always something we try to stay away from.

Having confident coaches in their system is also of great benefit. When you play in front of the "Peanut Gallery" night in and night out, having the mental fortitude to press on is very important. This is a very comical and whimsical part of the league. It may start with 2 people just asking questions of each other about the game and the next thing you know, everyone's got a role in it. This takes the edge off of intense games too.

Having a pulse of the league is important. If you are the only one winning in your league, something is wrong! Every year you destroy people, something is wrong! You don't want to help people get better and come up and beat you, something is wrong. You are fearful of sharing the information, your league will inevitably die! No one wants to play with someone where they have no chance to win, especially if the powers-to-be that has the information hoards it for themselves. Eventually, that person will definitely be on an island all alone, hoping to get the opportunity to share in the camaraderie of a league.

Viking10 made a comment (I think yesterday) about we should appreciate having someone to play with because he does not. I went to sleep thinking about that statement. While I prefer solitaire, I can not help but appreciate how I along with others cultivated this league. I admire leagues like the Great Lakes League, the BEFL, my good friend LaRue (one of the oldest leagues around) and others who have staying power. You got guys from various walks of life come together to play a kid's game. And love doing it.

We should all be so fortunate. I wonder, what are some of the ingredients that makes for a strong league. Newbies may be able to learn from this information as they establish leagues throughout the country.

Reginald Rutledge
Member of the DFW League since 1995