10/19/2013 Saturday saw Central New Yorkers test their speed and survival skills in the Run of the Dead race. Held at the Syracuse Kickball Park and host by the Syracuse Sports Association, runners ran an obstacle course and through mud while avoiding zombies. Those participating as zombies, meanwhile, pulled health flags from competitors' belts in order to disqualify them from their prize- a free beverage of their choice.

Competitors were provided with an exclusive T-shirt and free beer (or other beverages). The participants then went to the after party, where they were rewarded with live music, food, and a Zombie Training Center, which included zombie jousting and sumo wrestling. One of the bands, Granny 4 Barrel, even dressed as zombies for their performance.

Assistant Director Andrew Cherock of the Syracuse Sports Association said that the event was organized as a benefit for the Wilderness Association. "We just want everyone to enjoy themselves, and to be safe," Cherock said.

9/07/13  The eighth annual Bill Leaf Memorial Kickball Tournament crowned two tournament champions this year in two divisions. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Bill Leaf Memorial Scholarship at Syracuse University and Samantha Reynolds Scholarship at Liverpool High School. Leaf graduated from SU and Henninger High School, while Reynolds attended Liverpool High School.

The event began in 2006 after Leaf, a reporter for WSYR NewsRadio and WTVH television (now CNY Central), was killed by a drunk driver traveling the wrong way on I-81. Since 2008, the tournament also honors the memory of Samantha Reynolds, a local teen who was also killed in a head-on crash involving a drunk driver when her family was traveling to Disney World for vacation.  http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2013/09/bill_leaf_memorial_kickball_to.html

10/23/12

When Jim Collura and Andy Cherock tell people about their business -- Syracuse Sports Association (SSA) -- the reaction is almost always the same: 'Wait .. did you say kickball?'

Yes, kickball. And more recently, also dodgeball, flag football, whiffle ball and mini golf.

The company's offerings sound more like a busy day at summer camp than a way to make a living, but the buddies, both born and raised in Liverpool, partnered up to organize sports teams and leagues for fun and profit.

Collura, 32, is the company's full-time executive director. Cherock, also 32, who now lives in Syracuse, works at his mortgage consulting day job, and serves as part-time SSA assistant director and spokesperson.

Cherock and Collura lease more than 40 acres of mostly wooded land at 7192 Oswego Road in Salina, and have turned it into Syracuse Kickball Park. They maintain five ball fields, a refurbished vintage mini-golf course and a snack stand.

In 2010, after playing kickball and unofficially organizing leagues for several years, Cherock and Collura saw the sport's popularity growing so fast, teams were being turned away because of a lack of fields.

"Obviously, there was a demand for the sport," Cherock said, "so we started thinking about branching out, expanding and starting up some leagues. We just started brainstorming what we could do."

That winter, the partners started their first official league with eight to 10 teams playing indoor kickball at the Syracuse Indoor Sports Center on Hopkins Road in Liverpool.

"And by spring of 2011 we had grown to 104 teams," Cherock said. "By spring of 2012, we were at 127 teams and we peaked this summer with 148 outdoor kickball teams."

The teams, comprised of 11 players each, pay $350 for the eight-week season, and SSA provides the balls, fields, bases and insurance. Play moves indoors when winter arrives. Players have to sign liability waivers and the teams pay the umpires.

"We believe in fun and sportsmanship first, those are our core values, that's very important to us," Cherock said. "You know, if people get too serious, people get ejected. We stick to our guns."

The partners also organize charity tournaments, including a recent benefit for the Upstate Cancer Center and another to raise money to help teenagers go to summer camp.

The company's website, syracusesportsassociation.com, lists opportunities for kickball and other sports teams, leagues and tournaments as well as information about the first running of SSA's sold out adventure race, the "

The Run of the Dead, a fundraiser for 

"I hope what we're doing could make a difference in keeping young people here," Cherock said. "I'm a young guy, I grew up here in Syracuse .. young people don't really want to stick around here because there's not as much to do. And if we can somehow provide something for people to do that's exciting and gives people something to talk about, then, yeah, that's my goal. We would love to give back and do something to make (Syracuse) a little better."

9/25/12

Just before Halloween, is a "Run of the Dead" 5K on Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Syracuse Kickball Park, located at 7192 Oswego Road in Liverpool.

Similar to "Run for Your Lives!" events in other cities, runners will be given flag belts just like flag football. During the "apocalyptic 5K obstacle race," volunteers resembling blood-thirsty zombies will chase runners and try to "bite" them, a.k.a grab their flags. Runners will "die" if they lose all their health flags before completing the course, but only need one flag remaining to cross the finish line alive.

Organizers say the obstacles on the course include man-made and natural challenges, including mud, water and "maybe some blood." Participants will need to climb, crawl, duck and dive their way to the finish line.

Runners will go in "waves" starting at 11 a.m., though all participants are asked to arrive one to two hours in advance -- especially if volunteers need help getting zombified with blood makeup and more at the event's "Zombie Center." Zombies can also show up in their own undead attire and makeup.

"Run of the Dead" registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 1. Runners must pay a $45 fee, which gets them a "Run of the Dead" t-shirt and admission to an afterparty at nearby Sharkey's Eclectic Sports Lounge in Liverpool. They'll also receive "advanced training for the actual zombie apocalypse" and a chance to win awards if they complete the course.

Non-runners can sign up to be volunteers or zombies. Organizers say they'll receive a special zombie t-shirt and admission to the afterparty as well.

Both runners and zombies must be 19 years old or older to participate in the event.

8/28/12 Dream Factory of Syracuse’s first annual Kicks for Kids Kickball Tournament was held Aug. 18 at the Syracuse Kickball Park in Liverpool.

The event raised $4,250 in sponsorships, raffles and registration fees, which just about covers the cost of an average dream.

“We would like to thank our volunteers, the players and spectators for joining us for a fun afternoon, as well as the businesses that donated items for our raffles and our sponsors, Mackenzie Hughes LLP, Alexander & Catalano, LLC, Syracuse Office Environments and Kinney Drugs. This event was a success because of all of you,” Lisa Glowacki, the organization’s fundraising chairperson, said.

A national organization with 38 chapters, Dream Factory is the second largest children’s wish-granting organization in the United States.

While other organizations focus solely on terminally ill children, the Dream Factory serves a broader audience of children suffering from chronic and critical illnesses and grants them a reprieve from the struggles they face on a daily basis.

For more information, visit www.dreamfactorysyracuse.org.

7/2/12

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- These adults are on a kickball league.

"Because it's fun, and we're all competitive, and we all like sports, and we're not in high school anymore so we have to do something," said Diana Slywiak.

That need to do something felt by 20- and 30-somethings and even those a bit older has led to kickball leagues popping up all over.

Another reason why so many are drawn to the game is because it doesn't require much to play and just about anyone can participate.

"It's easy, okay? It's not super easy. There's at least some athletic skill I guess involved, but not a lot. It's cheap," said Syracuse Sports Association Assistant Director, Andrew Cherock.

Syracuse Adult Kickball Association games $350 and there's no extra equipment needed. Unless you count a good pair of sneakers, strong legs, and a good group of people to play with.

The Syracuse Sports Association hosts kickball games every day but Saturday. There are also miniature golf, whiffle ball, dodge ball and flag football leagues.http://centralny.ynn.com/content/590131/kickball-leagues-springing-up/

Kickball Association presents check to Upstate Cancer Center

5/6/12 LIVERPOOL, N.Y. -- A weekend of fun added up to big bucks for charity.

The Syracuse Adult Kickball Association presented a check for more than $2,400 to the Upstate Cancer Center on Sunday. The money was raised last weekend at the Syracuse Adult Kickball Association's Tournament Against Cancer. Fourteen teams took part, all helping raise the money.

Organizers said it was such a huge success because it's a cause that really hits home.

Stephanie Schlientz, Event Director said, “A lot of us have family members that have had cancer or died from cancer. So it really touched a lot of our hearts to do something for upstate and give them a lot of money."

The donations were raised through a combination of entry fees, raffles and a portion of the proceeds from concession sales.http://centralny.ynn.com/content/583240/kickball-association-presents-check-to-upstate-cancer-center/

4/29/12 http://videos.syracuse.com/post-standard/2012/04/kickball_in_liverpool_april_18.html

11/11/11 SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Organizers of the Syracuse Adult Kickball Association say there are a few reasons why kickball has become so popular. First, they say the game is simple and anyone can do it. Second, they say by word of mouth, people are catching on about how fun it is to be a team. For those reasons, organizers say they anticipate the league will continue to grow.

This week, a fall co-ed outdoor league is finishing up which includes more than 1,000 players on about 100 teams. The games are played at night under the lights and since the SAKA league formed, more and more teams are developing an interest.

Standings and schedules are updated each night and the games usually run about 45 minutes each. Organizers say the fun competition gives people of all ages a little break from their work week.

"Fun, everybody can play. All ages. There's people from eighteen to sixty-years-old playing. You know, running around having a good time. Everybody is really laid back, everybody has a good time. Again, the sportsmanship is phenomenal. That's number one, fun. Fun and sportsmanship," said Andrew Cherock, Syracuse Adult Kickball League co-organizer.

The cost to play will usually run you between $30 and $50 each season with umpire fees.

There are only a few spots left to sign up if you're interested in a winter indoor league. Outdoor spring registration will begin online on January first.

For more information about the Syracuse Adult Kickball Association, visit www.syracusekickball.com

http://centralny.ynn.com/content/563484/kickball-becoming-more-popular/

7/21/11 

How to get involved: 

Most of the leagues are already filled, but there is still some room. For more information visitsyracusekickball.com or contact Jim Collura at 563-SAKA (7252). Dues for one person are $27 a season. 

Kickball is, by definition, a children’s game similar to baseball but using a large, inflated ball. However, the definition hasn’t gotten in Jim Collura’s way. He has taken the game out of the schoolyard.

Collura enjoyed playing kickball in Syracuse when he was younger. He jumped back into the game about six years ago when he noticed a recreational league run by Onondaga County. The league was popular and filled up quickly and had to turn people away.

Collura and his friends decided to organize an intramural kickball league of their own. The league flourished, Collura said. Many people in the league were driving up to 45 minutes into Syracuse for games. Collura realized the league organizers needed to branch out so everyone could play.

“That’s why we tried to bring it closer to them,” Collura said. “We could offer more teams.”

After three years of running the kickball league, Collura and Andrew Cherock founded the Syracuse Adult Kickball Association. The group is a for-profit venture, but Collura and his friend have kept their day jobs, Collura said.

The league started last fall with indoor games and moved outside in the spring. That’s when things took off.

“Last year, it just kept growing so massively,” Collura said.

The league has more than 1,000 members. Each of the 126 teams has between eight and 11 players. Four must be women. Each game also has an umpire.

Games are held regularly Sunday through Friday in Syracuse, East Syracuse, Clay, Baldwinsville and Central Square. The group recently leased a 30-acre site on Route 57 in the town of Salina. With two kickball fields at the Salina location, the group can keep up with demand for space and playing time, Collura said.

Things have gotten a lot busier for Collura, who is director of operations for the group. He said running it started out part-time, but has steadily become a full-time job. Still, he said the point of the league hasn’t changed.

“That’s what the main thing is ... just to have fun,” Collura said.

That mentality is emphasized in the group’s slogan, “Be young, Have fun, Play Kickball.”

Keeping the games friendly and relaxed was a challenge Collura had to grapple with a few years ago before he formed the association. Many teams in the league then were unevenly matched, Collura said. One team would often outscore the other greatly.

The organizers solved the problem when they formed the association by creating one competitive league, and leaving the rest open for more easy-going games. Collura said the change has helped make sure everybody involved has a favorable experience.

“We really emphasize sportsmanship,” Collura said.

Collura said part of the league’s growth could be attributed to the fact that it is relatively easy to get involved.

“You don’t need much to play kickball, which makes it pretty affordable,” Collura said. “Anybody can play.”

Teams are composed of people from a wide age and skill range, Collura said.

As for the growing size of the group, Collura said he plans to take on running it full-time. He said the association is also planning to roll out leagues for other classic schoolyard games, such as dodge ball and Wiffle ball.

Salina location, the group can keep up with demand for space and playing time, Collura said.

Things have gotten a lot busier for Collura, who is director of operations for the group. He said running it started out part-time, but has steadily become a full-time job. Still, he said the point of the league hasn’t changed.

“That’s what the main thing is ... just to have fun,” Collura said.

That mentality is emphasized in the group’s slogan, “Be young, Have fun, Play Kickball.”

Keeping the games friendly and relaxed was a challenge Collura had to grapple with a few years ago before he formed the association. Many teams in the league then were unevenly matched, Collura said. One team would often outscore the other greatly.

The organizers solved the problem when they formed the association by creating one competitive league, and leaving the rest open for more easy-going games. Collura said the change has helped make sure everybody involved has a favorable experience.

“We really emphasize sportsmanship,” Collura said.

Collura said part of the league’s growth could be attributed to the fact that it is relatively easy to get involved.

“You don’t need much to play kickball, which makes it pretty affordable,” Collura said. “Anybody can play.”

Teams are composed of people from a wide age and skill range, Collura said.

As for the growing size of the group, Collura said he plans to take on running it full-time. He said the association is also planning to roll out leagues for other classic schoolyard games, such as dodge ball and Wiffle ball.

7/14/11 4/29/12 http://videos.syracuse.com/post-standard/2012/04/kickball_in_liverpool_april_18.html

6/20/11 Salina (WSYR-TV) - Once, Walmart had plans to occupy a Salina location off Route 57. Those plans fell through, as did proposals from other developers. But now there's news that adult kickball will be played at the site.

James Collura, director of the Syracuse Adult Kickball Association, says he's signed a lease with the property's owners. Although his final appearance before the Town's Planning Board isn't scheduled until mid-July, Collura says he's talking to town planners and hopes to start playing games as early as next week

The league has been playing games at a variety of fields in Clay, Onondaga Lake Park, East Syracuse and elsewhere. Collura says the new lease will allow all the games to be consolidated at one location.

They'll start with three all-grass fields. Games, whenever they begin, will be scheduled for eight to ten teams per night, seven days a week.http://www.9wsyr.com/content/news/your_stories/story/Whats-In-Store-Adult-kickball-coming-to-Salina/w5IprSubE0mT2eMZrWJKuw.cspx