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By Sol Schwartz
In 2006, Conference USSSA began its inaugural year and it proved to be a real success for softball. The leadership of USSSA made a great contribution to the resurgence of competitive Men’s Major softball. Interest was waning among the majority of the emerging teams but you could not see it in the games top players and teams.
The tournament scene was relegated to World Series events and a few qualifiers versus a season long series or structure of events. The softball players and trends at the levels just below major were more apt to chase titles in the lower divisions. The players were not often pressed to play up and the game was in need of a shot in the arm. A boost that would create more player excitement to facedown the top teams and their bulging budgets.
Renewed interest from sponsors was needed to build teams and invest dollars to challenge the games best week after week. The men’s slow-pitch game needed to find the next generation of great players that would carry the game to the next level as the current greats fight to stay at the top. More importantly, the association leaders needed to create a model that would allow a variety of teams to compete with the best at venues all over the country and create growth through competition and savings to the sponsors and players.
Enter Conference USSSA and architect Don DeDonatis, the current CEO of USSSA. He found a format to give the softball public and emerging players what it needed. “The concept was born out of what we established years ago in the state of Michigan with a series, it was successful then and 2006 was the right time to roll it out nationally,” said Don DeDonatis.
First, a financial commitment was necessary to get the conference off the ground and through $65,000 in seed money from USSSA it began. Teams would pay a $5000 annual fee that would be applied to tournaments, travel, awards, and support. “Our idea was for the fees to create a savings for the teams over the period of a season and I believe it did in 2006, said Don.
They formulated a format for 18 teams to compete in a 14 week Major NIT schedule. The venues were the traditional sites as in years past on the Major softball circuit. A unique addition was the ability for the top 10 finishing teams to advance to a Conference Championship at USSSA headquarters in Kissimmee, Florida. Additionally, the conference would allow the top 14 teams in the Conference to qualify and be seeded in the USSSA Major World Series or The Showcase of Softball.
The two remaining spots would be awarded to the highest point winners outside the Conference teams and that would round out the field for the 2006 Major World Series. As part of the format Conference USSSA would provide room nights and travel monies for the qualifiers of the various championship events. It also created additional points and financial awards for the lower teams that participated in the 14 week Major NIT schedule.
The 2006 results were a successful resurgence in interest and rewards through World Series dollars and a creation of hoteling venues that supported the Conference USSSA. The lower division programs also saw an increase in revenue born out of Conference USSSA. The competitive results were not so dissimilar from years past with domination by the Major programs.
The Conference USSSA regular season Champion was Resmondo/KME Softball. The Conference USSSA Tournament Champion was BellCorp/Taylor Brothers/Belcher/Easton. The Major World Series Champion was Resmondo/KME Softball. The positives could be seen in the business of softball as you fast forward to this season and analyze how Conference USSSA has grown and where that growth has occurred.
In 2007, 32 teams will compete to advance to the Conference USSSA Championship and the USSSA Men's Major World Series. Some are only trying to improve their position within their respective divisions. Regardless, it represents a growth of 75% in teams committed to Conference USSSA in year two. The pre-paid participation fee was recognized as a value by the teams. There are 15 Major NIT events on the schedule in 2007 and the one addition occurred in the west where more opportunities for growth exist for teams and venues in 2008.
Traditionally, western teams have been restricted to only a few NIT’S if there budgets are tight. It should help with a few more tournament additions to polarize east and west conference events. A natural growth would definitely follow. The Top 12 Conference teams will advance to the Conference Championship to be held at the USSSA National Headquarters and Sports Museum located in Kissimmee, Florida.
Although adding two teams from the previous year appears modest it is still 20% growth versus a decline. The Top 14 Conference teams will qualify for the USSSA Men's Major World Series at Disney's Wide World of Sports. In looking at no change in this area it could be construed as positive. There are more teams in 2007 vying for the trip to the Major “Showcase of Softball” World Series that were not in 2006. The numbers of players are higher and the quality of the competition has improved.
There are now 15 Major NIT's where USSSA will award the top finishing C and D teams a Berth and Travel Money to their respective World Series. The top finishing B team receives a paid berth to the "B" World Series. The lower teams will be awarded participation points to all B, C & D Conference teams for each entry into a Major NIT. After the completion of the final event on the regular season schedule the highest finishing A, B, C & D conference teams will be awarded 500 points towards their open class point total.
The Conference USSSA in year two has received exactly what it hoped to achieve from its inception of their strategy in 2006. The visibility of what the Conference now represents, a brand. It allows them to pursue more lucrative deals with vendors that provide hotel venues and support products such as equipment, balls, and awards.
The increased participation by teams, players, and sponsors in its Major and A programs. The increase in revenues at this level that should sustain an extended commitment for/from USSSA and the players. An increase in the lower division’s participation in the upper divisions tournaments that should promote teams and players interest to play in higher divisions in the coming years. The increase in spectator participation to fill up the stadium venues that gives cache to the games brand and players.
Don DeDonatis pointed out that “In 2007 Conference USSSA has had a snowball effect and of the 32 teams participating from 5 different divisions, 22 will receive the same room nights and travel monies for the related championship events.” The idea that the awards create an equality of reward for 22 of the 32 teams is a real validation of the Conference’s success. It’s truly a win-win for all involved because it has created an awareness and change for the future of upper division softball. Ultimately the business of softball is still the promotion of fun, recreation, and competition.
The Conference USSSA for 2007 is now in full swing and the early season results show a wide variety of top teams getting off to good starts. The following results reflect the top finishers in the first five Conference USSSA Men’s Major NIT tournaments.
Hall of Fame Classic, April 20, 2007 – Kissimmee, FL.
Tournament MVP – Jeff Wallace, Resmondo Softball - FL
1. Resmondo Softball – FL
2. Team Combat/Benfield/Dalsanders - WA
3. BellCorp/Belchers/Tai/Backman - FL
4. Aubreys/EliteSports/Phone Masters – GA
5. TaylorMade/Mizuno – VA
USSSA Worth Men’s Major, April 27, 2007 – Glen Burnie, MD
Tournament MVP – Dan Sanchez - Aubreys/EliteSports/Phone Masters – GA
1. Aubreys/EliteSports/Phone Masters – GA
2. Jean Shoppe/Worth - TN
3. Taylormade/Mizuno – VA
4. The Scene – NYD
5. ABS/Easton – MD
Texas Legends Men’s Major NIT, May 11, 2007 – Euless, TX
Tournament MVP - Jeff Wallace, Resmondo Softball - FL
1. Resmondo Softball – FL
2. FenceBrookers, Inc/Worth
3. BellCorp/Belchers/Tai/Backman - FL
4. Illustrated Sportswear/Mizuno - AR
5. Woodlaw/Cash Plus Pawn/Worth – TXN
Columbus Men’s Major, May 18, 2007 – Columbus, IN
Tournament MVP - Jeff Wallace, Resmondo Softball - FL
1. Resmondo Softball – FL
2. Jean Shoppe/Worth – TN
3. Spitz Seed/Mizuno – KY
4. Steve’s Drywall – OHN
5. BW3/Columbus Pipe/Mojo/Easton – OHN
Carolina Shootout Men’s Major NIT, May 25, 2007 – Cary, North Carolina
Tournament MVP – Rick Baker, BellCorp/Belchers/Tai/Backman - FL
1. BellCorp/Belchers/Tai/Backman – FL
2. Jean Shoppe/Worth - TN
3. Team Combat/Benfield/Dalsanders - WA
4. Laservision/ Easton
5. Holland’s/Terrys/Easton
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