SSIA Social Star Awards
Recognizing the amazing achievements of SSIA Members!
Conference Main | Agenda | Seminars | Speakers | Social Stars | Mobile App | Challenge Teams
The SSIA is proud honor its members with the "Social Star Awards" each year. The Social Stars recognize the best in the industry, those moving us forward, and those excelling at what they do. All nominations should be represented in the 2025 calendar year.
See Award Categories below and nominate yourself HERE
See all the 2025 Winners!
2026 Social Stars Awards
Every club in the SSIA should be eligible for most all of these awards. Self-nomination is perfectly acceptable and ideally every club would have at least 1 nomination for a Social Star Awards. Look around at your peers, see what they are doing via social media or their websites, and nominate what impresses you.
Awards removed from 2025: “Professional Video”; “Club Collaboration”; An “all encompassing” Philanthropy Award without voting
Awards added: “Best Operational Innovation”; “Best Community Involvement, Philanthropy or Partnership” (voted on this time)
BEST IN-HOUSE VIDEO
While outsourcing video production is common, creating a great video in-house with your existing staff & technology shows off your creativity and dedication to your club. Whether for an event, league offering, promotional piece, or something else, these videos can be cheeky, serious, or novel.
BEST MARKETING AWARD
Marketing can be in the form of social media, viral post print, video, or other means. It is meant to recognize innovations and new sales strategies to increase participants in leagues, events, tournaments and outings. What is the best way you have reached your audience this year?
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
This award recognizes a program, individual, or team within the SSIA that has made a significant impact in advancing diversity, equity, and/or inclusion. The honoree(s) exemplify a commitment to fostering an inclusive culture, breaking down barriers, and promoting equitable opportunities within the industry.
- Demonstrated leadership in championing DEI principles through innovative programs, policies, or actions.
- Tangible results or measurable outcomes that have positively influenced diverse representation, equity, and inclusion.
- A lasting impact on the trade association, industry, or community, creating opportunities for underrepresented groups or advancing systemic change.
The Award for Excellence in DEI celebrates those who inspire progress and pave the way for a more equitable and inclusive future. This honor serves as both recognition of their achievements and a call to action for others to follow in their footsteps.
BEST PRACTICE IN SPONSORSHIP
The Best Practice in Sponsorship Award recognizes excellence and innovation in sponsorship initiatives within the Social Sports Industry Association. This prestigious accolade celebrates organizations that have demonstrated outstanding creativity, execution, and results in leveraging sponsorships to enhance player experiences, build community engagement, and drive mutual success for both the sponsor and the social sports organization:
- Strategic Alignment: Clear connection between the sponsor's goals and the values of the organization.
- Innovative Activation: Unique and creative ways the sponsorship was integrated into programming, events, or marketing.
- Measurable Impact: Demonstrated outcomes such as increased participation, brand visibility, or meaningful community contributions.
This award spotlights the critical role sponsorships play in shaping vibrant and inclusive sports communities, setting the standard for impactful collaboration in the industry.
BEST EVENT
SSIA clubs are not just about leagues. Single or multi-day events provide great opportunities for our participants without the commitment of multi-week offerings. This award celebrates clubs that develop, market, and execute unique and fun one-off events for their base or clients (including corporate events). Clubs that are constantly developing events that push the boundaries with fresh ideas deserve to be recognized in this category.
Past event winners are not eligible to be nominated.
BEST OPERATIONAL INNOVATION
Running a club is not just about sales and marketing. HOW you run your club affects your customers satisfaction, employee productivity, and eventually your bottom line. What have you done with your club in the past year to make it run more smoothly behind the scenes? Submit your nomination for the advances you have made this year to be the best you can be!
BEST OF 2025
This award recognizes the greatest accomplishments within the Social Sports Industry Association this year. Whether that’s a staff member, a problem solved, a player’s accomplishment, employee enrichment program, a “passion project”, or anything else that is not represented by another category and was the pinnacle of this year for your club.
Repeat nominees for the same accomplishment are not eligible.
INDUSTRY IMPACT
The Industry Impact award honors the individual in the SSIA that has gone above and beyond to push the industry forward. Whether through knowledge share, presenting new ideas, promoting the industry or association, or any other means - they not only look out for their own club but for everyone in the SSIA.
Past winners are not eligible.
BEST COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, PHILANTHROPY, OR PARTNERSHIP
Honoring great, creative ways for a club to give back to the community, become locally involved, or partner with outside entities to spread the “good”. Show off your worthwhile causes and submit what you’ve done this year!
PRESIDENTS AWARD (non-voting)
This award is at the discretion of the President to honor a person or club that has outshined this past year!
LEGACY AWARD (non-voting)
This award will recognize anyone in your organization reaching a 5 year milestone with your company or the social sports industry (5, 10, 15...etc). Please update the year you started in your Member Compass!
Legacy awards will be announced prior to the conference and presented at the Social Star Awards.
CHAMPIONS AWARD
Each year we allow and encourage all SSIA members to participate and achieve a Customer Service Award – measured by a standardized Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey sent from you to your sports league participants from the past year.
See our past winners:
202420232022202120202019 20182017201620152014