Any Tryout Tips?

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I have seen a few people suggest contacting the coach ahead of time. I guess I am wondering what to say. I mean I'm sure they don't want/have time to hear from every parent there. What would make them want to hear from me? Wouldn't that be more annoying to them when they are trying to run several tryouts and see way more girls than they have room for? We made a list of the teams we want to try out for and have gone to two tournaments to watch several of them.
I know the tryouts will be packed and just don't want to start off on the wrong foot by emailing/calling them beforehand.

I would call and ask the coach about the positions they are looking to fill. I know most teams say that all positions are up for grabs but as discussed on other threads there are "untouchables" on most teams. Example If the teams you are interested in are have conflicting tryouts but you know one team has 3 catchers and the other team has 2 but 1 has to move up you might priortize the second tryout because your catcher dd wants plate time. Again this is assuming that both teams are equal in your eyes.

 

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Just another small peice of advice- if you know that you might be interested in playing for team A next year and they will be at the same tournament you will be at this weekend, make contact with the coach ahead of time and let him know that you might be bringing your daughter to tryouts, what her position is and her jersey # that way the coach can look to see how she plays in the game, interacts with teammates/coaches etc. there is ALOT of "scouting" for next years players the last few tournaments of the season.

 

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I don't see a whole lot of coaches having the patience to wait for a player to work through this process. While you're practicing with other teams, the team who may be your best choice is filling their roster with kids who will commit.

Mad_Hornet, you are absolutely correct in your assessment. I mispoke. I meant to say try and attend at least two tryouts for each team they have chosen to tryout for so they get a better feel for the coaches and caliber of players the team is trying to recruit.

 

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Thanks, I found it and read through it. It is amazing how helpful this community is!

 

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I have seen a few people suggest contacting the coach ahead of time. I guess I am wondering what to say. I mean I'm sure they don't want/have time to hear from every parent there. What would make them want to hear from me? Wouldn't that be more annoying to them when they are trying to run several tryouts and see way more girls than they have room for? We made a list of the teams we want to try out for and have gone to two tournaments to watch several of them.
I know the tryouts will be packed and just don't want to start off on the wrong foot by emailing/calling them beforehand.

Email is the least intrusive way to contact coaches. If you contact them at least 5 days in advance, they can respond when it is convenient for them and possibly after checking with others that might know your DD.

- Express interest in team with a couple of brief reasons why (e.g. coaching, competitive team, schedule, DD knows players, etc) including references to any games your DD played against them or when you saw them play.

- Ask any question about team you need answered before going to tryout (e.g. Is your schedule going to be similar to last year? Are all your coaches returning). Hold off asking any questions that can be answered at tryout.

- Describe DD in 1-2 sentences - previous team, birthyear, position(s) and batting style (power, slap, high average or high on-base).

There are several options to gauge interest in DD - pick one:
- If they're familiar with DD due to playing against her multiple times, just ask them about her.
- If your DD plays a specific position, ask them about that position.
- Even though "all positions are open", ask what they think are their biggest needs.
- Ask for level of interest in players like your DD.

Provide your phone number in case they want to talk to you.

Keep it brief with just 1-2 questions. Their response, or lack of one, should give you a clue.

 

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Tell your DD to give it all she has, don't be affraid to make a mistake. If you make a mistake, don't dwell on it, correct it with a smile and continued effort.

Just because she has always been told to do something a certain way doesn't mean the coach at the tryout uses the same methods. Take constructive criticism and try it the way the coach asks. They may just be testing to see how coachable you are.

 

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I made an effort to hang out at the late tournaments with the families of teams that we were interested in playing with.
It allowed us to look behind the curtain and see how things were. If things were bad, the bleacher creatures couldn't hide what they thought or did.

Remember that your dd is trying out for a team AND that team is trying out for you. Sometimes its a fit and sometimes it isn't.

Don't hesitate to run from a bad situation.

 

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Email is the least intrusive way to contact coaches. If you contact them at least 5 days in advance, they can respond when it is convenient for them and possibly after checking with others that might know your DD.

- Express interest in team with a couple of brief reasons why (e.g. coaching, competitive team, schedule, DD knows players, etc) including references to any games your DD played against them or when you saw them play.

- Ask any question about team you need answered before going to tryout (e.g. Is your schedule going to be similar to last year? Are all your coaches returning). Hold off asking any questions that can be answered at tryout.

- Describe DD in 1-2 sentences - previous team, birthyear, position(s) and batting style (power, slap, high average or high on-base).

There are several options to gauge interest in DD - pick one:
- If they're familiar with DD due to playing against her multiple times, just ask them about her.
- If your DD plays a specific position, ask them about that position.
- Even though "all positions are open", ask what they think are their biggest needs.
- Ask for level of interest in players like your DD.

Provide your phone number in case they want to talk to you.

Keep it brief with just 1-2 questions. Their response, or lack of one, should give you a clue.

Thanks everyone for the responses. More great advice! Thanks!!

 

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What if your DD has offers to play for a couple of teams, but has not yet tried out for the team she really wants to be on? Do you tell the offering coach to wait? Do you tell the team she wants to be on about the offers? Just curious as to everyone's thoughts on this. Thanks.

 

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What if your DD has offers to play for a couple of teams, but has not yet tried out for the team she really wants to be on? Do you tell the offering coach to wait? Do you tell the team she wants to be on about the offers? Just curious as to everyone's thoughts on this. Thanks.

Very good question, but difficult to answer for some. I guess it boils down to what your chances are of making the team you want. Always be honest with those that offer and tell them your ultimate goal. You may lose your spot, but you will gain respect, which is far more valuable in my opinion. If you have done your homework you will know where you stand before many tryouts begin. Be honest about your abilities, parents take off those rose colored glasses and really evaluate abilities (don't look at others mistakes, look at others positives when evaluating).

Be open, Be honest and enjoy the very few years that this fun lasts.

Doug

 

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If you have done your homework you will know where you stand before many tryouts begin. Be honest about your abilities, parents take off those rose colored glasses and really evaluate abilities (don't look at others mistakes, look at others positives when evaluating).

Be open, Be honest and enjoy the very few years that this fun lasts.

Doug

Amen to that.....

 

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Two things we coaches cannot teach: heart & hustle. When two players have similar skills and abilities, the one who shows more heart and hustle will get the nod.
Period.
Good luck during this stressful time and if it's any consolation, it's equally stressful on us coaches.
Chris Zaker
Ohio Glory '01

 

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Be happy with where you are and don't assume the grass is always greener then no need for tryouts EVERY single year....just saying,the changing landscape seems to be more constant-do we need to change teams every year?

 

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I adhere to KISS principle... Never stressed weather my kids make certain team or not.

 

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There's a lot less stress if you do your homework on teams and they're familiar with your DD before tryouts.

 

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Not sure how you are doing during this process, but I just wanted to give you some info just in case. We were stressing *really* badly after the first couple tryouts. We were under the impression that you would get an offer the day of (or night of) a tryout if the coach was interested. I took something from a post on here a little to literally. Now I know this is not the case at all. So, if you are still going through the process and have not heard yet, it does not mean your daughter is not being considered. All is not lost. Do not let the lack of notice get your daughter down and hurt her confidence. I wish we would have known this before we started. We all would have been a lot less stressed.

 

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Irish ... very true ... some teams do make offers to some players the day of tryouts, but some don't at all ... and even those that do to some players don't do so with all players ... real "studs" are more likely to get same-day offers as you might expect, but in other cases teams may be waiting for subsequent tryouts, or waiting to hear back from the prior year's players, or waiting to talk with other coaches from the organizations who couldn't be there that night, or waiting to hear back from other new players they have already made offers to. It's tricky since these are all going on at about the same time, and stressful for the coaches as well. On the other hand, if you haven't received an offer yet from a team you want to play on, don't put all of your eggs in one basket ... try out for others. I know things worked out well for you guys, and I am sure it will for others still waiting as well ... there's pretty much a team for everyone ...

 

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Good point about the keep trying out! My DD has a friend that was in the same boat as she was but was not open to looking into a lot of teams before tryouts. She hasn't found a match yet but hasn't been turned down yet either.
Granted we are still newbies, but I suggested they keep expanding their list and attending more tryouts until they definitely have something. The multiple egg/multiple basket approach worked for us. In helping them expand their list, I am finding that a lot of teams still have tryouts, have added additional tryouts or are still saying yes to privates. Not sure if that is the way it always is or not, but it looks like there are still options open if they are willing to keep on going.

 

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At 12-U, Above all Look for a Qualified Hitting
instructor in your area that knows Fastpitch softball.
If she starts doing that now, Come next year and beyond she's gonna be an
offensive weapon!!!! Everything else being said is true,

 

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Look at the coach's socks....http://www.thesoftballzone.com/vb3/...ere-cops-eat-dont-play-coach-clean-socks.html