Try-outs?

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I can honestly say that every girl on my team has the chance to return next year. Weather it be for the 12U or the 14U. Maybe thats the difference in our organization and everyone else. We're not in it just to "Win" I'm trying to coach these ladies and develope their skills. I'm not going to remove a player because she is struggeling. All these girls were on this team for a reason, to develope their skills. If they don't earn their spots, they WON"T play in that spot.

IMHO--It is easy to go out and win tournament after tournament with the best players. but,If you had nothing to do with getting those players to that level then what have you done as a coach? Call a couple signs, Arrange a batting order? If you win a couple of tournaments with average girls that you helped develope....well then you tell me what the reward is......

 

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This is a little off topic, but since I'm fairly new to travel softball, I've been wondering what you do if your daughter is planning on trying out for multiple teams then tries out for one team and is offered a spot before other teams' tryouts? How long do coaches typically take to notify players of they made the team or not?

 

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This is a little off topic, but since I'm fairly new to travel softball, I've been wondering what you do if your daughter is planning on trying out for multiple teams then tries out for one team and is offered a spot before other teams' tryouts? ?How long do coaches typically take to notify players of they made the team or not?

Depends on the organization. Some have tryouts on multiple weekends and one would probably have to wait after the tryouts are concluded. Could be 10 days or more if you went to the first tryout.

We are having one tryout and my goal is to inform everyone if they are being offered a spot or not within 48hrs of the tryouts.

 

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So would the correct thing to do is to tell them we need some time or even that she's trying out for another team if she's offered a spot on the first team she tries out for. Are coaches usually willing to hold the spot? My daughter will be planning on attending a tryout on Aug. 11 and another team's tryout is is late as Aug. 26.

 

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Honesty and communication is always the best approach. Some coaches may hold the offer open and some may offer to the next girl on the list. Holding an offer open does post a risk of not filling that position.

 

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We look for athletes that want to commit. The first year is the comittment. If we ask them back after a year, they are in for life. We look for players who are willing to learn - not show us what they know. At 16 and 18 especially we take pride in teaching a program and a type of teamwork, that works.

as far as trying out for multiple teams... The game of tryouts is on from mid July to late August. You have every right to tryout for as many teams as you want. I wouldn't let a team make you commit before trying out for every team you want. I would expect an offer or a decline from a coach within a couple days of the tryout. I think its ok to tell a coach you still have a couple places you want to tryout.

you also need to realize that they may chose to move on, rather than wait for your reply. I think most coaches are more worried about finding quality players to help the ones that they have committed to already.

what you cannot do is tell someone you will play for them - then go to another tryout and take their offer.

 

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As Jonnies said before, I also believe honesty and communication is the most important thing. I am honest with everything player/parents that we have and I expect that in return.
If the coaches really wants whats best for the girls and not only his team then he/she won't mind then attending other tryouts. JMO

 

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Well said, sideliner! DD doesn't want to attend tryouts of a team that she wouldn't consider accepting an offer from. It seems like a waste of time on both the player & coaches part. I made a list of times & dates for the tryouts I thought she would be interested in. She has already narrowed the list down by 50%.

 

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From my experience, I would say that there is a good chance that if you try out on August 11 and on August 26 that the coach you tried out for on August 11 is not going to want to wait until after August 26 for an answer. By then, a lot of the players will have commited to a team, and there will not be any left to choose from if you decline his offer.

I would suggest that you contact the coach from August 26 to see if he/she will allow you to have an earlier private tryout. It still may not work out. Unfortunately there is not a good answer that is fair to the coach and to the player--you may have to make a decision and live with it.

 

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To add a little more into this topic, what happens if the player is on a team currently that has almost "made it" in the expectation department of what was indicated at last year's tryouts, but still needs tweeking; it isn't quite the level of play that was expected but the organization is good. Is it smarter to deal with what you don't like and good level of play versus taking a chance on another team that may/may not be close to what you had, given the importance of gaining true college exposure at this time? Let the player continue at a current level rather than push the player to excel beyong the current limits? As in any organization, the grass is always greener..........

 

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[quote author=David_Beckham link=1185729028/25#25 date=1185892884]We look for athletes that want to commit. The first year is the comittment. If we ask them back after a year, they are in for life. ? ?We look for players who are willing to learn - not show us what they know. ?At 16 and 18 especially we take pride in teaching a program and a type of teamwork, that works.

Dave, Great stuff.....There's a good reason why the Classics had so much success this year. More organizations out there should look into your approach.

 

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Do most coaches who are interested in a girl say something at tryouts? We are attending other tryouts because our team has everyone tryout again. If we don't expand our horizons and look as much as possible she could end up with no team at all so we plan to attend all the tryouts we are interested in starting this weekend.

 

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We have all of our players tryout every year, and sometimes a player or two will not make it the following year. ?This usually only happens when they have to move-up to the next age level. ?If you do not have to move-up, have a candid conversation with your coach. ?She/he should be able to give you some insight. ?Also, be honest with yourself about your DD skillset, does she measure-up to the rest of the team or is she a standout. ?This is probably one of the hardest things to do as a parent. ?Still there is no way of knowing what kind of talent will show up at tryouts, it is always best to have other options just in case.

I have asked my coaches to make offers at tryouts if they see a dominant player, but not all potential players may get an offer that day. ?When you hold tryouts across two weekends it is difficult to make any selections until you see all the talent.

 

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What to do
If your coaches are having all the girls on the team tryout, and not just attend tryouts to help, then you are certainly taking the right approach. They have given you no guarantee of a spot on the team the following year. They have also released you from making a commitment to return until after tryouts, even if you are happy, you might find a situation you like better. For those players on teams that ask them to return, keep in mind that you are only being offered a spot on the team. Even if your DD started every game at shortstop and the coach is not actively looking for that position if a real stud shows up at tryouts, and they can be enticed to join the team what coach is going to walk away?

 

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I am in the same boat with my dd. Our team is requiring the girls to tryout again. I wasn't sure how things worked so I just asked the coach and he was upfront with me and that helped us to know what we should do. Since there is a possiblity of not being picked again (she is not a strong player-she was a 1st year player-but she did progress quite a bit) we are looking into setting up some private tryouts since we will be on vacation and miss most scheduled dates. I don't understand when people expect to automatically be given your position-not spot on the team-actual position. Ok so since this is where we stand how many days is it generally safe to think over an offer? I imagine that is just something we will need to ask if the situtation requires it. Hopefully all goes well and she gets to stay where she is at and we don't have to worry about all of that.

 

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DogsDad: As I know you know, there are some teams that will walk away from a great shortstop or pitcher or catcher or whatever. For the tryouts for my particular Heat team this weekend, if you are not an outfielder, there is no point in trying out. You could be Cat Hosfield in the circle and I'm not taking you.

 

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As coaches we all know the whole tryout process is very demanding. I struggle with finally finding the player that you know can really help your team and then reality sets in: The player will be attending other tryouts 1 and 2 weeks down the road and now you are forced with a bigger challenge. You have offered the player a position on the team but......... Do you hold on to the thought that you can possibly land this player and leave a position open? or Take the first 12/13 that say yes?
I would say this situation becomes even more difficult when the player you are trying to get is a pitcher or a catcher.

T

 

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My 12U girls that are returning for next year are required to be at tryouts. I have 5 girls returning on this team. I have told all of them they already have a spot on the team next year if they want it.....But they do have to attend tryouts and earn their spots. If someone better comes along that playes their postion, then they better step it up a notch or swith positions. I have told them, "the best player with play" regardless who they played for last year.

Chris Cain
Sudden Death Softball

 

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I agree with luvthegame, if you are planning on attending tryouts the are spread out then contact the coach of the latest tryout team and set up a private tryout, as far as that goes you could contact both teams and set something up with in a couple of days of each other. As for our teams we do sometimes offer positions on the spot but but we usually wait to look over all the evaluation sheets

 

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Some good posts. For those parents new to traveling ball this is the time of the year they are confused. I agree with Joe A. Most of us know what we need and who are good coaches to play for. If I get someone trying out for a spot that they won't play for me I will send them to a good team or at least recommend them to someone. You can learn a bunch about teams just by watching them post. If they have posted for Player Needs a Team with no regard to what they need, then what happens when four catchers show up for try-outs. Like Joe stated he only needs outfielders for one team.. I think you do your team harm if you add girls that can't play the position they want to play or you don't need that position. When I get calls and e mails I don't have them all come to try-outs. You can have too many pitchers!!!!! and some upset parents.