Tryout Do's and Don'ts - How to Impress the Coach

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What does wearing shorts or pants or what is printed on your t-shirt have to do with a try out ?

I wouldnt judge a kid by what they wore or the style they wore. What your asking is for kids to not wear what every kid does.....

OK, fine. Let her wear the shorts with Aeropostale across the rear end and the Justin Bieber t-shirt and see how seriously they take her.

"every kid does"??? I think not.

Appearance matters. It certainly does not replace skill or ability, but why should a coach take a kid seriously when that kid doesn't care enough to present herself well?

 

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OK, fine. Let her wear the shorts with Aeropostale across the rear end and the Justin Bieber t-shirt and see how seriously they take her.

"every kid does"??? I think not.

Appearance matters. It certainly does not replace skill or ability, but why should a coach take a kid seriously when that kid doesn't care enough to present herself well?

You never know, Justin could be her good luck charm :lmao:

If the girl in that outfit shows her stuff on the field, I don't care. She will probably have a nickname the rest of the season ;& but that's it. At games she will be wearing a uniform-so really what do I care about clothes for try-outs.

I am not the fashion police and what gives me the right to say someone is not presenting themselves well...they may be saying the same thing about what I am wearing. How they hit, field, communicate, and there overall determintation is the only "presenting herself well" that I care about.

I do eventually want them to wear pants or a slider if wearing shorts for practice, but that is a conversation that I will have with the parent after the try-outs. JMHO

 

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Parents don't have to sit in the car, just sit far off to the side, walk around away from field and you can still see them play, watch and don't say anything. Just enjoy the opportunity for them. Let them carry their own bag too....

Actually, just drop the kids off and go shop at Kroger for a couple hours then come back....

 

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You never know, Justin could be her good luck charm :lmao:

If the girl in that outfit shows her stuff on the field, I don't care. She will probably have a nickname the rest of the season ;& but that's it. At games she will be wearing a uniform-so really what do I care about clothes for try-outs.

I am not the fashion police and what gives me the right to say someone is not presenting themselves well...they may be saying the same thing about what I am wearing. How they hit, field, communicate, and there overall determintation is the only "presenting herself well" that I care about.

I do eventually want them to wear pants or a slider if wearing shorts for practice, but that is a conversation that I will have with the parent after the try-outs. JMHO

Init,

I would have to disagree. I look at tryouts as a interview for a job. If I am going to interview for a office position, I certainly would not go in with shorts, t-shirt, and flip flops. (no comments please , Les ). Knowing that I had a suit in the closet at home. A player should come dressed to make the best impression for what they are interviewing for, playing ball.

JMHO

 

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Actually, just drop the kids off and go shop at Kroger for a couple hours then come back....

I would totally have to diagree about parents not being around during tryouts. What you have to remember is that the team/org is trying out for players just as much as the player is trying out for the team. Parents are trying to make the best decision for their child so they need as much info on us as we do their child's ability, attitude, etc.......

Also, If the player continues to look at the parent or the parent is yelling at them during tryouts - I want to know this because it make my decision easier. I would hate to take a player at tryouts where the parent sat in the car come to find out that they are the type I exactly don't want. Red flags are good - it let's you move on quickly & put your attention elsewhere - just my thought.

 

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I really don't get the what they wear and make up thing at a try out. Judge them on their talent, attitude, effort and parents but to pass on a girl that is good in all those categories just because you don't like the shirt they wear seems ridiculous. If you want them, then tell them you have a dress code that doesn't allow certain wear or make up and then see if that is agreeable to both. But do it up front, don't take a girl then impose a bunch of goofy rules down the line after they committed.

I think Klump has it right.

I'll second that.....

 

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always always hustle, always always have a good attitude, be respectful to everyone , be coachable,, and dont look at your parents when they are barking...... as for parents ,,,,just shutup, i know coaches that will not take a girl because there mom or dad is opening there mouth at tryouts no matter what

 

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Two words........"GET DIRTY".

 

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Now Being fair here... The parent needs to be around to be able to see the coaches too. "See but don't say" is key because the girls are going to be so excited that they won't notice how good or bad the coach might be.... It is a two way street

 

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Now Being fair here... The parent needs to be around to be able to see the coaches too. "See but don't say" is key because the girls are going to be so excited that they won't notice how good or bad the coach might be.... It is a two way street

Also, parents of returning players or coaches spouses may be mingling with the new parents to get a feel for them as the coaches are getting a feel for the kids, so be respectful and be careful because you may not know who we are.....

 

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I think the suggestions for the parents to go away or just sit in the car are crazy. For me, tryouts go both ways. As parents we're putting a lot of trust in these coaches, and I think it's our obligation to get a feel for how they conduct themselves, how organized they are, etc. And it's important to evaluate the players and even the other parents.

 

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Players
1. Be early- if your on time your late
2 .Be respectful, please and thank you are still in style
3. Pay attenetion- no talking in lines- coaches do not have time to explain over and over
4. Hustle, on the field, to every station, off the field
5. Be positive- if you make a mistake don't pout or cry, or have bad body language
6. Work hard- go all out- this may be your only chance to impress the coach
7. Talk to the other girls before and after try out- find a good fit

Parents
1. Be supportive- encourage your dd
2. Be positive- no negative comments about other teams or organization
3. Ask questions after try outs- be informed to make a solid decision
4. Do your homework ahead of time about the coach and the organization
5. Be prepared to commit when offered a roster spot-

Good luck to all at try outs, and may you all find a good fit. Every team has different needs, just because you think your a shortstop, Pitcher, or catcher does'nt mean that team needs a shortstop, pitcher or catcher. Do your homework

 

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I agree hustle and go all out. You have a small amount of time to make an impression on the coach. I like to try to talk to the kids and see how they communicate. I also look for kids who can take coaching well.

As for parents just relax and enjoy the tryout. The girls are already in a very pressure situation and they don't need to see your negative reaction to something they haven't done well or hear you coaching (aka yelling) at them from your lawn chair.

A couple years ago I had a Dad white knuckled on the back stop fence yelling the whole time at his daughter. I passed on her because I was afraid to have to deal with the guy all season. I later got to know the dad over the summer competing against the team who picked her up. He was a great guy who was just so amped up for his daughter to do well his emotions got away from him.

 

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Be flexible...I love to take players out of their element (put an outfielder at second or a first baselady at third or pitcher in the outfield). How does the player react? Do they go willingly and openly or sigh, grunt or roll their eyes? Don't tell the coach you only play one position.

A player out of their element shows their understanding of game play and can create mistakes. I can see talent early in the tryout...I want to see the girls challenged. That's how you find the true gamers.

 

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Init,

I would have to disagree. I look at tryouts as a interview for a job. If I am going to interview for a office position, I certainly would not go in with shorts, t-shirt, and flip flops. (no comments please , Les ). Knowing that I had a suit in the closet at home. A player should come dressed to make the best impression for what they are interviewing for, playing ball.

JMHO

Totally agree. As someone who interviews many young people for professional jobs, you are doing them a good service as a coach to start teaching the concept of presentability.

No matter what anyone says, in the real world it makes a difference. And despite what many might think, softball is in many ways just life training. So very few will make a career or even get help toward college because of it.

 

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I would totally have to diagree about parents not being around during tryouts. What you have to remember is that the team/org is trying out for players just as much as the player is trying out for the team. Parents are trying to make the best decision for their child so they need as much info on us as we do their child's ability, attitude, etc.......

Also, If the player continues to look at the parent or the parent is yelling at them during tryouts - I want to know this because it make my decision easier. I would hate to take a player at tryouts where the parent sat in the car come to find out that they are the type I exactly don't want. Red flags are good - it let's you move on quickly & put your attention elsewhere - just my thought.

Get out of the car and watch every minute of the tryout. I know I looked for the following-
Is the tryout organized?
Do the coaches know what the heck thery're doing?
How do the coaches interact with the kid?
Does my DD have the skills and desire to play where she's trying out?

If your in the car or down the street, then how are you going to know if you want to trust your kid with the coaches/organ?

 

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LOL, what a bunch of bull$#@& Im sure all of you will pass on the flame throwing stud because she has on a cut up tee.....

While im not condoning anything radical, Im looking at softball ability, nothing more, not how theyre dressed. The dress code comes AFTER theyre on the team.

 

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Get out of the car and watch every minute of the tryout. I know I looked for the following-
Is the tryout organized?
Do the coaches know what the heck thery're doing?
How do the coaches interact with the kid?
Does my DD have the skills and desire to play where she's trying out?

If your in the car or down the street, then how are you going to know if you want to trust your kid with the coaches/organ?

And you joined Kavin's Static team anyway?? LOL

JK Kavin. Mandy and I will be watching one of your games Friday and one or two Saturday.

 

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And you joined Kavin's Static team anyway?? LOL

JK Kavin. Mandy and I will be watching one of your games Friday and one or two Saturday.

I knew that I opened myself up for that one- Yes, in spite of Kavin

 

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LOL, what a bunch of bull$#@& Im sure all of you will pass on the flame throwing stud because she has on a cut up tee.....

While im not condoning anything radical, Im looking at softball ability, nothing more, not how theyre dressed. The dress code comes AFTER theyre on the team.

I completely, 100% agree with you. That was my point in my previous post. I will discuss afterwards what I expect at practice. Just for safety. pants or sliders. I would love to go to the dress code try-outs that have been disagreeing with me. I want to see the stud at try-outs doing everything correct (what we look for), but get turned down because they didn't fit the image that was in a coaches head of what to wear. Don't think that would happen...Just saying