News

Dear PALS Member:

I spoke with our head referee, Rick Cecil, and he apologized for the 
confusion with the referees for our first game. He sent them to the 
Long Center and he didn't realize it until we were well into our 
games. Thanks to everyone for pitching in and enabling us to still 
play our games!

Since we did not have to pay the referees for this game each school 
will have a credit that we can either refund at the end of the season 
or put toward a year end culminating event for the students. 
Hopefully we won't have a situation like that again.

On another note I observed our second game between Country Day and 
Chi Chi Rodriguez and saw an area I think we need to address as a 
league. Chi Chi has some athletically gifted kids and won their 
contest easily. There is a large talent difference but there also is 
a big age difference between the two teams. It was evident to me that 
some the Country Day parents, players and coaches were frustrated 
during the course of the game. It's not a lot of fun participating in 
a lopsided sports contest but I am not sure how we can "level the 
playing field" so that the game can be more competitive and all the 
players can have fun.

Please email me or call me with any thoughts you may 
have. I am committed to enabling all of our students to have a 
positive sports experience in our league and I am open to any 
suggestions that will allow that to happen.

Sincerely,

Mark Robinson - Safety Harbor Montessori

PALS League founder

posted by Site Administrator Raymond Hammond PHMA "WaterDad"

Dear PALS Member:

We will play our games at Safety Harbor Recreation Center (same 
facility as last season). Please review the attached 2010 Basketball 
League Rules and pass them on to your coaches, players, and parents.

Our league is an instructional league designed to allow success for 
all players regardless of skill! Over the year's I have enjoyed 
seeing the players develop their skills, compete, and have fun! 
However, my biggest concern going forward is the escalated aggressive 
play in our lane area (rectangle area beneath each basket). 
Particularly with the different level of skill level and our co-ed 
format.

During the last few seasons, I have had a number of parents (from 
different schools) approach me and express their concern as well. I 
want to pass this information on to the coaches, players, parents, 
and our referees so that we can address this issue together. In the 
past I have asked the referees to concentrate on the aggressive play 
in our games but I still don't think we have gotten to where I feel 
comfortable. I feel we need to make greater strides so that we can 
lessen the injury risk and have more skillful play.

Examples of what I have observed are when a player gets a "hard" foul 
while attempting a shot and not receive a foul call, or a player is 
elbowed while another player rebounds and "clears" his path, or a 
player drives down the lane knocking players out of their path. A 
couple things happen. A player will get frustrated and then respond 
by doing the same thing to their opponent or a player becomes 
apprehensive about getting involved in that area of the court. By the 
end of our season many players are playing a lot more aggressive 
while others become reluctant to get very involved in that area of 
the game.

I believe the referees follow the guidelines that they use during the 
course of their duties and it can be more difficult to officiate with 
the different skill levels of our players. However, I developed this 
league NOT to be like every other league and I a committed to try to 
resolve this issue where the players will have more enjoyment from 
our games! I feel that we still can provide a competitive game where 
the players learn to pick, box out, rebound, and score without 
resorting to hacking, elbowing, or plowing their way to the basket. 
This will require support from the coaches, players, parents, and of 
course the referees.

I understand that my expectations may seem lofty to some and that 
there can a fine line between overly aggressive play and coordination 
issues. That's why I want everyone to know where I stand and where I 
expect that each team to be striving towards so that we can have a 
successful, exciting and fun basketball season that our students will 
remember for many years.

Please go to our website palsflorida.com for schedule dates and 
times. Our first game is Thursday, January 14th! Good luck this season!

Sincerely,

Mark

posted by Site Administrator Raymond Hammond PHMA "WaterDad"

Happy Holidays to all of our Players. Parents, Coaches and sponsoring schools.

Our great league is becoming a real treat for fans as well as Players & Coaches. Seems that everyone looks forward to "Game Day"....

Remember the first game of the soccer season? Cold and rainy...everyone got soaked but had fun and played through it anyway, just like the Pro's.

Basketball season is starting shortly and we expect practices to begin very soon, so suit up and hone your skills. This season may bring a surprise champion team as it did in Soccer.

Games are on Thursdays at 4pm & 5pm sharp at the Safety Harbor Community Rec Center.

Players & Coaches please keep in mind that we will be playing indoors, close quaters for basketball. This means be extra careful about foul language and comments please. Our fans and the opposing Team will easily hear you. Good sportsmanship is essential in our League, and so is having fun!

posted by Site Administrator Raymond Hammond PHMA "WaterDad"

A very exciting conclusion for all Teams this soccer season as both Finals games were nail-biters being won by just a point each.

Thanks to all Coaches and Parents for bringing the kids together for this great Soccer Season. Remember the first game? The kids played in the cold rain...just like the Pros !

Commissioner and Founder of this league, Mark Robinson of Safety Harbor Montessori Academy, has provided so much of the ongoing, behind the scenes organization and resources so that our young athletes can show up and play their hearts out.

Looking forward to Basketball after the winter break!

Happy Holidays...

posted by Raymond Hammond - PALS site administrator

Players...bring your skills and smiles.
Coaches...bring your coolers and "outdoor voices"
Parents...bring your cameras, chairs & sweaters!

Schedules are posted folks. This will be a short and challenging season.

All Teams play games on Tuesdays AND AGAIN on Thursdays.
All games are at 4pm on two fields at the Jerry Lake Soccer Complex.

First game is next Tuesday, Nov. 10th...so get some practice in.
This league is exciting and produces unexpected plays and game results making it so much fun for everyone.

posted by Site Administrator Raymond Hammond PHMA "WaterDad"

The long awaited showdown between Country Day & Palm Harbor is all set for Tuesday Oct. 27th at 4pm...The winner will own the coveted Third place spot just behind the two power houses Chi Chi's & Safety Harbor. Last Season, the speedy MUSTANGS earned the third place trophy with a well played game against the HAWKS.

Coach Jared and his Team were graceful enough to accept a reschedule of the game from Thursday to Tuesday because the Palm Harbor Hawks are embarking on a two-night, hard-core, unchartered-wilderness, survival-style, camping expedition this Wednesday through Friday in a foreign land known by the Ancients as,

 "The Green Swamp".

(ancient yes, but they have cool website for Teachers & Students)

The Hawks would like to thank Country Day Largo Coaches, Players and Parents, Commissioner Mark Robinson and the Referees for going out of their way to change schedules so quickly and get Players to the field. This sort of courtesy and team effort is exactly the kind of off-field behavior our League aims to encourage and develop.

Palm Harbor promises to mix it up a bit and bring an exciting game on Tuesday.

Thanks Again!

posted by Site Administrator Raymond Hammond PHMA "WaterDad"

Let's get our fans to the Playoffs this week. We could use lots more cheering for our Teams. We would like to see the Teams for the 5pm game arrive early enough to watch the 4pm game and likewise, have the 4pm Teams stay a while and watch the 5pm game. This courtesy is good for our League as everyone plays harder when there's an audience, right? So Coaches please get the word out so that rides and such can be arranged.

The 4pm game, Chi Chi vs Country Day, starts promplty at 4pm, so please have all Players in their jerseys with flags on.

The 5pm game, Safety Harbor vs Palm Harbor, will likely start at 4:50 because The Long Center has the field committed to another League at 5:30, so the Refs tend to start a bit early. Once again, please prepare ahead of time so when you step on the field..you're ready to rumble run, I mean.

Thanks for your support... Invite Teacher's, Family & Friends to these Playoffs please.

posted by Site Administrator Raymond Hammond - PHMA "WaterDad"

Kids, Teachers & Parents who are helping to get your school yearbook together....

Remember to come to some games to support your Team and take photos & video of your classmates. This stuff is history in the making! C'mon down to the games, it's a blast.

posted by Site Administrator Raymond Hammond - PHMA "WaterDad"