2025 Social Stars Winners!
See all the winners from the 2025 Social Stars (and even watch the show) below!
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In House: Come Play Detroit | Watch Now
Highlights Belle Isle, the venue where Come Play Detroit hosts pickleball, softball, kickball and sand volleyball leagues
Professional: Dayton Sportcial | Watch Now
Dayton Sportcial’s promotional video was a dynamic campaign designed to attract new players and showcase the wide variety of sports offered. Featuring exciting gameplay, moments of camaraderie, and lively celebrations, the video captured the fun, welcoming, and inclusive spirit of the Dayton Sportcial community. With its upbeat tone and authentic portrayal of the friendly individuals who make up the leagues, the campaign successfully communicated that Dayton Sportcial is about more than just sports—it’s about fostering connections and creating memories that last a lifetime.
LI-KICK - 'Team of the Week' feature
LI-Kick uses the ELO algorithm to determine a 'Team of the Week' for each league. This innovative approach ensures that teams are recognized for how they perform relative to expectations. By analyzing ELO ratings, we can celebrate teams that achieve out-sized victories or defy the odds, creating more moments of recognition and excitement across our leagues.
The 'Team of the Week' feature is prominently highlighted in our weekly emails, quickly becoming a favorite among players. Teams eagerly look forward to seeing who earned the spotlight, adding an extra layer of competition and camaraderie to our leagues. This initiative has not only enhanced player engagement but also embodies our commitment to creating a vibrant, rewarding experience for everyone involved.
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Pittsburgh Sports League - PUMPed to Run
PUMPed to Run, a program of PUMP and the Pittsburgh Sports League, is a transformative program that advances diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the social sports community. The program is dedicated to creating a welcoming and accessible space for individuals of all backgrounds, with a special focus on underrepresented communities, including individuals struggling with homelessness, addiction and incarceration, individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and those who may not have traditionally had access to fitness programs.
PUMPed to Run also provides all the clothing, shoes and other necessities that the participants need to safely exercise, as well as setting the exercise schedule at the time and location that is best for the shelter which removes obstacles to participation like money, access and transportation. Through its active mission, PUMPed to Run empowers participants to overcome challenges and set personal goals for physical fitness while prioritizing mental health and personal growth. The program’s mentorship components foster a culture of support and empowerment by helping both participants, and often volunteers, develop self-confidence and leadership skills.
In addition, the program provides opportunities for volunteers to connect with others that are different from them, exposing us all to the rich diversity of a vibrant city. By addressing both systemic barriers to access and providing ongoing support, PUMPed to Run has sparked lasting change in the Pittsburgh region, demonstrating how intentional DEI initiatives can build a more equitable and inclusive future.
Club Sport
Club Sport took on a whole new level of strategic alignment in their partnership with Anheuser Busch when they were identified as the key activator for all in-market sports initiatives for on-premise accounts. This included unique activations with gaming and contests at local venues around their brands
1. Michelob Ultra for Valspar and an Ultimate Putt Putt competition that allowed winning teams of 2 from 12 qualifiers to not only win Michelob Ultra Titelist Golf bags, but entry to a longest putting competition on the final green of the Valspar PGA tournament for additional prizes. All qualifiers were awarded Dex Dec tickets to the Thursday round and winners were provided VIP snake pit tickets to the final round.
2. Michelob Ultra for Copa America and the Ultra Superior Soccer Shootout that allowed winning individuals from 12 qualifiers to not only win Michelob Ultra Soccer Swag/Coolers, but entry to a final competition where the winner was flown to Miami for the final and a chance to win VIP tickets to the Copa America final! The Tampa qualifier won!
3. Bud Light for the Football Faceoff competition that allowed winning individuals from 13 qualifiers to win entry to a city final competition where the winner & plus 1 is being flown to Vegas (Airfare, hotel, & food stipend) for the final and a chance to win airfare, hotel, tickets to the Super Bowl in New Orleans!
All in all, Club Sport has run over 40 events in partnership with the distributors, brands, and local venues to provide additional value to all involved including the end participant!
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Club Sport- Black Light Volleyball
In December 2024 Club Sport ran it's first Black Light Glow Volleyball Tournament with resounding success. Setup involved installing 22 permanent LED black lights on 4 courts, using LED rope lights as lines, and handing out neon shirts, swag, and paint. We had a sold out field of 16 teams brave "Florida Cold" and have a great time! The visuals were awesome and it was fun seeing everyone GLOW! More of these tournaments will be on tap for 2025.
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Club Sport / SportsLink / Houston SSC / Atlanta SSC - Weekend Collaboration
4 SSIA clubs met up for a weekend of friendly competition, learning, and networking. Tampa Club Sport graciously hosted SportsLink, Houston, and Atlanta in their city where all teams joined together to represent the SSIA in the Tampa SportsFest. Additionally, this trip served as a great event for teams to get to know each other better.
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SportsLink - Dream/bucket list international destination
Earlier this year, we added a benefit for our full time employees. Once they hit five years of service, we send them to their dream/bucket list international destination for a week (tickets for two, plus hotel for a week). The fun part was asking them where they would go on their bucket list before I told them why I was asking. On their list: Maldives, Greece, Japan, Scotland, The Gallapagos Islands. I got the idea from Kristi Herold and her team's focus on making their employee's dreams come true (many years ago, via "The Dream Manager"). I'm excited to say, we just sent our first off to her destination (Maldives) Kristen Wright. Bethany Jahn lucked out and got to go with her as her travel partner. They just got back last night (they looked tired and tan after their long flights). I'm looking forward to sending off our other peeps over the next few years. And hearing about their trips!
Nick Ferate - Underdog Sports Leagues
Nick Ferate may not be a name everyone knows, but the reach of his impact has. For more than 20 years, Nick has lead the Sport & Social Industry, among others, through his knowledge share on hiring and training field staff, obtaining the data you need (and what that actually is), and implementing a top players or captains program.
Clubs have sent HR staff to him to learn the best practices of hiring and training field staff. And while someone close to his vicinity wrote a book on the topic, Nick is the one who has tested all theories, collected the stories, and still implements the systems on a daily basis. He has presented at the SSIA Conference more than 6 times, most of which have earned top ratings from attendees. And anyone who follows up with him post-conference knows that he will give even more information.
Nick has provided decades of feedback and testing to help make the League Lab software efficient and effective. He works alongside the developers finding all the ways clubs can and would use a feature, then figures out the best way possible for it to be accessible, on both the public and admin sides. And as always, Nick has worked with many League Lab clubs on how to best use the software for them.
Never one to say no to helping, Nick has had countless calls from those within the SSIA on how to achieve your goals. He takes the time out of his day to impact you and your business, because he knows his experience can make a difference for you.
Don’t sleep on this titan of our industry…Nick Ferate has made an impact.
Honoring great, creative ways to give back (this award is not voted on as we will be recognizing all the amazing philanthropy efforts by our members)
5 year
Jeff Miceli - Players Sport & Social Group
Matt Feldkamp - KC Crew
Nasreen Ismael - FXA Sports
10 Year
Aleacia Miller - Kaboom Sports & Social Club
Ashton Combs - Austin Sports & Social Club
Britt Rheault - United Fray
Daniel Baynham - United Fray
Delaney Entrop - Underdog Sports Leagues
Lindsay Honorof - Volo Sports
Marty Finucane - Game On! Sports
Pedro Garcia - Houston Sports & Social Club
Shawn Smith - League Joe
Vy Mai - Beach City Sports
15 Year
Barry Griffith - Dallas Sport & Social Club
Brent Wentworth - CLUBWAKA
Felix Goodson - Volo Sports
John Dematas - Big League Sports
Louis Hodgetts - Game On VT
Robert Kinsler - United Fray
25 Year
Rob Davies - JAM Sports
BEST IN CLASS
Awarded to all SSIA members that successfully participate and achieve the highest NPS score in each size category
Group A (0 to 2,500 Annual Unique Participants): Striker Sports & Social
Group B (2,500 to 5,000 Annual Unique Participants): Beach City Sports & Stay & Play Social Club
Group C (5,000 to 10,000 Annual Unique Participants): Pittsburgh Sports League
Group D (Over 10,000 Annual Unique Participants): Houston Sports & Social Club
CHAMPIONS
Awarded to all SSIA members that successfully participate
Group A (0 to 2,500 Annual Unique Participants)
Avalon Sport & Social Club
Dayton Sportcial
Gatineau Sport & Social Club
Kaboom Sports & Social Club
Moncton Sport & Social Club
SOCO Club Sport
Striker Sports & Social
Waco TX Sports & Social Club
Group B (2,500 to 5,000 Annual Unique Participants)
Beach City Sports
Chattanooga Sports Leagues
Dallas Sport & Social Club
Everplay Sport & Social Club
Li-Kick
Orlando Club Sport
OSSO Sports & Social OKC
OSSO Sports & Social Tulsa
PHX Fray
Quinte Sport & Social Club
South Florida Club Sport
Stay & Play Social Club
Group C (5,000 to 10,000 Annual Unique Participants)
JAX Fray
KC Crew
LXC Sports
Pittsburgh Sports League
SportsLink
TRI SPORTS
Victoria Sport & Social Club
Xoso Sport & Social League
Group D (Over 10,000 Annual Unique Participants)
Chicago Sport & Social Club
Circle City Athletics
DC Fray
Halifax Sport & Social Club
Houston Sports & Social Club
Kingston Sport & Social Club
Ottawa Sport & Social Club
Tampa Bay Club Sport
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