How did Diamond City Sports begin?
Diamond City Sports became official in 2019, but it really began back in 2004 after watching the movie Dodgeball. My friend, Tom Hannon and I, talked about other sports we loved to play as kids and one of the first that popped up was WIFFLE ball. From there, we started playing in his front yard and we got the crazy idea to try out a league. We put it out to the two local papers - The Citizens' Voice ran an ad and the Times Leader did a phone interview with us; a big story, which helped get teams. We have been going ever since, with now nine sports on our calendar.
Is it challenging to find the right people for the right positions?
We have our core of Diamond City Sports, Inc, which is Nick Budzyn (our Chief Operations Officer), Andy Peck (our Chief Marketing Officer), and myself (President). From there, each league has a council that works with the three of us to help make programming happen. Some people are very eager to step up and some people need some convincing. If they fit well with our mission, they usually stay with is for quite a while. Some people find out that their idea of Diamond City Sports is different from our mission, and that's understandable. We realize our brand is solid, but not a perfect fit for everyone.
What are the main qualities you look for in a coach?
When we are looking for a coach for our youth flag football, we look for someone who will put the kids first, is reliable, and understands that we are first and foremost about having fun. Having fun is Rule #1 in all of our leagues. Scouts and agents aren't showing up to any of our games to find the next big thing. Our leagues are about having fun, staying active, and meeting new people. The same holds true of captains for our adult sports. If you aren't looking to come and have fun, there are other things you can do with your time. We're here to have fun and be a source of positivity in our community.
Have you ever been given short notice on setting up an event? In such a case, how did you go about it?
People don't usually come to us with a specific date in mind, but rather are usually open to our availability. With that in mind, our team of council is very good at making things happen. Nothing ever goes completely as planned, but we have dedicated people who understand our mission and when you are working for good, things tend to fall into place.
What's the most gratifying feedback you've received from a parent?
When a parent comes up to us and thanks us for the opportunity that we have given their child, that hits home. We are about giving people the opportunity to have fun, stay active, and be a part of something. When it is with a kid who breaks out of their shell and loves something new that they have tried, that means a lot to us.
Bonus question: What's your favorite sport?
My favorite sport is baseball. As for my favorite sport we run, it's probably a tie between WIFFLE ball and youth flag football. WIFFLE ball because it is so close to baseball and is our first sport; youth flag football because of the impact we have on the youth and how much it has grown in five short years.
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