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Welcome to the Matthews Athletic & Recreation Association Website!!
Mara is located at 1200 South Trade St
In Matthews, NC 28105
@Arthur Goodman Park Mailing Address
PO Box 1023
Matthews, NC 28106 Phone: 704-847-0752
Fax: 704-849-6876 Check us out on Facebook
MARA Concession 704-847-0177
From 6:00pm to 8:30 pm
Only During Spring & Fall Seasons
Mara is a 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization
All Donations Made to Mara areTax Deductible
We are a family oriented volunteer organization that provides a fun environment, quality facilities, expert instruction, and the highest level of coaching to ensure every child has an enjoyable learning experience with the opportunity to reach their full potential. We realize that the success of any organization requires various leaders at all levels. We certainly could not operate or be successful without the endless commitment of all administrators, coaches, volunteers, and you, the valued members of the organization.
We hope this website will provide useful and valuable info for all MARA sports. We provide current key contacts, schedules and tournaments for the upcoming or current seasons. Please be sure to visit regularly to get the latest updates. Matthews Athletic and Recreation Association is an equal opportunity organization. We also offer sponsorship for disadvantaged children.
For First-Time Players, Age 4-8 MARA is proud to once again offer a FREE Try-It Day for new softball players, age 4-8. Come out to the park and get a taste of the fun on: Saturday, February 11th 1:00-2:30 P.M. Field #8 The Try-It Day experience: Get on the field with other girls of the same age. Basic instruction from our Babe Ruth certified coaches. Hit, throw, catch and run! Meet coaches and the League Commissioner, and get all of your questions answered. There is no fee for this event, and registration is not required. For questions or concerns, contact Jeremy Sturdahl at
See you at MARA!
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News From Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken
by posted 01/14/2012
The Official Newsletter of
Babe Ruth League, Inc. January 2012
Coaches Corner Cal and Bill Ripken discuss advanced hitting drills. Read More
Message from the President/CEO
Baseball and softball are the greatest games and are meant to be enjoyed by all, especially the participants. Read More
It's Time to Charter
Babe Ruth League, Inc. is pleased to remind our leagues they can now complete the charter and insurance process for the 2012 season. Read More
HEY BLUE
Umpiring Priorities...Food For Thought...Timing...The Game is Yours... Click Here
IS YOUR LEAGUE USING ONLINE PLAYER REGISTRATIONClick Here
The Many Advantages of the Babe Ruth League Insurance Plans Read More
FOR COACHING EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION - CLICK HERE
All Star Team of Sponsors & Partners Available to Assist Leagues & Commissioners Read More
Softball Secrets Revealed. Click here to read the next group. More to come...
Longtime Babe Ruth Coach and Famed Jazz Musician Dies Aram "Al" Vega-Vegramian of Everett, Massachusetts, recently passed away at the age of 90. Vega, one of the most beloved jazz musicians in Massachusetts history, served as a Babe Ruth Baseball coach for nearly 50 years.Read More
Professional Golfer Fondly Recalls His Days Playing Babe Ruth Baseball
Spencer Levin, an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour, is a graduate of the Elk Grove, California Babe Ruth League. Ranked 85th in the official world golf ranking, his fondest memories include his days playing Babe Ruth Baseball . Read More
Alex Zacher - Winner of Crystal Lake Sportsmanship Award Click Here
Longtime New England Volunteer Inducted into
Hall of Fame
Stanley P. Ziomek of Amherst, Massachusetts was recently inducted into the New England Babe Ruth League Hall of Fame. Ziomek began his affiliation with the Babe Ruth program in 1952 as Founder of the Amherst Babe Ruth League. In addition, he served as President of BRL, Inc., a member of its International Board of Directors and in several other areas. Read More
We are beginning our annual sponsorship campaign and need your support! While registration fees cover a large portion of our costs, we rely heavily on sponsorships and member donations to support our ability to make capital improvements and upgrades to the park.
In coordination with this year’s Founders Banquet, our committee is attempting to raise the needed funds to support four key projects at MARA this year. Our ability to complete these projects will directly impact your family’s experience at MARA this year and well into the future. Provided below are details of the projects we are working to make happen.
New backstop, dugouts, batting cage, and fencing for the softball field. COST: $25,000
Our 30-year-old backstop and fencing have multiple holes. Backstop holes restrict the age groups we can safely play.
The field has one batting cage but needs a second so additional teams can practice.
The softball program has grown from 40 girls to 300 players in five years. They all play on the one field and the increased use has taken its toll.
Field 13 Drainage project for field 13. COST: $10,000
Poor drainage makes this field unplayable for up to days after a rainstorm, with many ripple effects:
Games must be rescheduled
Field 12 gets over used
Teams are limited to only one practice per week prior to the opening day during rainy periods.
This field is unusable for revenue-generating tournaments.
Babe Ruth Field Dugout Replacements. COST: $15,000
These 20-year-old dugouts are falling apart. While we’d like to kick this project off during spring 2012 it may be delayed until fall 2012.
New Football Helmets. COST: $10,000
Manufacturers have made great strides in helmet technology, and we’d like to update our football equipment to reflect this.
As a 501c3 not profit organization, donations of all sizes are TAX DEDUCTIBLE, and can go a long way.
YOU CAN HELP MARA ACHIEVE THESE GOALS IN ONE OF FOUR WAYS:
Become a Sponsor:
We offer varying levels of sponsorship that ensure your company’s name appears on the back of team jerseys, and/or gets strategically placed for maximum exposure at Goodman Park. Sponsorship details are available here:
Ask Your Employer for a Donation:
If you prefer, pass along your employer’s name to the sponsorship committee and we will make the call!
Tanja Polk
Ali Milligan
Virginia Franco
Laurie Huwes
Make a Donation and ask for a corporate match:
Many local businesses offer this fantastic option. Our sponsorship committee will do all the work for you to get the corporate match.
Make a small personal donation:
Help MARA out, and get a tax-break for yourself! Donations are easy to make online, and we’ll mail you a receipt promptly. Donations of $250 or more will receive tickets to this year’s Founders Banquet on February 11th. It is easy to make an online donation at https://leagueathletics.com/userform.asp?regid=69217&snid=jLJC%5B7J4%5F&org=marasports.org
If you have any questions about donations, please feel free to contact Kathy Duncan at
or Tanja Polk at
. Thank you in advance for your continued support!
·Games will be against other local youth lacrosse programs
·Teams are limited to 24 players
Want to help coach but don't know anything about the sport?
Turn and Burn offers a coaching academy where any parent can go and become a certified lacrosse coach free of charge. Go to www.TBlax.com for details.
Online Now Open for Spring 2012 Baseball, Softball & Lacrosse
by posted 12/27/2011
Registration is now open for Spring 2012 Baseball, Softball & Lacrosse @ www.marasports.org More information on walk in registration and skills day for Baseball & Softball will be posted at a later date. Back to top
Winter Fast Pitch at Grand Slam
by posted 12/18/2011
Grand Slam USA will begin the new year with a bang, pop and swoosh. That is the sound of MARA girls working out and fine tuning their swings at Grand Slam USA. Below is a brief schedule of the upcoming classes in Jan. & Feb. We would welcome your support by distributing this information to the MARA families .
Fastpitch Pitching
FFP-2 Monday, January 9-30, @ 7PM
FFP-3 Saturday, January 7-28, @ 2PM
This fastpitch class will enable girls of all ages to learn the mechanics, strategies, and conditioning required to become a successful pitcher.
6 to 1 ratio; $100 per student, one hour a week, four weeks in a class.
Fastpitch Hitting
GFH-2 Saturday, January 7-28 @ 4PM
GFH-3 Saturday, February 4-25 @ 4PM
Four week hitting class designed to improve hitting mechanics needed in any fastpitch season. Drills will focus on tee work, front toss, soft toss & live pitching to develop a faster bat swing and driving power!
We are excited to announce that MARA will be hosting the 2nd Annual Founders Banquet on February 11th at Raintree Country Club. This fundraising event provides our members the opportunity to contribute to the future growth and success of the organization and Arthur Goodman Park.
This past January we held the 1st Annual Founders Banquet which was a great success and raised over $20,000 for MARA. These donations were utilized to help complete our new bathroom complex as well as purchase a new scoreboard on Field 1. In 2012 we hope to raise the funds for new projects that will enhance the experience for all of the sports played at MARA.
With your generous donation you will receive hors d’oeuvres, dinner for two, and open bar. Additionally, the exciting evening will include a MARA video, a review of the planned park improvements and a DJ.
Donation: $250 per couple
Date & Time: February 11th at 7pm
Location: Raintree Country Club 8600 Raintree Lane Charlotte, NC 28277
Includes: Hors d’oeuvres, Dinner for 2, Open Bar
Additional: Semi-Formal - DJ - MARA 2011 Video - Donation is tax deductible for 2011*
In an ongoing effort to make the Matthews Athletic & Recreation Association the finest youth sports organization in the area, we are making several improvements and additions to our park security. These features will protect the organizations assets as well as providing an extra level of safety to you and your children.
First and foremost, many of you may have already noticed the security gates at the park entrance at the stoplight. These gates are currently locked open to allow everyone time to adjust to seeing them. We will begin utilizing these gates on a daily basis on Friday, October 21, 2011. The Board of Directors has adopted Park Hours that will be enforced. The new park hours are as follows:
Monday – Friday: Park opens at 3:00 pm and closes at 10:00 pm
Saturday: Park opens at 7:00 am and closes at 10:00 pm
Sunday: Park opens at 10:00 am and closes at 8:00 pm
There will be numerous signs posted around the park grounds stating the new hours as well as being posted on the MARA website.
During the Winter months (Mid-November through Mid-February) the gates will remain closed on most days as our primary field sports, baseball, softball and football; are off season. During summer months, the weekday hours will adjust to an 8:00 am opening to allow for All Star team practices and to accommodate the numerous summer camps held at MARA.
The upper parking lot will not be gated and will be open year round for MARA members to park and utilize the park grounds during operating hours when the main gates are locked during the Winter.
Our second measure of security is the installation of video surveillance cameras for the park grounds and property. We have a number of cameras that are being installed and will record 24 hours a day to provide video evidence for vandalism, theft and other crimes.
Thank you for being a part of this wonderful organization and supporting the new security enhancements to the park!
Thank you for your patience and understanding regarding our crowded parking lot during the busy fall season. We are hoping to have 40 additional parking spaces on the MARA complex in early 2012 or sooner.
The Mathews Police Department has notified us that anyone parking in the Chesney Glen Subdivision must do so in a fashion that does not impede traffic or visibility into and out of the neighborhood. In addition, anyone parking in front of a residence must stay on the road and not in a yard without blocking access into a driveway.
Any improper parking issue within the Chesney Glen Subdivision can result in a citation and/or towing of a vehicle(s).
Tian Necklaces On Sale At Mara Concession Stands &Online Store
by posted 04/17/2011
MARA is proud to announce the arrival of 22" Titan Necklaces which are now available at the MARA concession stands & our online store. The kids can continue to get their 18" necklaces and now the adults can join the team as we SHOW OUR COLORS. Necklaces in MARA orange and blue, with our M on the clasp, are $25 for both sizes-Titan necklaces retail for $39 and $49 at stores in our area. Quantities of the new longer necklaces are limited. Great gifts for Easter, birthdays and as rewards for a job well done, report cards or just because... SUPPORT MARA and SHOW YOUR COLORS TODAY!
MARA Park Rules
For Your Saftey And The Safety Of Others Park Speed Limit is 15MPH
NO Dogs NO Inappropriate Use OF Language NO Handguns Or Weapons Of Any Kind NO Drugs NO Alcoholic Beverages NO Tobacco Use Of Any Kind NO Bicycles NO Motorized Bikes, Go Carts, ATV'S OR Scooters NO Skateboards, Roller blades, or Roller Skates NO RC/ Airplanes, Model Rockets NO Fireworks NO Kicking or Batting Balls Into Fences NO Climbing Fences Or Trees NO Climbing On Buildings Or Roofs
Mara Is A Privately Owned And Operated Complex. It Is Not A Public Park. Use of Fields Are For Association Members Only. Unauthorized Use Of This Property Will Be Viewed As Trespassing. Violators Will Be Prosecuted For Any Of The Above.
Safety of the players, spectators, and officials is our main concern at MARA
No weather event is more dangerous than lightning. Because of this
threat, we have installed the Thorguard Lightning Prediction System.
This system can provide advance warning of a lightning hazard, allowing
you the time to seek shelter. The system continually monitors and
evaluates the electrostatic atmosphere and predicts the probability
of a lightning hazard in the immediatearea of our facility.
You will be alerted by one loud horn blast that will last 15seconds.
Upon hearing the horns, everyone should seek shelter immediately.
When this occurs, strobe lights located on the top of the horns
will activate and remain active while under a weather alert.
Every attempt should be made to seek shelter in a safe environment like a permanent building or car. The Thorguard system will determine when conditions are safe to return. Three 5-second blasts will indicate that all is clear and the strobe lights will cease operation.
ALWAYS AVOID THE FOLLOWING:
Athletic Fields & Bleachers
Open Areas
Field Lighting Poles
Isolated Trees
High Elevation
Questions regarding Weather and Field Conditions contact
Mara Weather Line: 704-845-6337 or your Commissioners.
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