[Shabby J]

Speaking as an outsider and my first experience with an established group of friends and experienced coaches, here is my take.

Your league has to create an environment to educate, fellowship and show a willingness to mentor new comers. This is how you keep interest. I played solitaire for years and an occasional game with a friend or two when I could. I then met, Eric, Dave, Ajahaana, Rick and Shawn at the Open Run, the morning of the first one I was contemplating not going, as I knew the skill level the guys were at and I knew jack about there rule set, so right off the bat I was intimidated and just thought I would spend all day watching others play, boy was I wrong.

I decided to go and had a real eye opening day. Sure I was stunned at the coaching skills and had no idea how much fun the Shootout based rules were. Most importantly I was taken aback at how they were all willing to teach me the rules and help me take my tweaking to another level as well.

The environment they created made me want to come back and I have been going ever since.

Now on the flip side of that I played Subbuteo table soccer for years and when I got in with a small Los Angeles club. They did very little of this. They were good guys and I liked spending time with them, but when you showed up as a beginner on game day you would get your arse handed to you, match after match, losing 8-0, 10-0, 11-0, etc...this is a very realistic soccer sim, where games most often end with a combined goal total of between 1 and 4, this is with two experienced players, so you know how bad a flogging it was to lose by such big margins.

They would get new guys via the Internet, they would come out get their arse handed to them and you would never see them again after that initial day. Thus the club slowly dwindled down to about three active members and then I think was defunct for a while.

Had they created a learning environment as I mentioned being a part of at the Open Runs they would have been far more successful in recruiting and keeping members. They are active again and have established newcomer rules, this I believe has been the key in them being able to recruit and retain members as they are now doing.

The "talking scrimmages" against a better coach are the way to go, you can get the rules down, ask questions, experiment, etc...I am thankful these guys have helped me enjoy MF more than I ever have before.