Wednesday Fun...Tryouts...what one thing would you change?

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OK it's not Wednesday, but it has been too long since we did one of these...

Finally settled on teams for my DDs 10u and 14u...different organizations, but both fill the individual talents and skills of each one, so for now...I am happy we are done with the process.

So my question to all of you to ponder and respond, What is the ONE thing about tryout season that you would change to make it easier on players/parents?

 

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While I know it will never happen and it would have its drawbacks as well, I think it would be easier for all concerned to have the tryouts about a month later than they are now. All the maneuvering and tryouts and craziness starts before teams have completed their seasons, particularly if they are going to a nationals. Meanwhile, it's been a long season and players/families/coaches need a break from it all, fall sports tryouts/practices are already going on, and some families are trying to get in a little vacation time. Plus, I think everyone could just use a little time to reflect on the season, and research the options for the following year. Keep in mind also that 95% of the teams end the season with a loss and sometimes that is too fresh in everyone's mind, hence some of the team jumping that occurs. Just my opinion ...

 

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Team names that start with the letters A - C tryouts are Monday evenings. D - F - Tuesdays, etc. It's not a perfect solution, but it beats trying to be at 4 different tryouts on a Sunday...

 

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I would like to see an actual signing day, say September 1. after all of the open tryouts are completed. This would allow the girls to attend multiple tryouts and get a feel for what is out there. It would also take the stress out of accepting an offer after the 1st weekend of tryouts eventhough, she wants to attend a couple of other tryouts that are later in the month.

 

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I vote for August being a dead time.

But no governing body in enforce the issue. So the rules will be useless.

This past year I saw teams running tryouts July 31st........

 

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This is not totally flushed out, but my idea is to run a 'softball combine'. Players from a region would meet at a central location demonstrate their skills. Many organizations would be represented to watch them perform.

Organizations would be provided player contact information and offers could be extended. Once a players excepted a position they would 'come off the board' This would likely be supported by a website that showed who was available and who was committed and to whom.

 

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T-Mike, the problem with that is that the players can't truly "evaluate" a coach to see if thay want to play for him/her...

 

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T-Mike, the problem with that is that the players can't truly "evaluate" a coach to see if thay want to play for him/her...

Good point, but I guess I was thinking the player/parents could then do all the due dilligence they wanted with the teams that they were interested in who expressed an interest in their daughter.

Not fully baked, but it seemed to make some sense. I went to 4 tryouts with my 10u DD and saw the same 3-6 girls at each one. Plus coaches keep posting looking for players, at least they would know who is committed and who is still uncommitted (via the website). Its at least interesting.

 

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While I know it will never happen and it would have its drawbacks as well, I think it would be easier for all concerned to have the tryouts about a month later than they are now. All the maneuvering and tryouts and craziness starts before teams have completed their seasons, particularly if they are going to a nationals. Meanwhile, it's been a long season and players/families/coaches need a break from it all, fall sports tryouts/practices are already going on, and some families are trying to get in a little vacation time. Plus, I think everyone could just use a little time to reflect on the season, and research the options for the following year. Keep in mind also that 95% of the teams end the season with a loss and sometimes that is too fresh in everyone's mind, hence some of the team jumping that occurs. Just my opinion ...

Totally agree, I wish there was at least a two week dead period from the last date of any Nationals. DD's weren't sure what they wanted to do for next year but I had to force them to make a decision wether to return to their team of not. We made it all the way to Sunday at the Eastern Nationals and the first tryout for their team was that coming Saturday and they had to make a decision so the coaches knew what type of player they had to look for next season. I think some kids are on a high and some are on a low but making them decide so fast on what they want to do for this coming year is wrong. Oh well, it is what it is.

 

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I like the idea of the combine but there would have to be something included for parents/players to get to know the coaches/programs. I also liked what someone in another thread metioned about a centralized calander where all teams posted their tryout dates in a familiar format.

I must say, it was a little daunting figuring out where we wanted to be and also know what we were giving up in order to be there. We're just glad it's over.

 

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I must say, it was a little daunting figuring out where we wanted to be and also know what we were giving up in order to be there. We're just glad it's over.

Amen brother!

 

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Not really sure of a good way to organize tryouts, but I believe they really need to be shortly after their end of season tournies. This is when kids feel most confident and coaches get a really good look at what they are capable of doing. I really like the concept of going to tryouts. My dd was soooo nervous, but also realized she can produce when it counts. She came off a team that made it to Saturday of Nationals to find out after their last game the team was disbanding. Talk about parents scrambling.... But, the experience was invaluable and ultimately allowed her to make an educated decision on who she wanted to play for.

PS...really like the idea of combine...that would be sooo cool!

 

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Not really sure of a good way to organize tryouts, but I believe they really need to be shortly after their end of season tournies. This is when kids feel most confident and coaches get a really good look at what they are capable of doing. I really like the concept of going to tryouts. My dd was soooo nervous, but also realized she can produce when it counts. She came off a team that made it to Saturday of Nationals to find out after their last game the team was disbanding. Talk about parents scrambling.... But, the experience was invaluable and ultimately allowed her to make an educated decision on who she wanted to play for.

PS...really like the idea of combine...that would be sooo cool!

Me too, if I could only make a living at it I would be set

 

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I like to combine idea too. Maybe coaches can come prepared with a porfolio, available to parents and players, that includes his/her accomplishments, credentials, what specific positions they are looking for, and a list of references including current and previous members of their team(s).

 

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I like to combine idea too. Maybe coaches can come prepared with a porfolio, available to parents and players, that includes his/her accomplishments, credentials, what specific positions they are looking for, and a list of references including current and previous members of their team(s).

If the coach/team info was made available early enough (hopefully in standardized form), there could be a short (hour maybe) meet & greet before the combine begins. Players / parents could visit the teams they think might be a good fit to learn more, better judge team personalities, dynamics and such. At the end of the combine, when offers are made by the teams, players would have a much better idea of who they wanted to accept. No missed opportunities.

 

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The combine idea would work well as an initial firstlook for players that aren't well-known and teams that are willing to look at everyone. It would be a good initial step that should be followed by team workouts where both sides can make a final determination.

Out here, the top teams do not hold open tryouts because it would be a big waste of time for just about everyone involved - those teams are already familiar with the players of interest to them. Instead, the teams advertise without tryout info and only give it out to people that contact them and they're interested in seeing.

The lesson here for everyone interested in playing for a top team - contact them ahead of time to see if the interest is mutual instead of just showing up at their tryout.

 

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The lesson here for everyone interested in playing for a top team - contact them ahead of time to see if the interest is mutual instead of just showing up at their tryout.

Not bad advice but not completely necessary either. My dd didn't do anything before attending the first open tryout with one of the states biggest programs and she was invited to join that day. And she's no super star by any means (well, she is to me).

 

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My daughter's travel ball time is over, so it doesn't matter really now...but looking back my biggest pet peeve was that coaches for teams she didn't make never gave us any feedback. That made it all feel like a waste of time - just give the girls something you think they should work on so maybe when the next year's tryouts come around, they will have gained the knowledge/strength/gusto to go for it vs. bumming them out about tryouts in general. Tryouts are rough on everybody I think: coaches, players, parents, siblings.

 

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The lesson here for everyone interested in playing for a top team - contact them ahead of time to see if the interest is mutual instead of just showing up at their tryout.

Not bad advice but not completely necessary either. My dd didn't do anything before attending the first open tryout with one of the states biggest programs and she was invited to join that day. And she's no super star by any means (well, she is to me).

How many players weren't invited to join the team? I didn't say it never works out, just that it can save you from wasting your time at a tryout that could be better spent at another one. Definitely a case of YMMV...

 

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Good advice to email team ahead of time. This was the first year DD had to hit the try outs to find a team and I did just that. DD is a catcher and I didn't want to waste time with a team that is already strong in the position.