Delaware Sports League’s Bob Downing wins leadership award

Bob Downing, the guy who cofounded Delaware Sports League and who’s also working to put Wilmington on the map as an event destination, recently won big at the Sport and Social Industry Association’s Social Star Awards.
Among leaders from hundreds of social sports companies in the country, Downing won the Association’s leadership award.
“Bobby pours his heart into the SSIA like few others,” the Association said online, adding that his participation in the industry “allows him to not only have a well-rounded positive effect on the development of the SSIA, it allows him to create invaluable relationships with a majority of members.”
Downing said the recognition inspires him to be a strong leader in the Wilmington community as well.
He had a few thoughts, via email, on what he’s learned from leading Delaware Sports League and why it’s important to work toward moving Wilmington forward:

Too often in this community I hear the words, ‘It’s just too hard…there are too many moving parts…it’s just so complicated…we just don’t do it that way here…’ These are not things that leaders often say. (At least not leaders that I want to work with.) I have learned more than anything else that leadership starts with the ability (and willingness) to hold yourself accountable first. Then having the courage to hold others accountable. …
Leadership is a team sport. More than anything, leadership in this community means facing the changing corporate landscape and rather than seeing it as a tragedy, accepting it as an opportunity to allow a new community to emerge. To give volume to new voices and identify the next generation of leaders.

That said, it’s registration time for spring sports — along with an upcoming new website — and Downing said Delaware Sports League will be running several social events for the spring and summer. And as he said he would, he’s also working on producing events that draw big crowds in Delaware, which he hopes will get finalized for this year (and if not, then next year). Those events include:

• Firefly Experience
• Field Day
• Volleywood (a Chicago event brought to Delaware beaches)
• Market St. Block Party – DSL Style
• Bridesmaid Bar Crawl
• DSL Dewey Beach Takeover
• Cocktails & Cornhole at Hercules Plaza
• Beats & Bocce (at a to-be-determined venue)

Downing said he’s excited about it all and what impact these events could have on the region: “This is going to be a big year for DSL and for Delaware!”