Q & A from The 2019 Candidates!

Chris Abney (Candidate for Membership Director)—

ECSA prides itself on being a very diverse group! As membership director, it would be my purpose to keep that alive. I want to reach out to anyone and everyone who will continue to make this league a safe place for allies, gay, trans, and those who support what we are all about as a league. I want to include EVERYONE whether they have never touched a softball to those who may have played at a collegiate level.  We have a place for everyone! If elected, it will be my duty to represent the membership as a board member and not a member of any one specific team because in the end we are all ONE TEAM!

Holden Knecht (Candidate for Membership Director)—

The ECSA has -and continues to foster a safe and supportive environment around softball for all diverse individuals in our LGBTQA+ community.

Rebecka Salisbury (Candidate for Membership Director)—

To me this means as a league we are accepting of everyone for who they are not what they are. The more inclusive we are the more diverse we are. We look around the league and we cannot continue to accept the status quo. If we are to survive as a league for another 40 years, we must look within our own community and make it stronger with more members of the LGBT community as well with people of color from that community.

Jon Ericson (Candidate for ECSA Commissioner)—

I believe that diversity brings ideas, thoughts, and considerations to the table that strengthen a community. Our membership has become incredibly diverse over the years and I would welcome more opportunities to increase the representation of all groups, especially those who haven’t had the chance to be heard. I will do my best to encourage and foster more diversity on the Executive Board, as well as the membership.

Tyler Daley-Keys (Candidate for D/E Assist. DOC)—

It means that all should be welcomed. ECSA is a home for friends and family to gather and play a fun sport that we all love. Everyone should be allowed and no one should be turned away.

Andy Rock (Candidate for C Division Assist. Commissioner)—

Everything! Since I joined ECSA in 2016, I’ve been enveloped in an amazingly diverse community and entrenched with the singular note that anyone can play in our league. Our agenda must be deeply rooted in principles of human rights, human security, equality, and social justice; so, just like in our league, no one is left behind.

Chris Abney (Candidate for Membership Director)—

As a coach, I encourage my players to be the best that they can be on and off the field. Attempting to play in a higher league is scary to most but if you have someone that is willing to push them up and help place them on a team, I think that more players would challenge themselves. Possibly, even have the upper level teams/players play games against the teams that are in the next higher division to give players exposure and confidence to move into the next level of their game.

Holden Knecht (Candidate for Membership Director)—

Involve Coaches and Managers in Select Teams to help players to the next level. Schedule these exhibition games with C and B teams to observe – so they have opportunity to recruit potential players in tournaments and possibly following season.

Rebecka Salisbury (Candidate for Membership Director)—

In order to develop players we need to utilize each division. We have to challenge players to attempt a higher division. We have to work with our teams to find ways of ensuring lower rated players play positions that are more challenging and difficult. We must build our E division so that we can see new players play the game. I would want to work with players in B and C to coach lower division teams. The knowledge that they have from their experience can be passed on to newer players and we cannot be afraid to challenge each other to play in competitive environments such as moving up a division.

Jon Ericson (Candidate for ECSA Commissioner)—

While many of our players come to us with natural talent, development of a player is a result of good coaching and dedicated training. As Commissioner I would look into providing skills clinics and encourage upper division players to become coaches to give our players the best opportunity to grow their skills. We need to remove the negative connation attached to players moving up divisions and celebrate their achievement and improvement. I will work hard to foster fair and friendly competition while challenging membership to constantly grow as athletes.

Tyler Daley-Keys (Candidate for D/E Assist. DOC)—

We should have select teams for all divisions to showcase those that could potentially play in a higher division. Encourage those players that we are all one team and moving to another team is not a bad thing.

Andy Rock (Candidate for C Division Assist. Commissioner)—

I believe that this is a social change from the top-down. I’m not talking about the Executive board—they can create new programs and re-rate every player, but it’s not going to change the mindset of individuals. In order for our player to understand that it is worth challenging and pushing yourself in a new division-even if that means leaving your friends, we need our team leadership (coaches and managers) to encourage the option to ‘play up’ when the opportunity arises.

Chris Abney (Candidate for Membership Director)—

I would encourage growth in ECSA by networking with groups in the Seattle and surrounding areas. I want to tap more into communities like Tacoma, Bainbridge Island, as well as the universities like UW, Seattle U, Seattle Colleges, Seattle Pacific, and so on. We also have members who play other sports. We should be encouraging our own membership to “bring a friend” to a skills clinic from your dodge ball team. Growth is definitely something I want to push for more with this role to make sure this league has longevity in the gay community and Seattle

Holden Knecht (Candidate for Membership Director)—

I have plans for year-long outreach efforts to recruit new players for all divisions and also coordinate with Events Director on off-season fun Retention events for existing Leaguers.

Rebecka Salisbury (Candidate for Membership Director)—

I would encourage growth by getting our league out there more. From word of mouth to social media, we have to take advantage of what is around us. I would ask that players who want to start a team, start a team. Even if it’s just coaching and not playing. I want to create ways to show the players in the league that playing up a division can be beneficial, while pushing players who have been playing a while to coach and pass on their knowledge of the game.

Jon Ericson (Candidate for ECSA Commissioner)—

Growth will be one of my main priorities as Commissioner. My main goal will be to continue to provide the best softball experience possible while expanding our reach into different social communities and geographical areas. Every year we have an opportunity and responsibility to create an environment that encourages what the ECSA stands for – Excellence, Community, Sportsmanship, and Acceptance. Maintaining our high-level of standards will not only retain current membership but drive others to join our league.

Tyler Daley-Keys (Candidate for D/E Assist. DOC)—

We should encourage that all are welcome. We should continue to do outreach events not just during Pride month. We have 4 divisions currently with 5 potential divisions, so we have a home for everyone.

Andy Rock (Candidate for C Division Assist. Commissioner)—

I believe that we have a unique scenario that no other league in the nation possesses: that’s our Community. Our uniqueness is what drives our retention in our league. There will also need to be harder drive and tenacity from our executive board, membership committee, marketing, etc. to encourage new people to join!

Chris Abney (Candidate for Membership Director)—

My vision for ECSA in the next 10 years is to simply keep being pioneers in our community and growing our league to its full potential. When I first started this league we had almost 40 teams! I want to get those numbers back up to that so we can continue earning extra bids to world series and sending the maximum number of teams to represent Seattle. A World Series Host bid would most definitely be on my 10 year vision plan. I see Seattle continuing to be one of the largest leagues in the country with the support and drive of our membership.

Holden Knecht (Candidate for Membership Director)—

I envision our League expanding beyond Greater Seattle to have sister associations throughout Washington, with the ECSA as the umbrella.

Rebecka Salisbury (Candidate for Membership Director)—

In 10 years we are larger. We are growing each year in all divisions. We are competitive with teams from around the country in tournaments and World Series. When leagues come to Seattle or see Seattle teams at tournaments they see diverse and inclusive teams that they can model themselves after.

Jon Ericson (Candidate for ECSA Commissioner)—

My vision of the ECSA is simple, and is the reason why I have been serving on the Executive Board for the last 7 years; it’s to continue to provide a safe-space to those who need it, a competitive space to those who want it, and to foster the community that welcomed me, the skinny, uncoordinated kid who always got picked last in gym, with open arms 14 years ago. The league has grown into an amazing organization over the last four decades and in the next 10 years and I hope to employ new practices and policies to drive membership growth, improve the player experience, and foster an even stronger community. And I promise to navigate these changes with our core values in mind.

Tyler Daley-Keys (Candidate for D/E Assist. DOC)—

I would love to see the league grow more and to become more diverse.

Andy Rock (Candidate for C Division Assist. Commissioner)—

In 10 years, we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of ECSA. I have no doubt that the league will continue to thrive- but the makeup of our membership will change. A new, more diverse membership will take the place of those who leave. I will be on the field with them all, encouraging them to be their best player and most genuine self.