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

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Slide, Slide, Slide if need be while base running. Unless your some freak pitcher or catcher you better slide or you won't play for me.

A tryout is as much about the parent as it is about the player. I want to see and talk to them almost as much as the girls.

ROB

 

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As far as apparel, I don't care what shirt they wear or if it's cut up, it means nothing to me and I wouldn't even take it into consideration. I do like when they wear pants though, I like to see them slide.

Come on time and hustle from the time you step on the field until the time you get in your car. The girls who hustle always stick out in my mind, give 100% the entire time. Nothing worse than girls who are lazy or argue with you.

Don't goof off in the lines, pay attention and do whatever is asked of you. Do NOT look at your parents after every move and NEVER roll your eyes!!

Parents - ASK as may questions as you can about the team, organization, coaches, and other parents. DO NOT spend the entire tryout telling everyone how great your dd is and giving them the low down on her stats. Chat, watch and absorb!!

Spartansd - I have to say, I like when the parents come and ask me questions, I always tell parents to ask questions. If they can't approach you at tryouts, that sends out a red flag that you aren't willing to answer questions and may be unapproachable during the season. They want to make an educated decision and if they aren't permitted to approach or talk to you at tryouts when do they get the info?

I knew I should have prefaced that.

My wife will talk to any parent for as long as they want. Especially if the DD appears talented but also to find out what the parent is like and what questions they ask will tell you alot about what they are about.

The problem comes in when there are a bunch of girls and one parent wants to start selling you on their daughter or asking a bunch of mundane questions. That is a red flag of needy parent. She had one parent pull out a score book and show her how her DD did against my wife's team.........that is a bit crazy in my book.........and screams parental issues down the line.


BUT even my wife would over look clothes/make up/attitude if the girl was the most talented one there. She would really convince herself she could "change that attitude". I think where I was talking is the borderline kids. They are the ones who will benefit from having all their ducks in a row.

My wife favors attitude and work ethic over most anything. If you are borderline but are a hard worker she knows you will become a player. It is the ones that are lazy that she wants to stay away from.

 

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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

The fact is few "STUDS" show up dressed all whacky. The best palyers tend to be serious and want to look the part. So we are really talking about an imaginary player.

We are more or less talking about the girl coming out of rec or LL who wants to get more serious. And as a coach you are trying to figure out if they are going to be able to make the transition.

 

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Didn't see many in so-called "cut up Ts" at the NFCA recruiting camp, stud or not. Only saw a couple in shorts that wasn't their uniform. Why ? Maybe because they wanted to look like they belonged there to the coaches and recruiters. So you wouldn't give your potential TB coach the same impression or respect ?

 

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Maybe it's a northern thing with the cut up t shirt. I see probably 60 girls a week at high school basketball summer league and probably 90% wear cut up t shirts.....

 

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Half the girls on our team where the cut t's to practice. I personally don't get the concern over what they wear. Why things like t-shirts and make-up are such a big deal is baffling. Some of the hardest workers at our practice wear cut t's. I think the t's make them look like they are ready to work, ready to sweat. I'd be more concerned about effort than garments. My DD doesn't like them, too baggy. Thinks they interfere with her motions. I'd be surprised if a college level coach or scout, one serious about winning games, looked at clothing as a big concern in the scheme of things.

 

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Half the girls on our team where the cut t's to practice.....

The thread was about tryouts, not practice.

 

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Slide, Slide, Slide if need be while base running. Unless your some freak pitcher or catcher you better slide or you won't play for me.

A tryout is as much about the parent as it is about the player. I want to see and talk to them almost as much as the girls.

ROB

Rob,cant wait to tell Carly you called her a freak!
Randy
Go VALLEY STORM

 

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Make sure you are well rested and have eaten properly before a tryout!!

First impressions are very important. When at a tryout make sure you look like a player. Listen intently to the coaches running the tryout. Never tell the coaches "I can't..." or "I don't..." or "I never...". Do not clown around at a tryout. Hustle to the station or the place on the field you need to be. Be supportive to the other players trying out. Stay relaxed and focused; do not tense up and try to over-do things. If you make a mistake, and chances are you will, do not let it get to you. Maintain focus and do it correctly the next time. Make sure you bring everything you need to the tryout. Bring plenty of fluids. Slide, dive, jump.....do whatever you need to do to try to make a play. Never, and I mean never walk on the field. Always jog to your destination. Most importantly, go to the tryout knowing it will be a good experience.

Parents.....be supportive of your child. Do not cringe or yell out if they make a mistake. If your child keeps looking at you, get out of their sight....they need to focus on the field. This is a big red flag for me. If they're looking at you at the tryout, chances are that happens in games as well. If you need to ask a question that was not covered either by a coach or informational sheets, by all means ask! Many teams have Q&A's before, during, or after the tryout. As a matter of fact, have a list ready in advance of all your questions and concerns.

Len

 

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I agree with Valley Storm here. While there are so many things to consider, I believe seeing a kid slide can tell a lot about the offensive ability of a player. If a recruit can slide well, the odds are they run bases well. If they run the bases well, the odds favor the recruit has done this a lot. Whether it is at Rec level or at travel ball, this recruit must have a knack for getting on board and had to hone their skills to run the bases and slide.

Running and sliding is such a simple thing yet many girls struggle. It depends on the age group but all 14u and up should be able to run the bases and slide like it came natural. Second year 12u should have these skills as well.

It is a pet peeve of mine to have girls show up for of all things a tryout and not have a sliding pad and/or long pants on. Why not wave a flag screaming "I never get on base so I don't need to do it" because that's going to be my first thought.

FYI, I don't care what clothes they wear because I don't believe that clothes make the woman. I seldom worry about attire at practice as long as it's not revealing. Game days we should look the part the entire day but I give the kids a break during the week. However; I draw the line if they are wearing any part of their uniform inappropriately or hobo it up just because.

 

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The thread was about tryouts, not practice.

The thread police are here! lol (self proclaimed)

I will connect the dots for you. Subject of cut t's and make up at try outs came up. (read back) I discussed cut t's. See the connection. I made a statement about seeing cut t's at our practice. With me? Just a statement. I continued to say I didn't see the concern over them. I didn't spell it out but I didn't limit that to practice. For you I will spell it out. I personally don't get the concern over what they wear AT TRY-OUTS. Hope that helps. LOL

Here it is again:

Half the girls on our team where the cut t's to practice. I personally don't get the concern over what they wear. Why things like t-shirts and make-up are such a big deal is baffling. Some of the hardest workers at our practice wear cut t's. I think the t's make them look like they are ready to work, ready to sweat. I'd be more concerned about effort than garments. My DD doesn't like them, too baggy. Thinks they interfere with her motions. I'd be surprised if a college level coach or scout, one serious about winning games, looked at clothing as a big concern in the scheme of things.

 

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DO
- Hustle
- Listen
- Dive for the ball if needed
- Talk and encourage others
- Be on-time
- Be prepared to play
- Be honest

DONT
- look at mom and dad
- talk to mom and dad
- make excuses

 

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DO
- Hustle
- Listen
- Dive for the ball if needed
- Talk and encourage others
- Be on-time
- Be prepared to play
- Be honest

DONT
- look at mom and dad
- talk to mom and dad
- make excuses

I'll say ditto on this list and add "no attitude" or show me your inability to listen and that's all I need. Eye rollers are goners for sure And don't claim to be a pitcher and miss 50% of whatever you say you can throw. If you think tryouts is pressure wait till you have a championship game for us on the line. I absolutely love a girl that smiles and laughs when appropriate. Be mature and no whining. Automatic good bye on the evaluation form.

 

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The thread police are here! lol (self proclaimed)

Now that is just funny:lmao:.

Dang I applied for the police job, but was wearing the wrong outfit.;&

 

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A parent should NEVER leave a tryout. They belong there just as much as the player. They should be sitting close to the field soaking up everything the coaches do, and how they interact with the kids. They should never embarrass their daughter by yelling or making ANY comments regarding the tryout/evaluations taking place. They should present themselves like a professional scout - silent, no emotion - poker face.

Unless it is suggestively inappropriate - what does clothing, make-up, tatoos, or whatever have to do with evaluating an athlete's ability? What if she's brunette and you require blondes? After she's on your team, you can certainly tell her what the dress code is, but not before. Not that I agree with the "styles" - and I certainly had strict rules for my own kids - I would NEVER overlook a kid because of her clothing. One of the best middle infielders on my DD's travel team showed up to tryouts in cutoffs!!

After 15 minutes of watching them perform, a good coach can tell if they are a gamer or not - even the ones with pink sunglasses.

 

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I have to say, I wear the cut T's all the time when I play ball. They are loose and allow me to move and they are nice and cool. I think the girls that wear the cut t's look tough, mean, and ready to play. I hope all the crazy, cut-shirt wearing, pink sunglasses wearing, make up wearing, bad a$$es get booted out of your tryouts and come to mine, I'll take them ALL!!!! :lmao: :yahoo: :lmao:

 

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NO make up? If thats the case, you would of passed on the likes of Jenny Finch. Doesnt matter at all to me, like others have said, first on the field, first one to the drills, HUSTLE!!! Do not hang your head when you kick a ball. Its not what you just did, you cant change that, its what your going to do!!

Respect the game and others, pick the girl up who is having an awful try out or a girl who is just out classed all together. Pay attention.

 

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Great post and some very good replies. My 2 cents worth, when we have 40-50 girls at a try out and the coaches are discussing them afterwards for selection time. It has often helped us to refer to what the girl is wearing. We will sometimes say the girl with the neon green shirt or the under armour shirt. I like when the girl wears something that makes her stand out from the rest. All the numbers and head shots we use have not taken the place of referring to what she was wearing if it stood out.

I am not talking about wearing your Halloween costume, but a sports shirt that is different or a team shirt does help us when trying to figure out who was who.

 

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I have to say, I wear the cut T's all the time when I play ball. They are loose and allow me to move and they are nice and cool. I think the girls that wear the cut t's look tough, mean, and ready to play. I hope all the crazy, cut-shirt wearing, pink sunglasses wearing, make up wearing, bad a$$es get booted out of your tryouts and come to mine, I'll take them ALL!!!! :lmao: :yahoo: :lmao:

Couldn't agree more!! LOVE IT!

 

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I must say, my biggest pet peeve is a girl showing up with a pink batting helmet. Add in a matching bat and batting gloves and I get nauseous. Usually on the 10u level mind you. But still...