How Do You build a Successful Organization?
How to Sustain Success

On the Union’s Website we have read many articles on how the MCFFU will be built, sustained and successful.  As we all know, in order for the MCFFU to be truly successful, the teams that formulate the Union must be successful.  There aren’t many teams within the United States who’ve enjoyed the longevity of the Denver Gamblers, which is 21 years old.  As quiet as its kept, individual teams notoriety and drawing power are key elements to any major organizations success.  Along with proper advertisement, preparation and fairness, these two ingredients can turn a tournament into a long lasting event.  Teams that can survive the first of three critical years and learn to be competitive are more apt to develop rivalries and increase intrigue, thus strengthen our Union.

In an effort to help get you started with your own program, here is a 10 - step recipe to success.  Be careful, implementation is not as easy as it appears:

STEP 1: Get 1-2 individuals strong enough to grow the team into an organization by adding structure to everything it does.  This leader must command the respect from and manage 17-25 individuals that are not getting paid by the organization.  Preferably these individuals should not actually play on the team, it can alter the end result. 

STEP 2:  Establish Goals and a plan that’ll help accomplish success.  Do not set them too high, remember you’ll manage and demand from people that aren’t being paid.  The goal(s) must remain the same at all times for clarity, consistency and expectancies.  They should not be altered for anything or anyone, for no one is bigger than the team.

STEP 3:  Define your Offensive and Defensive systems.

STEP 4:  Identify the type of players you’ll need to make the systems successful.  The best players aren’t always the fastest, biggest or strongest.   Note:  The character of a man should be heavily weighed when choosing players.  It will be the key essential of the success of your team.  Or in Gumbo terms, it is your Rue!

STEP 5:  Do not establish rules, they will only be broken and the team eventually misguided.  Understand the mind frame of the players and create flexibility to allow each individual to be himself while at the same time molding the character of the team.  However, set the guidelines and let every player know what’s expected of them, game or practice.  Respect each player and their opinions regarding the betterment of the team.  Think of every player on the team when making a decision for the team.  Team votes aren’t always applicable.

STEP 6:  Practice, practice and practice.  Add the 5 P’s and stir for good flavor.  “Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performances.

STEP 7:  No matter how good, remove the pieces that can’t commit to practice and weekly agenda’s.  After this and a few ass whoopin’s, you should be down to a good core of 12-15 players.  This will be the core to your eventual success.

STEP 8:  Replace those who could not commit with younger players new to the game.  They’ll be impressionable and more apt to buying into the system and the philosophies.  The game always needs new blood to keep it going.  Try to avoid recruiting players from other teams, they’re usually a headache and will bring bad habits with them in addition to not fully buying into your philosophies.  You don’t need opinions on how to win championships from someone who couldn’t help his previous team win.

STEP 9: Establish award bar-b-q’s or parties to recognize individuals who’ve bought into the program, consistently make practice and has an impact on the field.  Do this once a year and the team will grow.  3 or more functions a year without awards will help further develop camaraderie.

STEP 10:  After three years if your team is not on a nationally competitive scale, fire yourself and those in charge.  You either can’t coach, can’t evaluate talent, lack leadership skills and can’t manage a program.  Keep the team together, just remove yourself from control, it will go a long way with the guys who’ve bought in to what’s been preached.  If you don’t you’ll lose respect of the team and it’ll dismantle anyway. 

Although much of this is in humor, majority of it is real and quite necessary to be a successful organization.  Get started on your teams, learn how to compete and enter the many tournaments offered by the Union.  We’re counting on you. 

Always remember, “Success is never final, nor is any failure.”