Hello everyone! My name is Gino, and as many of you know, I’m the guy who seems to be everywhere at once—and I usually am!  Ariana was kind enough to let me take over as guest author for this month’s newsletter, and I couldn’t be more excited.  So, let’s get down to business before she tells me I’m talking too much!

Big League Sports is proud to be part of the largest association of social sports companies in the world.  This group consists of about 124 divisions across North America (USA and Canada).  To be a member, you have to meet strict criteria for quality and community.  It’s a space where we discuss rules, strategies, and industry trends—like the rise of Pickleball, the staying power of Kickball, and how to keep the "social" in social sports.

​It’s also where we developed many of the perks you see today, like our payment plans, the Head Ref program, and our Brand Ambassadors.  Essentially, it’s a massive think tank of like-minded clubs working together to keep the quality of social sports at its peak!

You may have seen some photos on the BLS Instagram (@playbigleaguesports—cheap plug, I know, but it’s my job!) of my recent trip to Mexico.  I was there for our annual North American conference.

​I know what you're thinking: "A conference for kickball?" You’d be shocked at the detail that goes into running your favorite leagues!  We attended seminars on everything from player experience to digital communication.  We even had live practice sessions and competitions where we played for league dominance.  (Special shoutout to LI Kick and Tampa Bay Club Sport for carrying me through our volleyball game—if you’ve seen me play, you know I needed the help!)

The "Main Event" of the week was the Social Sports Awards.  Everyone dresses up, nominees are announced, and winners give speeches.  This year, BLS was nominated for three awards, which is a huge honor considering the hundreds of leagues involved!

​My favorite was our nomination for "Best of 2025" for our Women’s Kickball league.  While we didn't take home the trophy—that went to a hero of a ref from a league down south who saved a player’s life with CPR—the nomination alone gave us incredible national recognition.  It proves that what we are building here in Westchester and Stamford is special.

Being part of this association helps BLS stay at the level of social fun you expect. Our mission is to grow a community where you can meet new people and have new experiences. Now you know that in order to make your community grow, we are part of a community of our own, learning how to serve you better.

​See you on the fields!

​Gino

P.S. Yes, that last picture is me jumping into a pool because the crowd started chanting my name. You know I’m a sucker for that! The good news? I’ve still got a solid front flip, and my watch is waterproof.

P.P.S. Yes I was in Mexico when they were having civil unrest and closing airports, the things we do to make BLS the place to be! Thank you to the over 50 messages from players who checked in, it was a great reminder of why I LOVE building these communities!

Click Here to register for your spring leagues!