let's hear from the coaches

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Someone asked what top 3 things parents and kids look for in a team. What are the top 3 things coaches look for in prospective players? When going to try outs what should the parent work on with their child? List in order of importance.

 

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Guess I should have added that my DD is at a 10u level...I suppose what you are looking for my be different at different ages.

 

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For 10u:

1) Coachability - kid listens, does what we teach, and parents don't try to interfere with what we are teaching!

2) Desire - kid puts in effort, shows how important it is to them to become a better player. At 10u, if they want it bad enough they can get there! This also affords that they will work outside of your practices, some 10u's dont understand the difference of how much work TB vs REC is... (give me a kid who dives for a ball, takes a bruise and shakes it off in tryout drying her eyes so you don't see her cry...)

3) Physical skills - do they have 'enough' physical skills to compete with the team / level your team wants to play? If they are coachable, and want to be coached, then the physical skills will take them to whatever level that you can teach!

 

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1) Attitude
2) Desire
3) Skill

As far as attitude goes I like a kid who has that "never say die" attitude.

Desire, a girl who wants to win, who wants to play hard, who gives that 100% every time, win lose or draw.

Skill is pretty self explanatory, she needs to understand the game and know how to play it.

 

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All these in any order because all are equally important.

Talent
Effort and desire
Coachablility
Commitment
Good parents

And work on hitting......EVERY coach loves a good hitter.

 

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1. Hussle ( Idon't care how talented a kid is if shes lazy )
2. Attitude ( I believe a good attitude goes hand and hand with coachability )
3. comfortable ( does she look comfortable on the field and at the plate )

 

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1.effort

2.toughness

3.desire

 

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All these in any order because all are equally important.

Talent
Effort and desire
Coachablility
Commitment
Good parents

And work on hitting......EVERY coach loves a good hitter.

Good Parents might be the one thing that you don't account for enough. Kids are a reflection of their parents. The kids I have loved to coach the most are the ones who have the best parents.

 

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1. Coachability. 2. Speed. 3. Determination/work ethic

 

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Will get dirty on first ball close to needing a dive....this covers about ten areas or more....speed and hitting ability. I'd then quiz the parents as to their work ethic for all sports and school work habits/grades. I'll learn about the parents in parallel to learning about their player. This is a plus because my efficiency in quizzing is lean and direct.

 

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Will get dirty on first ball close to needing a dive....this covers about ten areas or more....speed and hitting ability. I'd then quiz the parents as to their work ethic for all sports and school work habits/grades. I'll learn about the parents in parallel to learning about their player. This is a plus because my efficiency in quizzing is lean and direct.

What is considered a good parent?

 

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What is considered a good parent?

No science for sure. In short, one like already on our team. I like to see if they make excuses or can see reality. One that helps their kid vs push and complain. Prefer one that is easy to talk with. All of this has flaws and I'm sure every coaching staff has their filter criteria. I've had a straight jacket parent before...got thru it but wasn't fun. Trying to avoid that.

 

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1) Fits my preferred style of play
2) Committment
3) Good parents

 

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I have had experience with "good parents" If parents are unrealistic about their dd, you will have a hard time coaching her. Good parents let you coach and reinforce what you are doing with your team. Unrealistic parents have an excuse for every mistake, talk too much and make their kid uncoachable. There are a lot of good parents out there, be picky!

 

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No science for sure. In short, one like already on our team. I like to see if they make excuses or can see reality. One that helps their kid vs push and complain. Prefer one that is easy to talk with. All of this has flaws and I'm sure every coaching staff has their filter criteria. I've had a straight jacket parent before...got thru it but wasn't fun. Trying to avoid that.

Haven't we all?! Makes you want to tryout the parents before the players...

 

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What is considered a good parent?

One that doesn't attend practice or games.

HAHA! Just kidding. Maybe.

I would be a poor parent, probably already am. I've either coached or helped on a team for years and it would be difficult for me to undo the habit. When my son played high school I had to focus on it. He's done now and when my daughter goes into school ball I'll have to do it again.

 

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I coached rec ball this year out of pure necessity. It gave me a HUGE perspective on what coaches go through. I would like to believe I would be the quietest parent EVER, unless you needed me to get you coffee or a snack lol....in which, I would jump to do so....being a coach is tough when parents are talking **** on the sidelines, complaining about where you put their superstar that can't catch or field a ball, whining about batting order and on and on. I like to believe I have a good little softball player on my hands that is very coachable but I am not naive enough to believe she is the best out there....we just keep working on her skills and her attitude and hope that someone sees something promising in her

 

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As most teams have 2 dates for tryouts, does it help for the girls to show up to both? Some say just go to one or the other and some say going to both shows your dedication...

 

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As most teams have 2 dates for tryouts, does it help for the girls to show up to both? Some say just go to one or the other and some say going to both shows your dedication...

If they really want your kid, you will no before you leave parking lot or that evening....
If your kid is average, and has an average tryout, go back and try again

But I suggest contacting coach ahead of time to see what their needs are

 

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It is easier to define what is not a good parent to a team. Perm Adanas or a parent take knows more than the coach, that will sit on the side lines and derail everything that is being put into place. One of my most hated lines is "I don't care what the coach calls if he calls for a bunt you are a power hitter take it over the outfielders heads" I use to hear it all the time in rec and early select, or "the coach don't know how to play the game". (Which in some cases of rec ball or high school or even some select teams may be true, but you choose the team as much at they choose you, and if you didn't volunteer to be a coach then it is your own decision). And my advise to that parent is sit down, shut up, and watch the game OR leave. The other type of bad parent that is the one that is continuously negative on the girl I like to tell parents up front that I correct the girls and make the disciplenary actions happen for bad play, and their job is to boost the moral and confidence after the game they should be continuously positive no matter what the results are.