We’re pleased to announce registration for our Spring 2012 softball season (Register Now) while at the same time wrapping up another great year.  For over 40 years the Murphey Candler Girl’s Softball Association (MCGSA) has been Atlanta’s premier softball league and the other board members and I are doing everything in our power to extend and build on this great legacy.  Some of the highlights of 2011:

• We grew over 30% this past fall and our spring season registrations have increased every year for the past five seasons.  Softball is one of the “hot” sports now for girls and for those of us involved, we know why.  It’s simply one of the best ways for our girls and young women to learn to compete in a team sport that at times has elements of an individual sport.  We firmly believe this prepares them for their future in school and life. It’s a bonus that they have a blast while doing it and make lifelong friends along the way.

• Our returning player registration rates are enormously high.  Getting girls to return to play is our stated measuring stick for success and something we’re very proud of.  While it is great for the program it is better for the girls because it guarantees that friendships that they make with kids outside their school or neighborhood continue to grow.  You literally can’t play on a team in one year without knowing several kids playing the next.

• The start of our adoption of social media with our very own Facebook page.  This is a great way to share stories, ask questions and get advice.

• Our approval ratings in the post 2011 season survey were superb:  97%+ voted “satisfied” or better for overall experience at Murphey Candler and a 95% “satisfied” or better rating for our coaches with nobody voting as being dissatisfied.

• Our fields have never looked better.  A few years back the county had to stop maintaining the fields due to budget constraints which put the onus on us.  We hired a grounds keeper, Doug Baldwin, who quickly put in place a plan to get our grass back in shape.  He told us it was going to take a couple years to get to where we wanted to be and we began to reap the awards this past fall.

• With help from our Auxiliary we designed and implemented a fundraising strategy that would help us fund major improvements around the park.  The “I Heart MC” campaign was a great success and provided the extra funds needed for us to finally undertake the most significant project in our recent MCGSA history.   The rehabilitation of Field 5 is in the final phase of permitting.  The contract has been negotiated and plans have been approved.  Work is scheduled to be complete for the 2012 season and we had enough money left over to replace the scoreboard!

• In June of 2011 Murphey Candler made a return to the tournament calendar by hosting the Allstar Showdown that was attended by over 20+ teams from around Georgia.  Feedback on the tournament was great and proceeds will help offset costs to run our program.  We plan to host another tournament this Summer and hopefully two!

With 2011 behind us it is time to look to 2012.  We’re not sitting on our laurels.  Plans include:

• Plans got underway last spring to revamp our league designations.  We are committed to making sure that our leagues for the younger girls remain fun with a focus on being instructional.  We believe the changes we’re making will allow for a greater increase of player’s skills across the board which will also naturally increase the level of play and competition levels as they get older.  T-Ball is being replaced with a 6U league for our youngest players and will include coach pitch with Tee rescue.  8U will remain as a coach pitch league for our seven and 8 year olds with some rule revisions that should address issues we’ve had in the past.  10U+ will remain largely as is.

• A desire to help our volunteer coaches in 6U and 8U to develop quickly with mentoring from our more veteran coaches and through coach clinics.

• We’re not leaving you parents out either.  Who wants to sit out in the hot Georgia sun all day?  From our survey results, it isn’t you.  Me either.  A lot more on this topic to come but let’s just say for now that MCGSA’s Future is So Bright, We’ve Got to Have Shade.

The Board of Directors, Parent Auxiliary and I all think you for your continued support. Please see our 2012 Spring registration link above this post and be sure to tell all your friends to sign up soon.  Space is limited.
Cullen McClure
MCGSA President