tryout- who do you cut part 2

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Along the same lines as this thread: http://www.thesoftballzone.com/vb3/general-softball/53196-who-do-you-cut-2.html#post467035

Here is a question that was posed to me the other day and i'm not sure how to answer it.

If you (or your daughter) asks the Coach (at the conclusion of the season) if they have a spot on the team for next year and the Coach replies by saying : "I can't give you an answer until after tryouts" - is it safe to say that the coach is looking to upgrade your position?

What would you do in this position? I would think that if the Coach really wanted to keep you, he would say you are invited back. I would also say that the kids on a team are placed in 3 groups: (1) invited back- no need to try out; (2) I can't give you an answer until after tryouts (looking to upgrade) OR (3) not invite back.

thoughts?

 

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Along the same lines as this thread: http://www.thesoftballzone.com/vb3/general-softball/53196-who-do-you-cut-2.html#post467035

Here is a question that was posed to me the other day and i'm not sure how to answer it.

If you (or your daughter) asks the Coach (at the conclusion of the season) if they have a spot on the team for next year and the Coach replies by saying : "I can't give you an answer until after tryouts" - is it safe to say that the coach is looking to upgrade your position?

What would you do in this position? I would think that if the Coach really wanted to keep you, he would say you are invited back. I would also say that the kids on a team are placed in 3 groups: (1) invited back- no need to try out; (2) I can't give you an answer until after tryouts (looking to upgrade) OR (3) not invite back.

thoughts?

Definitely looking to upgrade if he can.

The 3 groups sound about right too. If I were you, I'd go to your teams tryouts if you want to stay and hit other tryouts as well.

 

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even if your daughter likes this team - should how you are viewed by the coaches (i.e. they want to upgrade) effect whether you should return to the team?

 

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No. You might have hurt feelings but he is looking to improve the team overall. With that said, he should be completely open with you about his intentions.

 

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I agree with above with one caveat - what has the coach been saying during the season? If the coach(es) have been saying this is a team they are developing for next season...I might have my feelings hurt a bit. BUT, that said communication goes a long way; coaches should be honest with players and parents; it might be hard but coaches should be telling p/p exactly what they are thinking.

 

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even if your daughter likes this team - should how you are viewed by the coaches (i.e. they want to upgrade) effect whether you should return to the team?

It definitely should be a factor if they are committing to other players prior to tryouts and/or pick up a player at your DD's position. You need to gauge your DD's chances at tryouts and what her role will be on the team.

 

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I guess I look at this in a different manner. I feel the sooner as a kid learns this lesson, the better off they will be. In High School and in top travel teams, and college, it's about production. Coach's are always looking for the next great thing. If a younger, hungrier player comes along, and has worked harder at your kids position and it shows, they will get the nod. I think complacency is a bad thing. I believe your coach may simply have every kid try out and see who the top 12 are based on whatever factors he judges by. I also think that if a player is giving this understanding early, it eases tension a bit and encourages hard work and dedication.

If a 68mph pitcher verbals to the Fartknocker Floozies her sophomore year, do you suppose the recruiters quit looking for a pitcher? Nope. They will always be looking for the kid that's better. Life and careers in life seem to be no different. I believe just maybe,,,,,,,,,your coach is trying to prepare the girls for life.

 

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I guess I look at this in a different manner. I feel the sooner as a kid learns this lesson, the better off they will be. In High School and in top travel teams, and college, it's about production. Coach's are always looking for the next great thing. If a younger, hungrier player comes along, and has worked harder at your kids position and it shows, they will get the nod. I think complacency is a bad thing. I believe your coach may simply have every kid try out and see who the top 12 are based on whatever factors he judges by. I also think that if a player is giving this understanding early, it eases tension a bit and encourages hard work and dedication.

If a 68mph pitcher verbals to the Fartknocker Floozies her sophomore year, do you suppose the recruiters quit looking for a pitcher? Nope. They will always be looking for the kid that's better. Life and careers in life seem to be no different. I believe just maybe,,,,,,,,,your coach is trying to prepare the girls for life.

Which floozies team are you referring to. I heard they make a lot of noise,but stink

 

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I guess I look at this in a different manner. I feel the sooner as a kid learns this lesson, the better off they will be. In High School and in top travel teams, and college, it's about production. Coach's are always looking for the next great thing. If a younger, hungrier player comes along, and has worked harder at your kids position and it shows, they will get the nod. I think complacency is a bad thing. I believe your coach may simply have every kid try out and see who the top 12 are based on whatever factors he judges by. I also think that if a player is giving this understanding early, it eases tension a bit and encourages hard work and dedication.

If a 68mph pitcher verbals to the Fartknocker Floozies her sophomore year, do you suppose the recruiters quit looking for a pitcher? Nope. They will always be looking for the kid that's better. Life and careers in life seem to be no different. I believe just maybe,,,,,,,,,your coach is trying to prepare the girls for life.

And here it is.

Dan Gable was once asked how he got his wrestlers to improve so much.
His reply- " I go out ever year and try to find someone much better than the guy I have and hope he beats him out"........

It is about competing, which has become a lost art in this country.

 

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My daughter was actually put in this position where a coach told her that only once (fortunately all the other times we knew exactly where she stood). I looked at the way the coach used her that year(or didn't use her) and we decided that even if they kept her on that team she was not in the long term plans, so we just moved on. I think the most difficult part of this process is that parents need to truly look at their daughter's abilities, desires, and production in an objective manner when deciding if they want to push forward with a team that is clearly trying to upgrade the position or just try to find a better fit. At the end of the day the goal was always to have my daughter on the highest level team where she could get regular playing time( notice I did not say "always playing"). Best of luck as you prepare for next year.

 

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I always put our tryouts out as OPEN, each girl (player) has to earn their spot every year. They all knew that coming in and I also explained to them why.

If you are looking to improve your team you need to show talent to attract talent. True gamers want to be surrounded with people better than themself. If you give kids a free pass on tryouts, what have you accomplished? If the kids don't come out and push for the spot they want, they are coasting on you.

I do agree that if a kid has no chance of being invited back you need to be honest with them (or the parents depending on the age). You should just be prepared to provide reasons and accept the criticism back with grace. Act with honesty and class and you can sleep well at night.

 

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I guess I look at this in a different manner. I feel the sooner as a kid learns this lesson, the better off they will be. In High School and in top travel teams, and college, it's about production. Coach's are always looking for the next great thing. If a younger, hungrier player comes along, and has worked harder at your kids position and it shows, they will get the nod. I think complacency is a bad thing. I believe your coach may simply have every kid try out and see who the top 12 are based on whatever factors he judges by. I also think that if a player is giving this understanding early, it eases tension a bit and encourages hard work and dedication.

If a 68mph pitcher verbals to the Fartknocker Floozies her sophomore year, do you suppose the recruiters quit looking for a pitcher? Nope. They will always be looking for the kid that's better. Life and careers in life seem to be no different. I believe just maybe,,,,,,,,,your coach is trying to prepare the girls for life.

I agree complacency is very bad. If you're not getting better, others are catching up and passing you. The top teams out here get a lot of strong players on the roster so there is competition for playing time throughout the year, leverage to keep people in line, protection in case they make a mistake on a player and depth for injuries, players leaving and deep runs in large tournaments.

I think OP has it right with the 3 groups of players. I seriously doubt a good coach with a good team would truly put every roster spot up for grabs. The only one they're fooling is themselves.
- Head coaches' kids obviously aren't going anywhere and same is true for many assistant coaches' kids.
- Players with a history of production and a great work ethic aren't going to be replaced by someone that has a good tryout. It takes some kind of problem (e.g. behaviorial) for them to be let go.

Many coaches aren't willing to be up front with the OP's 3rd group, so they string them along through tryouts. Consequently, any time you're told they won't commit until after tryouts, you have to consider the possibility you're in the 3rd group.

 

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Maybe coach wanted to avoid a player telling others she made the team before a tryout. I would think you know where you stand on a team after a season. Nothing like going to a tryout and 12 girls wearing team uniform of that team.

 

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I think OP has it right with the 3 groups of players. I seriously doubt a good coach with a good team would truly put every roster spot up for grabs. The only one they're fooling is themselves.
Many coaches aren't willing to be up front with the OP's 3rd group, so they string them along through tryouts. .

I agree very much with this post- there is no such thing as all spots are open- I'd think you'd want to keep a strong core and build off that....telling the team that they all must come to tryouts is just a way to string kids along in case the tryout turnout isn't so great or you don't get the commitment from girls you thought you would add to your team.

I personally would want to know where my daughter stood at the end of the season and if I don't get a call 2-3 days after nationals inviting her back, I guess it is time to start looking at a back up plan just in case the coaches decide to go another direction.