Promoting and running local corporate softball events, with support from BSUK, can be a good way for slowpitch leagues to find new members and make some money.
To help leagues take on this activity, BSF Treasurer Mike Jennings will be running a 30-minute Corporate Softball Workshop at the 2012 BSF AGM on Saturday, February 18 in Manchester.
The session will start shortly after 12.00 noon, when a discussion session on the National Softball League is expected to finish, and will precede the lunch break and the formal AGM session in the afternoon.
The workshop will be open to anyone coming to the AGM, but members of softball league committees are particularly invited to attend.
Collaboration
Corporate softball events can be run by leagues with support from BSUK. The starting point is usually league members and regional BSUK development staff identifying local firms that might be interested in a softball event as a bonding, team-building or purely recreational activity for staff and sometimes also for suppliers, clients or even rival firms.
Local players may be in a position to suggest such an event to their company's Human Resources or Social Group contacts.
Equipment can usually be supplied by BSUK if the league doesn't have its own, and the league and BSUK can combine to provide umpire/facilitators to make sure the event runs smoothly.
Fees charged to run the event can be divided on an agreed basis between the league and BSUK.
Payoff
BSUK's experience with running corporate events in London suggests that a successful event usually leads to repeat business, so a corporate events programme can build year-on-year.
This can be an additional income stream for the league -- but the real payoff is in recruiting individual players and hopefully teams to join the league and help it grow.
Mike Jennings will look forward to seeing you at the Corporate Softball Workshop at the AGM!