Announcement
This is a SPGS League FAQ & Costs Info for parents, supporters and others interested in how SPGS is run and what it costs yearly to provide.
First and foremost, Santa Paula Girls Softball is a non-profit organization. Board positions, which overlap each other, are up for renewal every 2 years, elections and voting occurs during the fall. These open volunteer postions are posted in the Santa Paula Times. SPGS has a free open-board enviroment, meaning we don't pick who we want to be on the board and keep it closed like some close by cities and leagues do. It's public election and the word volunteer is strongly emphasized. Often parents and sometimes critics of our league and don't realize the REAL amount of time that is involved and must be donated weekly as full member of the SPGS board. It’s an organization, built on the shoulders of previous board members, year after year, through the dedication of moms & dads who each put in 100+ hours throughout the year. But in the end all time and work is focused on one thing, supporting and encouraging sportsmanship for our girls of Santa Paula, through the sport of softball.
At times board personnel will be questioned why have fees increased, why do we have to sell raffle tickets or dinner/show tickets when I've already paid my registration fees? First, it should be mentioned Santa Paula Girls Softball has the lowest registration league fees in the county. We strive to make registration as affordable as we can. We try to promote early registration and encourage families to take advantage of payment plans to lock in the lower early registration costs. Other nearby cities, such as Fillmore & Camarillo have registration fees of $200 to $250 and also add a snack bar help deposit of $40 to $50 that parents are required to provide. If you fail to help with mandatory snack bar, then in those leagues your deposit is forfeited. Also, remember we do not have 250-275 players like the SP Little League does or other larger cities to absorb/lessen the costs.
Our raffle/comedy show requirement is a fundraising event which helps stipulate some of the costs that our league incurs. It allows us to keep our registrations costs as low as possible, while also having the ability to allow families to sell SPGS tickets in lieu of having to raise the full amount themselves.
Below, is an example of some the types of yearly costs that SPGS incurs, 75% of these costs are supported through registration fees & sponsor donations.
- CITY OF SP FIELD USE FEES & LIGHTING FEES (CHARGED HOURLY)
- ELECTRICAL COSTS
- RESTROOM & CLEANING COSTS
- UMPIRES FEES @ $45.00 PER GAME (10U - 14U) & $20 (8U GAMES)
- "LITTLE LEAGUE HAS VOLUNTEER UMPIRES" - SOFTBALL MUST USE ASA UMPIRES
- PLAYER UNIFORMS, TEAM PICTURES & TROPHIES/MEDALS
- FIELD MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT, CHALK & MISC. ITEMS
- SOFTBALLS, CATCHING EQUPMENT, TEES, TRAINING AIDS, ETC.
- PRINTING, WEBPAGE, FLYERS & FIRST AID KITS
- COST FOR COACHES/BOARD MEMBERS BACKGROUND CHECKS
- LEAGUE CLASSES, MISC. TRAINING & MANDATORY CONFERNCES
- FEES PAID YEARLY TO THE SOCAL CHAPTER OF ASA WHICH IS (COST PER GIRL)
- SNACK BAR RE-STOCKING, UPKEEPS AND REPAIRS
- ALL STARS AND TOURNAMENT FEES
- IMPROVEMENT FUNDS FOR FUTURE NEW FACILITIES (BATTING CAGE / ETC.)
SPGS encourages parent involvement, whether its lending a little extra help at the snack bar, maybe helping prep the field while your daughter is warming up for her game, or just volunteering your time. You can always ask a board member where your help might be needed. Remember, in the end we're all volunteers and parents alike and its all for our girls and softball memories they'll always cherish & remember years from now.
SPGS
