The Maryland STARS Girls Fastpitch Softball Tournament Team Program is based on a
philosophy of Skills, Teamwork, Attitude, Respect and Success.

Skills (The best players do the "ordinary things extraordinarily well".)
These teams will emphasize skill development.
"Learning and growing" is the theme for the STARS.
Practice is critical for skill development, therefore practice sessions will be scheduled through out the season.
Players are expected to attend practice sessions
The coaching staff will renew and enhance the softball fundamentals--- practice will be instructive--- drills will be emphasized.
Players will also learn the strategy of the game.

Teamwork (There is no "I" in team.)
Softball is a game which promotes interdependence.
No one player or position is more important than any other.
Individual (i.e. "independent") wants must be subordinated to the needs of the team.
Players cannot wait for "others" to perform (i.e. dependent).
Each player must "step up" and take advantage of the opportunity to play and perform.

Attitude (It is more often your "attitude, not your aptitude that determines your altitude!")
Softball is "only" a game.....
It is a privilege to play. We are creating relationships and memories which will last a lifetime!
We learn and grow in victory and in defeat.
As a player I can never achieve perfection.... I can always improve. I can learn from others.
God created me with two ears and one mouth -- His design. Suggests I should listen twice as much as I talk.

Respect
for the game,
for the game's authority,
for my coaches,
for my parents,
for my fellow players,
for my opponents,
and for myself.

Success (The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength,
not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.)
Although the Maryland STARS expect to win more games than they lose,
success is not defined solely by the win/loss record. Measures of success include:
Am I growing as a player, as a teammate, and as a person?
Did I do my best on the field and off the field?
What did I learn?
What can I show?
Most importantly, was it FUN?