Carmel Dads' Club

Wow, so sad to see such a low rating for a volunteer organization. My granddaughters have been playing soccer and basketball at Matt Badger Memorial Park operated by Carmel Dads for a couple years. I was really impressed by the facility and rules to keep the fields in tip-top shape. They have about 17 soccer fields for kids of all sizes. The fields are immaculate. Indoors, they have basketball, track and other facilities. The amazing amount of volunteers that they assemble is astounding. My granddaughter's parents have both volunteered so we feel like contributors. The downside to the facility is traffic flow and parking. The current system is a dangerous hot mess, with parents driving haphazardly. The addition of traffic guards helping with exiting traffics has greatly improved the safety. But the main lot still needs attention for safe traffic and pedestrian flow. Overall, great facility, amazing volunteers but needs parking revamp.

We had a great first experience with Carmel Dads Club with boys soccer, and I can see us coming back to play soccer and other sports with CDC again. The communication is excellent, and I always felt like I knew what was going on throughout the season. A couple of times, we had to reach out to the commissioner with questions, and they always got back to us very quickly.The coaches for all Carmel Dads Club sports are volunteers, and many of them are parents of kids who are on the teams. We have nothing but great things to say about the volunteer coaches. They went above and beyond, and they were very supportive and not super pushy. We joined Carmel Dads Club because we wanted a fun, recreational experience for our kid that wasn't too competitive, and that's what we got. Carmel Dads Club uses Shelborne Fields for soccer games. Head's up: If you're at Shelborne Fields during game time and you want to buy a snack at the snack bar, be sure to bring cash! No credit or debit is accepted.

No toilet paper in the men's room and I'm here for 2 girls soccer games with 2 girls under 6. Not to mention any man that needs tp. AND, the only take cash at the snack bar bcuz it's 1994............

Since we moved to Carmel for the schools, I was happy to find this dedicated group of sport enthusiasts. Few children are athletically gifted enough to make the high school team, and so Dad's Club steps in to let more children play without being "cut". The coaches have been exceedingly patient teachers (that I've so far experienced). So far it's only been soccer for us, but my son is happily improving his game! I do think the pricing is a bit steep, especially since each family has to volunteer a concession stand shift or pay a penalty, plus an annual fee or a lifetime membership.... But since Carmel is high rent that is to be expected, I suppose.

Husband volunteered a while ago and he loved it, everyone was having fun and super engaged.

i was a sponsor and coach for 3 years.i retired from my nationwide business with over 60 million dollars in sales. i worked for fortune 500 companies where saftey is #1.i went to work cutting grass for them and quickly summarize it is time for a change and cleaning house of management, because of 2 major faults.#1 saftey extremely lacking.( changing blades under a jack that cost $100.00) while they owned a $20,000.00 lift .#2 employee texting throught the day.(discusted me as a business owner ) this happened daily every day even while driving a company vehicle. same employees. this could result in a law suit wich could cost dads club millions! next time it might be a fence, but a person! extreme lack of effort by employees.#3 employees hiding in bathroom to play pokémon. #3 no saftey glasses #4 no steel toed boots while working daily with mowers

Great organization for kids to play sports, However their Customer Service Stinks, Bethany Burchill, the Athletic Director, is anything but helpful if you call with questions, she's pretty darn rude, and kinda mean every time I've called there.

I'm sure there are some positives for this organization but for the most part they are disorganized, late in providing information, expensive and the playing fields are just average for the large amount in dues paid. Please note if you enroll your child in an activity through CDC you will also have to volunteer your time working concessions at one of their locations or pay an additional $50 fee. We have participated in baseball, softball and basketball through CDC. For baseball & softball you're better off going to Noblesville. More organized, a LOT cheaper and good playing locations/fields.

CDC works great for our family. It's a great community! A great stepping stool for young ones. My kids have been involved since 1st grade. They give you a great option for your kids to play school or sports they don't offer. A lot of volunteers provide a fun competitive environment.

So much for the kids having fair shot at winning. It is political, even as a rec sport organization. Teams are padded and kept together for years. Little opportunity to change that. Even in rec sports where trophies have no merit, being the best trumps in Carmel. I agree with the disorganization and inconsistency. But the lack of fair play is what is most disappointing.