BEGINNINGS
The Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation (SCMAF) owes its origins to softball, a sport that grew to such popularity in the Southland during "The Depression" that a formation of a Southern California Softball Association was necessary to create some semblance of order out of a chaotic confusion. At one of the meetings of the softball association, the membership decided to look at the total sports picture, hoping to bring unity to all sports conducted by recreation agencies.
SCMAF was formed in 1949 by a group of about three dozen men from various cities and agencies to answer the need for an established comprehensive organization to provide guidance and services to people and agencies in many facets of athletics.The founders recognized the need for an area-wide organization that could develop rules, train officials, and conduct tournaments for the Youth and Adults of Southern California. After concentrating on softball to start, the Federation also developed programs for basketball, tennis, touch football and baseball. Even in its infancy, SCMAF encompassed a very large geographic area, from San Diego to Ventura and Long Beach to Barstow; these various agencies came together to promote unity and uniformity, as well as sportsmanship, character, citizenship and fitness.
SCMAF's core founding members included SCMAF first president, Dudley Shuman, Burt Anderson, F.V. Whippo, Burt Elmer "Red" Moon, Ferdie Bahr, John Batchelor, Jim Bishop, Bernie Boomer, Sydney Kronenthal, Mike Mason, Gene Laumeister, Ralph Smith, and Rod Ballard.
LEGACY
The foundational elements that SCMAF's founding members instituted decades ago, are largely still in place today. Over time, SCMAF has maintained a cutting edge through various shifts in the youth and adult sports landscape. As a vehicle for support in areas such as insurance, training, programming, networking, and professional development, SCMAF remains a vanguard in municipal recreation sports programming. SCMAF's diverse membership provides recreation professionals in Southern California with a strong network of administrators, partnering organizations, vendors, local sports franchises, and more.
SCMAF Founders Meeting - December 1, 1948
SCMAF Past Presidents - 60th Anniversay Luncheon
