Dear Players and Parents:

   Welcome to the year 2003 season. Again this year, over 700 girls will be participating. The objective of the BGSA is to provide an opportunity for girls to have an enjoyable softball experience from approximately age seven through their senior year in high school. Our purpose is to provide each player with the opportunity to learn the game, make new friends, and have fun. Please take a moment to review the information on the next page. Also, a schedule of BGSA events appears on the back cover.

   Thanks, to all of our volunteers for serving as Coaches, Umpires, Team Parents and Board members. You make this season possible. In our Junior League we are particularly grateful to the volunteer umpires. Each Junior League team must supply an umpire for it's home games. Please consider helping out by volunteering to umpire a game. Our rules are rather simple and we have an umpire's guideline sheet that can be read before the start of the game. So when the home team coach asks for some parental umpire support, please think seriously about stepping up to the plate and getting the games started on time. The girls will sincerely appreciate it.

    We ask that all parents, family, friends, and fans enthusiastically support the efforts of all the players as they develop their softball skills and have fun. Cheering for each and every girl's efforts would be an appropriate way to demonstrate your recognition of the purpose of the BGSA.

   There are some significant changes in effect this year. Last year all Junior League teams were eligible for play-offs. The response was very positive. As a result, this year all Junior, Middle, and Senior League teams are eligible for the play-offs. Following a fifteen game schedule, teams will be seeded and the play-offs will immediately begin.Other changes include: two hour time limit for games has been replaced with a new one hour and forty minute rule (see Rule 1-13), night games will now begin at 7:45, senior teams were reduced from 18 to 16, and the Junior League pitching distance has changed from 35 to 33 feet for this season. Finally, following the long standing practice in our Instuctional League, the Junior players will be allowed to keep their uniform shirts.

   Please don't hesitate to bring any comments or suggestions to improve the BGSA, to any coach, Board member, or me. Let's have another great year!

	Sincerely,
	Ed Romkey
	President, BGSA