Monday Night Dilema...

Monday Nights have been going well.  Very well.  With the exception of a certain few that either cannot afford $2.00 a night or can barely do so by paying in quarters...sometimes I really think of cutting my losses and focusing on the people that do understand the concept of facility fees and other adult like responsibilities...I do not charge $2.00 because I feel like it.  It is not some arbitrary number just to keep someone's wallet full.  But alas, I carry on.

As I was saying, the turn outs have been great, the competition fun and intense and with the right beats playing, I feel alive and I know others do.  I've mentioned to core or key members/participants that I don't want to tamper with a successful product.  I want and have to keep my core happy.  However, like most lessons in life and repeat courses throughout my Dodgeball managing career, nothing lasts and if you are not three steps ahead, you'll get left in the dust and fast.  We seem to do well with Retention, as this coming Spring Season will be yet another indicator of how we're doing but the other "R" we really need to focus on and fret about and more importantly, start executing, is "Recruitment."

We've got to get on recruiting people and then keeping them.  However, Open Dodgeball is not for the weak.  People will get rocked and unless their attitude is in the right place (and it rarely is), they will leave with a poor taste in their mouths.  Coming to our Competitive League on Wednesday Nights only solidifies getting rocked as even our weaker players will hold their own against complete newbies...and I wouldn't have it any other way.  "Competitive" was a word selected for a reason.

New recruits need their own place to play.  Their own place to grow and experience Dodgeball as we all once did.

We need to reinstate the Recreational League...but what nights?  Thursday/Friday/Saturday would be ideal, as the relaxed rule set, implementation of Gopher balls and (hopefully) the successful blend of socializing and alcohol will make for a hit.  It will bring in new players and of those that really get into the game, they can feed into the Competitive League when they feel they are ready.  Move up to the big leagues, so to speak.

The venue hunt has proved almost fruitless unfortunately.  Currently, Tucson Indoor Sports Center (formerly Bladeworld and our premier tournament hosting venue) has expressed interest however they are only available on Monday Nights...I feel that this opportunity should not be squandered...after our lame tournament there in December of 2009, it would do us well to help solidify our relationship with them, not to mention be at the forefront of a successfully run Recreational Dodgeball league...decisions...

Do we seek to relocate Monday Night Dodgeball to another night?  Do we seek out other venues with less appeal (no available sports bar and grill and ideal spectator arrangements)?  Do we go through with it and either host the thing entirely on our own and face costs of $50 to $60 PER PLAYER?  Do we allow Tucson Indoor Sports Center to do the administrative work while we run the show to keep costs down?  Is this an opportunity we should not blow?  Is it possible, that I can remove myself and a select few others to foster this Recreational League at Tucson Indoor Sports Center and charge the care of Monday Night Open to others?  This has been done in the passed in my absence...be it in California or Germany.

Decisions...decisions...

Youth Dodgeball at the Boys and Girls Club however, has been going very well.