I chose that particular picture for a reason… Im from Plymouth, my now wife grew up in Centerville and lived in Dennis when I met her. Moving down here, while not THAT far from Plymouth, was a big change. In my mid thirties (that hurts to type knowing Im now even older), it was difficult to meet people and this was before COVID. While I met some good people playing soccer, something clicked mid-COVID kickball when I met Lee and his girlfriend Rachel after they moved here from Virginia. We bonded over kickball, board games, and craft beer. Rachel and my now wife, Michelle, hit it off as well. We traveled together, we spent time together, and we all grew close.

After a hard fought night of kickball, the team went out to the Sand Dollar. There, I awkwardly asked Lee to be one of my groomsmen. He, also awkwardly, accepted!

Lee and Rachel sadly moved away because of her service in the Coast Guard. Since they moved, they’ve come back to visit and celebrate Christmas here at Michelle’s and my home. And I was lucky enough to be sent to San Diego for work for a week, which was conveniently for me where Rachel’s new posting was. I extended my trip to spend time with them in their new home.

We’re booked to Mexico in the new year to all get together. Without Shaun and CASL, this friendship would not have been possible. CASL fills an invaluable niche on the Cape - and Im forever grateful to Shaun for his friendship, and for facilitating my friendship with Lee and Rachel.

Playing casl sports has impacted my life as I became more connected to the Cape as an adult then growing up here my whole life. I've made a lot of new friends over the years. I've been playing kickball and dodgeball for years now for Casl and even met my boyfriend John 6 years ago from the social part, playing against each other in kickball, and eventually playing on the same team. I'd love to see Casl find a new indoor spot for winter sports as it keeps people busy and getting a little exercise in.

I moved to Cape Cod not knowing anyone, and took a leap signing up for dodgeball. It was one of the best, most fun things I have ever done. I met the most amazing people, which also led me to sign up for kickball. Thanks to CASL for providing the best times with the best people!

It only make sense that I give the origin story of CASL. I moved to the Cape after being a summer kid growing up. I did not know many people here. I was sitting on Smugglers beach and we did not have enough players for beach volleyball. Sports was always a major part of my life. It is how I met most of my friends over the years. I figured there must have been others like me, that wanted to use sports as a way to expand their social circle, get some exercise, and have some fun. That was the day the idea of CASL was born. It was not an easy road. Now 9 years later, 2300+ participants, 50 championships, 23 marriages, a ton of friendships, and we are looking to keep it going. I have always said the Cape is in the most need for a Social sports league, but from a business perspective, one of the worst locations to have one. The 21-45 demographic is small and seems to be getting smaller by the day. I believe a well structured social sports league can stop that loss. It can help members make more friends and feel more connected to the Cape Cod Community. It is easy as adults to fall into a rut where you do not meet new people, that you end up surrounded by people that are just like you. Sports breaks down those barriers. We have Doctors, Mechanics, Teachers, Landscapers, Graphic Designers, builders We have a wide range of ages and skill levels. Everyone comes together for the love of the game. I have called it a real world social network, but here you make true connections.

Cape Cod suffers from a labor shortage. CASL is one of the few community resources that plays a big role in shaping our community and encouraging professionals to stay on Cape. Both as a CASL participant and a Human Resources professional, I have seen first hand the impact to the community that CASL brings, providing a welcoming community to it's members and anyone interested in their events.

CASL played an important role in helping me connect with my community and while I haven't been active with CASL in the past couple of years, they continue to hold a special place in my heart and I regularly check in on their events and am still in touch with friends I made through their activities.

I continue to be impressed with the commitment and support that CASL provides and inspires.

CASL has been a big part of my life for the last 8 years. I’ve met some forever friends and had the best time doing it. This league is so needed within this community. It allows people to get exercise, play games that many of us hadn’t played since childhood, and to make unbreakable bonds with others. Joining this league and it’s “family” is one of the best things I’ve done! CASL Strong!!!

I’ve been involved with CASL for 10 years being a cape native I have to say this one of the best things I’ve seen here in my life. I’ve been in other sports leagues too but CASL is a league for all. It’s great for keeping people busy and entertained all year long. . Shaun Conway works extremely hard to organize this and could use help from local municipalities .
Thank you
JL

Hello my name is Kevin Callahan and CASL has such a big impact in my life in such a short amount of time. Growing up as a sports fan and a avid sports player in high school playing competitive was always a way for me to let me self go from the real world and enjoy and compete for my self. Being much older now I lost the competitive edge due to well life. When I came across and sponsored ad for Dodgeball I was hesitant because I’m new to the cape and haven’t been in a competitive scene for quite some time. But I took a leap of faith not only was it one of the best decisions of my life. From meeting amazing and such kind people who genuinely want to make you feel welcomed so fast to also competing against people who went to bring the best out of you. Wether it’s kickball or dodgeball yes it may be a kids game but just getting that little taste of competition makes one like my self shut out the real problems one may have and just let loose and enjoy that hour you have with so many amazing people. So I ask please give us a place to show that side of us that we love to bring out for a short period of time let us be our inner kid while let us escape the day to day world that sometimes is hard for us. Truly appreciate the time.

CASL gives me a reason to stay active and keep up with a social life. Some of my best friends were met through this league. It's something I look forward to after a long work week. My family owns a small construction business and have gotten multiple jobs by word of mouth from CASL. The world needs more of adults from all skill levels coming together to make lasting memories!

I moved to Cape Cod after I graduated from college in 2022. I didn’t grow up on the Cape, so I didn’t know anyone in the area. I did extensive research to determine how I could meet people, make friends, & become involved in the community. I utilized social media, local bulletin boards, & asked around. I discovered there were very few options. Luckily, I found CASL. I signed up for the winter dodgeball league as a free agent. I remember showing up my first day to the gym & thought “wow I’ve never seen so many young people in one place on the Cape this time of year!” Everyone in the league was so friendly and welcoming. I met so many kind & interesting people from different backgrounds that I never would have met had I not joined CASL. My dodgeball teammates & I immediately became great friends & I really looked forward to playing with them every week and then going to the bar for social hour afterwards with everyone in the league. We had so much fun that we signed up for kickball in the spring/summer! I’m forever grateful for the positive impact that CASL has had on my life & I’m so thankful I found the league. It’s the best way to meet people on the Cape! As an ex-collegiate athlete, it was not only an awesome way for me to stay active & in shape, but also to socialize & make new friends. I cannot say enough great things about CASL. Shawn does an amazing job of running the league. I can’t wait for the next season of CASL with all of my friends!

I haven’t found a better way personally how to be more social and make friends than sports games. That’s why when I got first time to US on Cape Cod in 2018 I started looking into sports groups where I can enjoy the game I love the most - soccer. And the CASL was the only place I found which has amateur soccer nights. They’re affordable, organized, planned and have everything, all I need to do is to show up. People are friendly and accepting any level of skill, gender and age. Moving forward to 2023 CASL is still the only sports group/community which have easy access, multifunctionality (physical activity, social, competitive and so on..) and perfect organization. The only and the best one on Cape Cod!

I joined CASL with the goal to meet new people and build friendships. Sports were a perfect way to get people together for this. The friendly competition really helps bonds players together. Having moved to the Cape from Michigan with just my household family, I struggled to make connections with people. CASL made it effortless to make new friends, learn about the community, and love the area I live that much more. Within weeks I had many people I could call friends and over a little more time family.

Meeting other people the same age with similar hobbies when in the adult world is much more difficult than I thought. Add in the pandemic and moving to a new state, it was very lonely. Luckily through work I heard about CASL and landed on a team that got along well. Even at first without the social outings because of Covid, CASL provided a weekly release from the stress of work. Add in the social aspect in 2022 and our team became the adult friends I needed to make cape a place I could continue to live and work. It provided the social balance that was missing. We have since traveled as a group to concerts, ski trips, weekend getaways and a vacation out of the country. We often have dinners out and participate in activities around cape cod.
I haven’t even reviewed the romantic relationship aspect of CASL. Our team has had two romantic relationships come from it and the league itself has more than I am aware. While my focus of joining was to find friends, a boyfriend was an unexpected plus.
When new young adults join my work team I immediately encourage them to join a CASL event so they can meet people.
The winter is a time of decreased activity and worsening depression and anxiety. Even on a well established team we have already got swept back up into adulthood and bailed on several outing ideas since our Wednesday commitment to dodgeball is no longer. Having a weekly CASL commitment helps young adults make time for fun, exercise and a break from work.

CASL, gave me a community in my adult life. They have been patient with me teaching new sports, that I did not have the opportunity to learn in my childhood. I have made plenty of friends, and gained so much confidence

CASL is the only way people ages 20-45 can socialize on Cape Cod. Cape is such a quiet place and it’s very tourist oriented, but CASL brings locals together and forges lifelong friendships. As someone who works from home, CASL, especially in the winter, is the only place I am able to go to get out of my house and have face to face interactions with other people. CASL truly strengthens the Cape Cod community, bringing people together in a fun and wholesome way. Playing the sports that I loved to play as a kid helps me destress, enjoy my evenings, and make friends just like we all did in grade school. It’s also a great way to get exercise and stay healthy. Everything CASL is about is just great and I really hope to see its offerings expanding in the near future!

I am a Public Preschool Teacher, I moved here last year with no contacts in order to work. I love my job and I feel so fortunate to have found such an amazing school system with amazing teachers and students. But, outside of work I really struggled. I wanted to be part of the community, but I didn’t know how. When I joined CASL, I had an activity to do every week. Even as it got colder and darker I could still look forward to having something to do. This year we all shared the first snow of the season at CASL. I feel very fortunate to have found CASL.

CASL is a great way to meet new people and get some exercise in during the week in a fun, inviting way.
I've participated in kickball for three years now, playing for a handful of different teams, each of which bringing together people I otherwise would have never interacted with. The social events following the games instills a sense of community in Cape Cod. It's more than just an adult sports league, it's a way to connect people in a wholesome way through events I looked forward to week after week.
Whether it was kickball, or pickleball, or going out to the social events after the games, I always looked forward to the gathering of people from all over the cape in a welcoming environment that made everyone feel like they belonged.
Sometimes the games get competitive and chippy, but that's just a testament to how much everyone cares. No matter how much people argue that their player was safe, or that their kick was in fair territory, everyone leaves the game and ends the night with a smile on their face because it was all in good fun, sharing those moments with a community of people just looking for a healthy outlet throughout the week.

I used to summer on the Cape when I was younger and I remember them being some of the best times of my life, because of this I decided to move to the Cape year round after college. What I found out shortly was that winters and summers on the Cape were totally different. The first couple of winters I had trouble meeting people my age and I didn’t have much of a social life. That immediately changed when I joined CASL. Through CASL I have made lifelong friendships and I can tell you that numerous people on Cape feel the same. I can even name multiple couples, who because of CASL, are now married.

The importance of CASL cannot be understated for young adults on the Cape, especially during the winter months where there are a lack of healthy activities. With the importance and emphasis of mental health in society I believe CASL has helped the mental health of my young adults, because of this, I believe the Wixon gym should be available for CASL.

Nick Philpott

My Fiancee and I found CASL last winter when a coworker asked us to be on his dodgeball team. We joined and couldn't have been any happier for it! I played dodgeball in middle school and I have some great memories from it, and CASL dodgeball brought all those back and then some. Last winter Wednesdays were the best, I looked forward to two games of dodgeball every week and it never disappointed. I was very excited to get back at it this winter and was pretty sad when I heard the Wixon school was no longer an option. I was offered a ln engine maintenance class through work and one of the days it would be on was Wednesday nights. I had to tell my boss that I couldn't give up my dodgeball day no matter how beneficial the class would be towards my work! I hope that somewhere will let us lease some space for dodgeball because I was truly looking forward to it all fall!

CASL dodgeball was a highlight of my winter last year and I wanna get back after it! It was such a good experience and I hope that I will get to play in more than just one year of it!

Ben Sacco

I’ve been involved with CASL for 8 years and made some of my best friends through the group. It’s an excellent outlet for meeting new people which is especially difficult on the Cape year round.
It’s especially nice to join knowing people are there to have fun, so even if you’re not an expert at a particular sport, everyone is still very welcoming!

CASL is most definitely the best adult social activity on Cape Cod. Consistently, for two years, this league has been great wholesome fun with healthy competition mixed in. A great way to overcome hump day (Wednesday) while getting the heart rate up, and giving that needed boost to push through till the weekend. For those of us looking for activities outside the bars that don't break the bank, CASL never disappoints.

Since joining CASL, I have made great friends who have really made a positive impact in my life. For young adults on Cape Cod, this can be a big challenge. Having a place to gather and compete over a common goal (winning), naturally builds healthy relationships. I have witnessed folks from all backgrounds come together during my time with CASL. A diverse community of young adults has been so refreshing to see on a weekly basis.

The commissioner of CASL, Shaun Conway, works very hard to maintain a safe, organized, and professional environment. He places an emphasis on safety and cares about the well being of every participant. The events are always well thought out and communication is on point. Shaun even takes the time to teach fundamental skills of each sport, and go over the rules in detail. He has helped develop my kicking skill and fielding ability quite a bit.

Undoubtedly, CASL, is a huge boon to Cape Cod and our community. I very strongly advocate for this league, and hope a venue can be found to maintain continuity this winter.

CASL was one of the best parts of living on the cape. I was able to join this league back in 2015 and it was more than just adults playing games that we loved as kids, it was people meeting and making new friends but friends that would last a lifetime. We sang karaoke together celebrated holidays and birthdays together and it has been an amazing journey with amazing friends that I would’ve never met if it wasn’t for Casl and Shaun who put it all together. Meeting up weekly turned into staying in touch and making memories that will last forever. CASL is great for the cape where there isn’t much to do in the winter and casl gives us an opportunity to get out and do positive things within the community not having a place to be able to do these things would be a shame and we need to be able to find somewhere to keep the positivity a thing, I hope CASL stays for as long as it can and I thank Shaun and the league for everything…

I moved to Barnstable 17 years ago and for the first 8 years I only knew my coworkers. I struggled to meet people I felt like I fit in with as it was difficult on the summer scene to meet people that weren't here on vacation and the off season wasn't any easier. I've been involved with different CASL sports for 9 years which keeps me active throughout the year, on the fields all summer and inside on the courts in the winter. I've since increased my contacts to a couple hundred like minded individuals that enjoy getting to know others while involved in gameplay as the main focus. I plan to continue participating as long as my aging knees and aching joints will allow.

Without CASL I feel I would have met people with my own interests.. nor would have I met my girlfriend of six years and counting. It is particularly hard to meet friends and people on this island and without a doubt if I haven’t joined CASL I would have had as many friends as I do now. Cape Cod needs young adult sports leagues and social events to help keep this island going

CASL is brilliant. Especially during the winter with the long dark days, I need the indoor soccer to keep me going. Great people and great competition!