President's Message

To all Players, Parents, Coaches and Sponsors:

Welcome to the PGSL 2003 Season. After a very busy winter of meetings and clinics our players and coaches look more ready than ever to have a successful season. Let’s all think positive that the r-word is behind us for the year.

What is a successful season? What would the players say it is? PGSL has been a participant in the Sanford University, Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) for several years now. A PCA study shows the number one reason players are out there in the first place is to be with their friends. So, by providing the venue, the parents and board members have started the success off on the right foot. And, congratulations to you all for your commitment and hard work! But what else is there? Now that the players have committed to be there on the field with their friends, driving the rest of the success is up to us all as coaches and parents. Teaching, re-enforcing and developing softball skills start it off. Providing each player opportunity to try their best to use those skills and supporting them, regardless of the outcome in ball games is the next step. Teaching respect for the game, other players, coaches and umpires is next. Instilling confidence though encouragement is the final essential to develop our players’ self-esteem.

Finally at the end, success is when the players look back and know their team meant more to them than they thought it would at the beginning of the season. This is not measured in wins and losses or final standings. Rather in each player’s sense of accomplishment. Our player’s sense of accomplishment is founded in their own skill development, teamwork experiences, personal victories, large or small and friendships. This sense of accomplishment can raise their self-esteem. Regardless of their future softball plans it is our objective to do everything we can as coaches and parents to help them to raise their self-esteem to better prepare them for what ever they do in their future.

If you have coached or attended the first practice of a season you are familiar with the spirit and optimism that is usually present. That spirit is each of our players' drive to seek accomplishment. I encourage all of us to feed that spirit each and every time we come to the ball field.

Thanks for all your hard work. It is keeping the PGSL strong!

Ron Cefalo
President