Tryout Selections

[default]

I was wondering how opinions range on something that is done by some organizations.

Player attends a tryout in early August with plans to attend another in mid-August...

First organization makes phone call prior to second tryout with offer to player that is a "need an answer now" type of offer.

I believe that players should have the opportunity to visit as many as possible, in keeping with the thought that they deserve to find the right fit. I think it is fair to both organization and player to establish a date when a decision can be reached while allowing players to explore their options.

 

[default]

If they need an answer now, then that is one I'd probably hold off on playing for. Heck in the business world, you give someone a chance to absorb and process the information for a day or two. Never in my 25 years of work have I ever said "I need to know before you leave this room"......

This isn't something like you're going to the movies type of decision. It is something that is going to affect your whole family for the next year both in time and finances. I know, people will say "well you should have thought of that before trying out" Again, no different than a job. Give em a day or two to absorb the info....

 

[default]

If they need an answer now, then that is one I'd probably hold off on playing for. Heck in the business world, you give someone a chance to absorb and process the information for a day or two. Never in my 25 years of work have I ever said "I need to know before you leave this room"......

This isn't something like you're going to the movies type of decision. It is something that is going to affect your whole family for the next year both in time and finances. I know, people will say "well you should have thought of that before trying out" Again, no different than a job. Give em a day or two to absorb the info....

ditto!

My DD got cut from a team because DH told the coach that we wanted to keep our options open for a couple of days. Meaning that we wanted to think about it. We said that we would call him back within a couple of days. He said OK. Less than 24 hours later, we got a message that the "roster was full, thanks for trying out". DH was livid because he did not tell us to make the decision now or else. This team was on our top 2 that we wanted to play for. Not anymore.....

 

[default]

We've never asked for an answer right away. But we have offered a spot knowing the player plans on attending other organization tryouts. Just letting them know their dd has a spot if she wants it. Sometimes they jump on board right away if they really like the situation and then they forego the other tryouts. Problem with that is, you can get yourself in a tricky situation. If the player you offered the spot to does in fact still want to go to other tryouts over the next 2 weeks, then what do you do with the spot you offered to her? Hold it and not be able to offer it to a player who is as good or better and willing to commit right away? Or not hold it and give it to another player that shows up at the next tryout who is a little better? Neither seem right. Can be tough. But thats the reality of it. Won't always be fair. Teams are under the pressure of filling their roster with teh best players available. and that list gets shorter as each week goes by during the tryout season. Players/parents are under the pressure of trying to find the best fit for their dd but are up against time as teams fill their roster not wanting to take a chance and wait.

 

[default]

I have to slightly disagree...being a coach.

Let's say I'm in the process of putting a team together, and your daughter is at the top of my list of say 3-4 girls. I really want your daughter, but there is no possible way I can leave 2-3 other girls hanging for a week or more while you see if you find a better offer.
It's not a pressure sale, it's just that many factors go into putting a team together, and many decisions need to be made very quickly, or you may be left with nothing.
Lets say you are the #2-4 girl on the list, left wondering, waiting for that phone call. Or better yet, I call #2-4, and tell them that they will have to wait while my #1 choice is still exploring her options. The longer I wait the less likely I will catch anyone on my list. JMHO

 

[default]

I have been holding off posting to any of these threads because, I'm not sure what to think either way. I totally understand the waiting until the end of tryouts to actually pick your players, but I don't understand if the player played for your organization during the season.

I guess I feel like there is a certain loyalty that comes with choosing a team. Even after the season is over that loyalty is still there. However, if you tell these players to come and tryout (which I believe they should for a number of reasons) I think offers should be made to returning players based on their previous performance on the team.

I never expected to have to worry about trying out. I am so totally impressed with the organization that my dd plays with. The coaches are great. They know their stuff and really want to develop the girls they pick. However, we were approached by an equally wonderful organization who also know their stuff and really want to develop the girls they pick. I took my dd to their tryout. She was offered a spot before the tryout and then again after.

My dd knows a lot of the girls on their current roster and some that came to tryout. She struggled with personalities on the current team and as a result spent her summer hanging with girls from other teams and not usually with the girls on her own. It made for a long lonely summer for her. This summer has to be fun because last wasn't as much fun for her as it could have been.

But she has not been offered a spot on the current team yet. They won't do that until after tryouts. I understand, but we are between a rock and hard place here. I'm not concerned even a little that the current team won't take her back, but I feel they aren't showing a whole lot of loyalty to her. IMHO I'm not sure any of this makes sense which is why I refrained from posting for so long.

Off the soap box!! :lmao:

 

[default]

I have been holding off posting to any of these threads because, I'm not sure what to think either way. I totally understand the waiting until the end of tryouts to actually pick your players, but I don't understand if the player played for your organization during the season.

I guess I feel like there is a certain loyalty that comes with choosing a team. Even after the season is over that loyalty is still there. However, if you tell these players to come and tryout (which I believe they should for a number of reasons) I think offers should be made to returning players based on their previous performance on the team.

I never expected to have to worry about trying out. I am so totally impressed with the organization that my dd plays with. The coaches are great. They know their stuff and really want to develop the girls they pick. However, we were approached by an equally wonderful organization who also know their stuff and really want to develop the girls they pick. I took my dd to their tryout. She was offered a spot before the tryout and then again after.

My dd knows a lot of the girls on their current roster and some that came to tryout. She struggled with personalities on the current team and as a result spent her summer hanging with girls from other teams and not usually with the girls on her own. But she has not been offered a spot on the current team yet. They won't do that until after tryouts. I understand, but we are between a rock and hard place here. I'm not concerned even a little that the current team won't take her back, but I feel they aren't showing a whole lot of loyalty to her. IMHO I'm not sure any of this makes sense which is why I refrained from posting for so long.

Off the soap box!! :lmao:

It makes perfect sense....You are the #2-4 girl that I referred to in my post. It's not fair to make girls wait, hoping to find something better, whether your the coach or the player.

 

[default]

I think you have to give them at least a week. "This offer is good today and today only" is just not fair. How can the player and parents make an informed decision if they haven't been to other tryouts. On the flip side, if a player you offer at your tryouts says no that day, but calls you in a week and says they have changed their mind, the coach will probably still take them if they have a spot. So I don't think either side should try to frame the issue in absolutes.

I think you should offer players as soon as you know you want them and players should accept (and stop going to other tryouts) as soon as they know they want to play for you. The player shouldn't be expected to commit that day and the coach shouldn't be expected to hold the offer open indefinitely. Where you meet in the middle is going to be different in each case. The key is continuing communication. If you offer a player and they ask for time, ask whose tryouts they still want to go to or if they are done going to other tryouts and are in an evaluation process, etc. Then go from there. As a coach, you obviously do need an answer at some point and if you need it the day of your tryouts, then that's when you need it. I just don't think it is fair to the player or parents and could actually cost you to lose your number one choice. You may have gotten that player later if you were willing to wait for them to go to some other tryouts. JMHO

Of course, I'm one of those idiots that thinks if a player was good enough to play for you this year and did everything you asked of them, they should be considered good enough to play for you next year and not left waiting while the coach decides if the player played well enough this year to attract better talent to tryouts to take her place next year.

 

[default]

What I would like coaches to understand is that these choices are very hard choices for a 12/13/14/15 year old to make.

My dd doesn't want to dissappoint either team. In the end she has to do what is best for her. So with guidance from me the actual decision is hers to make. She is in a real struggle right now to make the right choice for her. I can only offer the pros and cons to both decisions. My dd will be 13 in a couple weeks, so this is really hard for her!

Coaches.... just give them time to come to grips with the hard decisions they face!

 

[default]

Some really good posts in response to my original...

I think that if an offer is legit and offer is immediately accepted then it's all good...spot filled. If player/parent requests some time to make decision then in fairness to this player/family time should be granted. Flip side...in fairness to organization a "deadline" of sorts should be established. Waiting beyond the agreed deadline puts a greater risk on the player finding a team since coaches are intent on setting their new roster.

On another note, if a particular player is a huge difference maker and decides well after the agreed time when a coach has made his new roster final...I personally would never add to my roster number just to get that player. It would pain me to pass, but the girls that have already been selected deserve that consideration.

I think many coaches create their own problems by doing otherwise.

 

[default]

I would imagine most girls have a preferred team they really want to play for while also attending tryouts for other teams; just in case the preferred team does not make the offer. We went to tryouts before going to the one held by my dd's preferred team and planned on attending more after if no offer was made. Thankfully, the team she really wanted to play for did offer her a spot and we get this next weekend for our big family vacation (Woo Hoo!). We haven't gone anywhere not softball related, during the summer in 6 years! Go to LOTS of tryouts! Can't wait to see where everyone lands after tryouts are over!

 

[default]

Is this an anomaly with players switching teams like this? DD just finished first year of travel...loved the competition..loved her teammates...loved the coaches...blah blah blah. She didn't try out for any other teams and is really happy where she's at.

Could this also be the result of teams folding/forming with so many players trying out? Or, is it natural/normal for a player to test the waters.

 

[default]

If a player is one of the best on her team she may be considering moving "up" to a team that perhaps plays tougher tournaments or has more of a winning reputation. And if a player is one of the weaker on the team she may be trying out elsewhere "just in case" she isn't offered a position on her current team. Gotta watch your back! Not every coach is going to offer a spot to all players who are currently on his/her team...that is just reality. Then, of course, there is the "chemistry" issue that sometimes comes into play! That's another subject!!