Tryouts!

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we went to a tryout today and i was very impressed by the girls that were returning and my dd got along with them all very well, that fact alone may sway my decision to have her play with that team.

 

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It was a beautiful day and there is a load of talented ladies out there it seemed...

 

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We had about half our team on vacation during tryouts. We did ask the remaining players to come to the tryouts so they could interact with the girls trying out. We had some talented young ladies try out with us and after about 15 minutes they seemed to get comfortable.

 

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I think that they should come to tryouts to see what other players out there can do.. also to get to know the people who might be on the team a little bit sooner...

 

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Asking girls to show up and participate is a little different than requiring them to tryout again. Different team do different things. If the team didn't live up to expectation, they may require all the girls to tryout to show them that they're looking for the best twelve kids and you'd better bring your "A" game. Teams who were fairly happy may just have girls come to participate to push new recruits and themselves a little bit.

What is indisputable is this: The girls on the team should be there in either capacity, because you need [highlight]Critical Mass[/highlight] New players need to see a lot of kids at the tryout. If they don't, they will come to the conclusion that:
1. Why would I want to play on a team if their returning kids don't care enough to show up?
2. Why would I want to play for a team that only had a couple kids show up? If they only see a few kids (that are all trying out and not yet on the team) they have no idea what they may be joining. Is this team any good, can they compete etc.
3. How many of you parents look at a tryout with only a few kids and get excited? How many are mad that they wasted their time showing up to a tryout with no real interest, and immediately say to themselves I can't let my kid play for this team? They don't have anything here to build on.

Why do you think that the big organization stay big? Valley Extreme, Lady Lasers, Stingrays, Buckeye Heat and dozens of others have their whole organization tryout at the same time. [highlight]IT'S CRITICAL MASS!![/highlight]

Coaches of smaller organizations and one teamers: be smart and get as many kids to your tryout as possible.

Very well said.
All of our returning players came to tryouts and it made it fun for everyone there. (I hope) The ladies trying out saw how much fun the returning players have together. Sure it is competitive, it is serious during game, but it is OK to have fun and cheer on your team mates.
I think it is the best thing any Coach can do is tell all the girls to come and support not only their team, but the organization they play for.

 

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I'm not sure if this will be hyjacking or taking this question in a different direction but here goes:

If returning players are asked to try out again, would you be surprised or upset if they (even though they are not unhappy with your organization) tried out for other organizations as well?

I guess this is a question for coaches or organization leaders.

Here is my personal take.

A returning player who is offered a roster spot on last year's team is being offered a valuable gift. They are guaranteed a spot on next year's team. If they want to explore the free agency market, they owe it to the coach to tell them that. It is the same as saying NO to the guaranteed spot.

I would be glad to have them at tryouts, and would certainly have better knowledge of their performance, but they are competing for a roster spot now - it is not guaranteed.

It is not about being surprised or upset - it is about being honest and fair.

 

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I asked all my girls to come to try outs. That shows me they are interested and lets me judge the others against my current players abilities. It is aslo great to see the interaction between current players and prospective players. Team chemistry cannot be over looked.

 

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Personally, as a parent (and that's the only role I've ever had in summer ball), I like to see all players attend tryouts, new hopefuls and existing roster alike. I especially like to see the existing players, especially the coaches daughters, there on time and performing their best. Nothing is assumed and nothing taken for granted.

I agree 100% with the post that says this is a competitive sport. One of the benefits commonly attributed to the experience of playing competitive sports is that it is an avenue to help build life skills important in the "grown up" world - - team work, work ethic, character, determination, time management, prioritization, etc, etc. Competition is a reality in the real world. Just because you made honor roll last quarter doesn't mean you're guaranteed honor roll next quarter...you have to earn it. Just because you get a job doesn't mean you can stop performing at that job and keep it.

My point is that nothing really worth having (has value to you) ever comes easy and when you embrace a system where players know they are guaranteed a spot on a team it devalues the team as a whole because existing players underperform at tryouts and don't take the process seriously. What message does this send to the new players trying out? In my experience, I have found that serious players who want to play in college want to play with like minded players. What message would your tryouts send to the newbies? If the serious applicants, i.e. new players (generally the more skilled players) opt away from your team based upon your tryouts, what does that leave you to choose from?

What would a college coach think if he/she were secretly watching your players not taking the process of selecting next year's team (the one whose collective goal is to play deep into Sundays and then onto Nationals where the college coaches are watching!!) seriously?

 

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The question is, as a member of a team, do you earn your way back onto that team during an entire year of probably 50-100 games and many practices, or do you earn it at a two-hour tryout?

Will a coach really cut one of his best players because of a poor two-hour tryout? I can't believe a single coach in the country would do that. So why not just be honest with everyone instead of putting on a charade that "everyone has an equal chance to make this team."

 

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I wish I had more spots to fill on our 14-U team. Could only take 4 of the 16 that tried out. Wish I could have taken 8 or 9.

 

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Joe, good point and I agree that if a player has proven herself on the field, it's hard not to remember it and put merit of that in front of a simple two hour tryout. I think the main benefit from the two hour tryout is if they don't perform their best, generally, you can see them wanting to by the end of the tryouts. A reality check.

At our most recent tryout session, my leading hitter did not put on a very good display at the plate, she wanted to stay after and take a couple more buckets of balls to "fix it" as she stated. Can't help but think that alone was worth her showing up. JMO.

 

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We always have our team try out. This gives us a guage to judge the new girls.

 

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So here is the difference - which is not hairsplitting.

Having girls you expect to return AT TRYOUTS is a way to look at chemistry with the girls who are competing for a position at tryouts, and to have some people there to lead by example. It could also be a humbling event for a team member who sees someone who could easily take their spot on the field. This activity, having returning girls AT TRYOUTS, is generally a good idea.

Having EVERY GIRL TRY OUT to make the team each year is different. I think few teams do that, no matter what they say. If that is the team model, it is hard to get excited about being loyal to that team. Yeah, there is that thing about competition and pushing girls and such, but frankly if that is what you are selling, make sure to bring the Wonder Bread and mustard, because I know baloney when I see it.

The best players don't make the best teams - the best teams make better players.

 

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The question is, as a member of a team, do you earn your way back onto that team during an entire year of probably 50-100 games and many practices, or do you earn it at a two-hour tryout?

Will a coach really cut one of his best players because of a poor two-hour tryout? I can't believe a single coach in the country would do that. So why not just be honest with everyone instead of putting on a charade that "everyone has an equal chance to make this team."

Ding Ding...Coach Joe gets it

 

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I wish I had more spots to fill on our 14-U team. Could only take 4 of the 16 that tried out. Wish I could have taken 8 or 9.

DH & his coaches had the same delima. It isnt easy as any coach to have to turn any girl away, when you know they try their best at a try out.
I wish every girls that came to our try out the best & hope they find a team to play on.

 

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I think now, it's not a good idea to have players you know you are keeping. Now if a player is questionable due to ability or attitude, I'd have them show up. Not having the ones you want there, helps evaluate the others better. I'm hoping next year, we'll get our Magic coaches to list in advance the players they are in need of by position. Our organization is heading in the direction of trying to have elite teams, an open tryout may not be beneficial to a player with developing abilities. The problem is missing out on a really great unknown kid, which someone finds every year.

 

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As usual Joe is dead on. Also, why is it always assumed that a kid who has a guaranteed spot will slack off during tryouts? I think the opposite - chances are that they don't slack off when they are on the field, which is why they have a guaranteed spot to begin with. Kids aren't stupid - if they understand why they are at tryouts and why they need to show their best on the field, they will.

I love when teams post that every roster spot is open, especially when a parent or parents are involved in coaching. Their kids aren't in danger of being cut no matter how many better players show up. I also love when they are trying to fill that last roster spot, but then post that they are set with pitching. Which basically tells the best pitcher in the state not to bother answering their ad because they are set with pitching.

 

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Love seeing coaches chase players & parents to parking lots after tryouts.

 

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Last year at try-outs my DH had a new team to build. He asked all the girls moving up from previous year to show up & plan to go through try outs. His own daughter included. So as not to show favoritism. She did & she tried out hard. Other Coaches wanted her. But, One showed up & when told to go warm up with the other girls she simply said NO, I'm good. During the tryouts she didnt give 100%. Guess who did not make the team. It was unanimous between all coaches, not just my DH.

No one should "expect" a position on "any" softball team. Especially if you gave poor effort and poor attitude the previous year. Do you think High Schools would just take girls back? Not our High School! I'm not sure on Colleges, but Id imagine they expect a certain degree of showing up, during tryouts.