What if you were charged to tryout?

[default]

I dont think the big guy is suggesting charging for trying out here in Ohio. Hes making a comparison people.....

Hitter, I understand his frustration. I am sure that most coaches at a tryout would like 8 or 9 DDs to show up for 2 or 3 positions When one has 25 DDs it makes it quite difficult for one to do their job. Many parents and DDs think there's a college scholarship waiting if only they can get on the right team. I would just like to find a team that was really a team. Friends out to play some serious ball.

 

[default]

I dont think the big guy is suggesting charging for trying out here in Ohio. Hes making a comparison people.....

A comparison of what? That is what I do not understand.

Howard is a man that offers FREE hitting advice to ANYONE, good or bad, that wishes to come to his garage for a lesson. Do you think all of the hitting lesson hype would exist at the level it does now if Howard decided to charge an "elite" fee? Of course not, and everyone knows it. He would not have near the number of pupils that he can claim to have now. Many people could not afford it, and others would think that the cost would outweigh the benefits. He would be able to retain a few "very, very good" hitters.

Howard offers his knowledge at no cost because he simply loves to do so. Many coaches having open tryouts are willing to help a child (if they're struggling) for the very same reason. Klump does, I do, as well as many others. So what if they have no intention of playing for your team or the coach has no intention of offering the player a spot on the team. Maybe, just maybe, you helped a child become a better player by teaching them something. Good players will eventually come to coaches that care and have knowledge of the game.

Len

 

[default]

I think what Howard is saying, and if I am putting words into your mouth please correct me, is that maybe there wouldn't be all of the tryout shuffle if teams charged a fee to attend a tryout. That way, the truly good teams (read: elite, gold, etc.) would only get the best of the best at tryouts, and there wouldn't be the "dd's last coach didn't utilize her properly, etc. so I"m looking for a new team". How many would be looking for a new team if they new that the next tryout would cost them $100, $200 or whatever, just to step on the field? There would be a lot more researching of which team you want to give a load of money for a tryout that will offer more than a uniform and a roster spot. Find a team that will actually teach dd to play the game, get better, motivate them, and instill upon them the desire and need to get better on their own.

I see it in our organization - a girls shows up who is a star on the rec team and all of a sudden think they are travel ball ready by just being there, but do not yet realize that it takes more than being able to hit a 35 mph fastball to the outfield. It takes dedication, hard work, desire and most of all the humility to realize that they can, and SHOULD, get better - on their own.

Heaven forbid we actually want our daughters to grow up with some sort of pride in themselves, learn about how to cope with adversity, and realize that if they put their mind to it they can accomplish anything with hard work and persistence.

 

[default]

A comparison of what? That is what I do not understand.

Howard is a man that offers FREE hitting advice to ANYONE, good or bad, that wishes to come to his garage for a lesson. Do you think all of the hitting lesson hype would exist at the level it does now if Howard decided to charge an "elite" fee? Of course not, and everyone knows it. He would not have near the number of pupils that he can claim to have now. Many people could not afford it, and others would think that the cost would outweigh the benefits. He would be able to retain a few "very, very good" hitters.

Howard offers his knowledge at no cost because he simply loves to do so. Many coaches having open tryouts are willing to help a child (if they're struggling) for the very same reason. Klump does, I do, as well as many others. So what if they have no intention of playing for your team or the coach has no intention of offering the player a spot on the team. Maybe, just maybe, you helped a child become a better player by teaching them something. Good players will eventually come to coaches that care and have knowledge of the game.

Len

uhh, ok......

 

[default]

A comparison of what? That is what I do not understand.

Howard is a man that offers FREE hitting advice to ANYONE, good or bad, that wishes to come to his garage for a lesson. Do you think all of the hitting lesson hype would exist at the level it does now if Howard decided to charge an "elite" fee? Of course not, and everyone knows it. He would not have near the number of pupils that he can claim to have now. Many people could not afford it, and others would think that the cost would outweigh the benefits. He would be able to retain a few "very, very good" hitters.

Howard offers his knowledge at no cost because he simply loves to do so. Many coaches having open tryouts are willing to help a child (if they're struggling) for the very same reason. Klump does, I do, as well as many others. So what if they have no intention of playing for your team or the coach has no intention of offering the player a spot on the team. Maybe, just maybe, you helped a child become a better player by teaching them something. Good players will eventually come to coaches that care and have knowledge of the game.

Len

"""Howard offers his knowledge at no cost because he simply loves to do so. Many coaches having open tryouts are willing to help a child (if they're struggling) for the very same reason. Klump does, I do, as well as many others. So what if they have no intention of playing for your team or the coach has no intention of offering the player a spot on the team. Maybe, just maybe, you helped a child become a better player by teaching them something. Good players will eventually come to coaches that care and have knowledge of the game.""" Excellent. That's what it is all about.

 

[default]

I think what Howard is saying, and if I am putting words into your mouth please correct me, is that maybe there wouldn't be all of the tryout shuffle if teams charged a fee to attend a tryout. That way, the truly good teams (read: elite, gold, etc.) would only get the best of the best at tryouts, and there wouldn't be the "dd's last coach didn't utilize her properly, etc. so I"m looking for a new team". How many would be looking for a new team if they new that the next tryout would cost them $100, $200 or whatever, just to step on the field? There would be a lot more researching of which team you want to give a load of money for a tryout that will offer more than a uniform and a roster spot. Find a team that will actually teach dd to play the game, get better, motivate them, and instill upon them the desire and need to get better on their own.

I see it in our organization - a girls shows up who is a star on the rec team and all of a sudden think they are travel ball ready by just being there, but do not yet realize that it takes more than being able to hit a 35 mph fastball to the outfield. It takes dedication, hard work, desire and most of all the humility to realize that they can, and SHOULD, get better - on their own.

Heaven forbid we actually want our daughters to grow up with some sort of pride in themselves, learn about how to cope with adversity, and realize that if they put their mind to it they can accomplish anything with hard work and persistence.

One point to think about. If softball starts charging hundreds of dollars to tryout there will be a lot more DDs playing ******.

 

[default]

you will have to trust me on this, most kids do not have the work ethic and do not work on their own to get better and improve their game in my opinion to take it to the next level.

.

No truer words have ever been spoken on this site IMHO

 

[default]

Talked to girls, parents and coaches at the 10U Nationals in Chattanooga. In CA, they DO charge a non-refundable fee of usually $500. Their are organizations that will put that towards the girls fees if they do make the team. This obviously is a huge money maker for teams. Imagine if you had 50 girls try out and only took 5. That is 45 x $500 = $22,500 in just free dollars of girls NOT making a team.

 

[default]

Talked to girls, parents and coaches at the 10U Nationals in Chattanooga. In CA, they DO charge a non-refundable fee of usually $500. Their are organizations that will put that towards the girls fees if they do make the team. This obviously is a huge money maker for teams. Imagine if you had 50 girls try out and only took 5. That is 45 x $500 = $22,500 in just free dollars of girls NOT making a team.

A racket is an illegal business, usually run as part of organized crime. Engaging in a racket is called racketeering.

Several forms of racket exist. The best-known is the protection racket, in which criminals demand money from businesses in exchange for the service of "protection" against crimes that the racketeers themselves instigate if unpaid (see extortion). A second well known example is the numbers racket, a form of illegal lottery.
Sounds like that Org. may fall under type two........

 

[default]

Talked to girls, parents and coaches at the 10U Nationals in Chattanooga. In CA, they DO charge a non-refundable fee of usually $500. Their are organizations that will put that towards the girls fees if they do make the team. This obviously is a huge money maker for teams. Imagine if you had 50 girls try out and only took 5. That is 45 x $500 = $22,500 in just free dollars of girls NOT making a team.

If this is the case a can see every parent wanting to starting a team for their daughter? If the team folds what happens to the money?

 

[default]

Murph should chime in on the $500 tryout.From what I heard,believe some Texas team charged $500.But then again some of those elite travel players(or ones with deep pockets) take a plane to practice?! 8 hour clinic and tryout with Jennie Finch there for the clinic and tryout process.Not sure if we were to get that around here with a high dollar tryout(no knocks on anyone meant).

 

[default]

A comparison of what? That is what I do not understand.

Howard is a man that offers FREE hitting advice to ANYONE, good or bad, that wishes to come to his garage for a lesson. Do you think all of the hitting lesson hype would exist at the level it does now if Howard decided to charge an "elite" fee? Of course not, and everyone knows it. He would not have near the number of pupils that he can claim to have now. Many people could not afford it, and others would think that the cost would outweigh the benefits. He would be able to retain a few "very, very good" hitters.

Howard offers his knowledge at no cost because he simply loves to do so. Many coaches having open tryouts are willing to help a child (if they're struggling) for the very same reason. Klump does, I do, as well as many others. So what if they have no intention of playing for your team or the coach has no intention of offering the player a spot on the team. Maybe, just maybe, you helped a child become a better player by teaching them something. Good players will eventually come to coaches that care and have knowledge of the game.

Len

Len I do not claim anything.... "He would not have near the number of pupils that he can claim to have now."

Len I have or have had girls and boys at Ohio State, Ohio U., Cleveland, Detroit, Valpro, Youngstown, WSU, Dayton, Georgia, NKU, Thomas Moore, Mt. St. Joe, George Town, U of L, Belermine, Hanover, Hope, Capital, Mt. Vernon, Otterbein, Urbana, Memphis, Evangel, Chathman, Latrobe, Prinction, Charleston, NCCU, Furmon, Heidelberg, IWU, Whittenburg, Carson Newman, University of the Cumberland's, Liberty, Hitter23 daugther and I can not remember the name, Marion, NCCU, West Virgina State, Alderson, Blue Field, Cumberland, Beria, Tiffin, plus 4 boys in the Frontier league and one with a minor league contract with the White Sox's and I coached the CNST team for 2.5 years and went from 6 place to fourth place in the ISF and worked with 7 Team USA players. Sorry if I left anyone out!

I never broke anyone's arm to come to me and just tried to help.

It is interesting to see how California teams operate and Ohio teams who claim to be the best of the best operate and the West Coast Teams can command the try out fees when the Ohio (Midwest area) think they are doing their best when in fact this is exactly why the D1 schools recruit from the West.

If parents truly understood what it takes to play at the next level they would be shocked to find out how hard the kids must work to get there!

A lot of people volunteer their time to help others and that is understood and if I charged I think I would still have the number of kids as the results have proven them self.

Parents will pay a lot of money to improve their kids however they must also see the results and ours is public for the most part as to making it to the next level.

If the parents want to make it to the next level with their kids they must work for it and not wish for it!

When the California teams charge for a try out they put their money where their mouth is and probably realize the competition they are up against.

Yes it is also at the higher age groups, however consider what it is they are being taught at 8 through 14 and I find it.......you fill in the blanks.

 

[default]

Wouldnt it be called a payout instead of a tryout?

 

[default]

Wouldnt it be called a payout instead of a tryout?

No they pick the best, not the ones with deep pockets or the parents that run the teams that probably could not make the cut on the field where it counts :lmao:

 

[default]

Len I do not claim anything.... "He would not have near the number of pupils that he can claim to have now."

Len I have or have had girls and boys at Ohio State, Ohio U., Cleveland, Detroit, Valpro, Youngstown, WSU, Dayton, Georgia, NKU, Thomas Moore, Mt. St. Joe, George Town, U of L, Belermine, Hanover, Hope, Capital, Mt. Vernon, Otterbein, Urbana, Memphis, Evangel, Chathman, Latrobe, Prinction, Charleston, NCCU, Furmon, Heidelberg, IWU, Whittenburg, Carson Newman, University of the Cumberland's, Liberty, Hitter23 daugther and I can not remember the name, Marion, NCCU, West Virgina State, Alderson, Blue Field, Cumberland, Beria, Tiffin, plus 4 boys in the Frontier league and one with a minor league contract with the White Sox's and I coached the CNST team for 2.5 years and went from 6 place to fourth place in the ISF and worked with 7 Team USA players. Sorry if I left anyone out!

I never broke anyone's arm to come to me and just tried to help.

It is interesting to see how California teams operate and Ohio teams who claim to be the best of the best operate and the West Coast Teams can command the try out fees when the Ohio (Midwest area) think they are doing their best when in fact this is exactly why the D1 schools recruit from the West.

If parents truly understood what it takes to play at the next level they would be shocked to find out how hard the kids must work to get there!

A lot of people volunteer their time to help others and that is understood and if I charged I think I would still have the number of kids as the results have proven them self.

Parents will pay a lot of money to improve their kids however they must also see the results and ours is public for the most part as to making it to the next level.

If the parents want to make it to the next level with their kids they must work for it and not wish for it!

When the California teams charge for a try out they put their money where their mouth is and probably realize the competition they are up against.

Yes it is also at the higher age groups, however consider what it is they are being taught at 8 through 14 and I find it.......you fill in the blanks.

We currently pay $120 a lesson for pitching and would not hesitate to pay Hitter this same amount. He has done a tremendous job with our daughter in regards to hitting. Thanks Hitter!!

 

[default]

Boy, it must be sweet to have such issues when clubs around here almost need to pull the teeth from the family’s heads to get the season fee paid by the entire roster. They want treated like royalty and make demands, then go home to eat bon bons till the next scheduled event.

West coast clubs have been charging a tryout fee for years because the atmosphere is conducive to do so. The numbers are huge and the kids want to play. We don't have that same atmosphere in Ohio. I know there are Ohio clubs that would like to charge but they know what the result would be. I spoke to a representative from a Ca. organization about 7 years ago and at that time they charged $500 nonrefundable dollars each player but they got credit towards the annual fees if selected. 1500 girls showed up to try out for 60 spots on 5 teams. The annual fee was $7500 and each player was responsible for their own expenses. Are the players that much better? In some cases no but rest assured, with that many talented players to choose from, there’s always going to be a better chance to find 12 players with the skills, attitude, and conviction to excel. Ohio clubs do a pretty fair job of competing but I seriously doubt we’ll ever have the same intensity from our talent pool to be able to justify tryouts being the first fundraiser of the year.

 

[default]

Recently went to a tryout of a team that I did do research on. Everything I was told about the team made me want to have my daughter go there and possibly play for them. Long story short, they should pay me back for my gas to get there. Worst tryout I've ever seen. Unorganized wouldn't even begin to describe it. Tryouts are not just for teams to find players, but for players (and family) to find a team. For the record, we were asked to come back for the second day, and we politely declined.

 

[default]

Len I have or have had girls and boys at Ohio State, Ohio U., Cleveland, Detroit, Valpro, Youngstown, WSU, Dayton, Georgia, NKU, Thomas Moore, Mt. St. Joe, George Town, U of L, Belermine, Hanover, Hope, Capital, Mt. Vernon, Otterbein, Urbana, Memphis, Evangel, Chathman, Latrobe, Prinction, Charleston, NCCU, Furmon, Heidelberg, IWU, Whittenburg, Carson Newman, University of the Cumberland's, Liberty, Hitter23 daugther and I can not remember the name, Marion, NCCU, West Virgina State, Alderson, Blue Field, Cumberland, Beria, Tiffin, plus 4 boys in the Frontier league and one with a minor league contract with the White Sox's and I coached the CNST team for 2.5 years and went from 6 place to fourth place in the ISF and worked with 7 Team USA players. Sorry if I left anyone out!

You forgot Fairmont State University....and I'm working on that t-shirt.

 

[default]

Hitter just exposed Ohio fastpitch and the attitude that holds it back from truly competing with the teams out west. He didn't make this up people this is how they do it and why they fly to Ohio just to try and earn a spot at ASA/USA nationals. It is about commitment . I am not saying how you want your fastpitch to be is not okay it just won't compete if that is your goal.
Yes some of of you are willing to do it but it is not the majority.

 

[default]

One point to think about. If softball starts charging hundreds of dollars to tryout there will be a lot more DDs playing ******.

Exactly! And there is nothing wrong with that - the sooner you realize what you are and are not willing to do to be a top notch "fill in the blank" the better.

I used to teach at the college level and after the first exam about half of the students were saying "he has to grade on a curve - there's no way he can fail half of the class" and I would respond "no, I won't fail half of you - two things will happen: either you will obtain better study habits, ask questions, and GET BETTER, or you will drop the course". No one failed, and I had only 1 student fail in my numerous years teaching.