Team Cuts, how do you handle it?

Probably one of the worst parts of coaching, but hopefully there's good proven systems out there. This thead intended for HS and middle sch.

please comment on:
- does your program normally require cuts according to desired team #'s?
- how many days of try-outs?
- in general, what do typical try-outs consist of? Is there lots of running to "weed-out"?
- let's say you are lucky and have the right #'s without any cuts, but there's a kid or two that are just not skilled enough to help the team. how do you handle?
- as kids get older, do you see them weeding themselves out, so to speak, by just dropping out for various reasons?
- how do you notify those that are actually cut?

 

EASTOFRALEIGH I know you are wanting answers for middle / high school ball players,but you are entering a very sensitive area that may effect many that read this TBR thread... (CUTTING)---it's not easy cutting a kid from a team nor is it easy to watch one sit the bench, but coaches are trained to put the best (9) on the field, and everybody has a difference of an opinion who is the best (9). The best way is do stats on the players, which we were guilty of not doing during our 3-4 seasons of coaching...as for tryouts...to be honest after the first 1 or 2 days you can pretty well see who can play and who can not...(WEEDING)-----yes,endurance can be a good rule of thumb to see who your athletes are by what kind of shape they are in...... (HANDLE)----like I said before you are going to play your best (9),and if you get a substantial lead then put the other kids into play...everybody is not going to agree with what I say, but I know how hard my kid works away from practice,and her work ethic has earned her a starting position on the team.........stud NO !!, but works as hard as anybody else on the team... ( WEEDING)---sometimes the situation will work itself out and the kid will get tired of not playing and just quit the team, it becomes the kids decision not the coaches.Most of all be honest with the parents/kids about there abilities...I myself tried a kid out back around a month ago, and I told the kid in front of the parents that she needed to work on few things and improve her game,and she took it very well...yes you will have a few irate parents, but that's the chance you'll have to take being a coach..........Good Luck--- Softball Guru

 

Guru, Once again I agree with you.Talent is at times a toss up as to whether a prospective team mate will work out with a team. Another consideration would be for me is " what chemistry this particular bring to the table". How many times have you as a coach seen a player that had ability but was lazy during workouts or practice? Do you take this into consideration and if so how far does one's ability carry one in this situatuation? With this same question in mind what weight does a player carry with maybe lesser natural ability but is willing to "work overtime" to improve. Personally I think we would all take the person that works hardest but in reality how many times has this been put into practice. I think that most coach hate to have cuts at all, but when they do it is handle with "Kitt Gloves" Just my opinion.

 

My dd had a jr. high coach that would assign numbers to the players so when she posted cuts the only ones that knew were the players. That was to keep the rhetoric down from the rest of students unless the player told she was cut.

 

yes I have

I have seen this practice used as well.

 

Many times the sophomore year brings surprises for those players who are not the best players, but have always been able to squeak by and make the team in the 9th, 8th, and 7th grades. At this point coaches must decide if the player will ever be able to contribute to the varsity. Many times sophomores must be sacrificed for the good of the program to make space for freshmen who show potential for developing into better players. This is always a tough decision for the coach and upsetting for the player. But it must be done.

Seldom do JV players and parents really understand the difference in the JV game and the varsity game until they have experienced it. The JV sophomore who struggles in the batters box will be eaten alive by decent varsity pitchers. The JV sophomore who has not developed the ability to make correct base running decisions on her own will not contribute much to a varsity team's offensive game. The JV sophomore whose defensive reactions still are not fundamentally sound simply will not survive in most competitive varsity environments.

Many times the mediocre JV sophomore shows up at tryouts thinking "I'm the upperclassman now and I'll get to start", only to find herself cut from the team.

 

Although this is a baseball coach, his belief could apply here. Coach Hal Bagwell formerly @ South Meck, now HC @ Ardrey Kell



"First of all, don't believe it when someone tells you that I have already picked my teams. Not true!! I am a very fair man and it makes no difference to me if I know you or don't know your father, mother, brother, sister, etc. We are in the business of picking the most talented players in order to be successful. As a matter of fact, you will have the same opportunity as anyone else who wishes to become a Sabres Baseball player. Prepare yourself to perform during tryouts. Come with the mindset that you will become a member of our program and make me keep you with your attitude, hustle and performance. Relax, I promise you'll play better. Believe me, I will notice you! If you make it, be prepared to represent the program positively around campus, in the classroom and around the community. Be respectful to the coaching staff and your teammates. Understand the role given to you and raise the intensity level and competition for your teammates in practice every single day. You must genuinely understand that the team is always more important than you and apply it through your actions. I will hold you accountable! Unfortunately, if you are dismissed, I will speak with you individually and will encourage your continued playing. I will guide you in the areas of your game which need improvement and show genuine compassion for you. I believe I owe that to the player and the game. I have never posted a "cut" list and never plan on it. I understand a young man may never play the game again if he is dismissed by me. He may love the game as much as any player, regardless of his abilities. I do not want a young man who has played and loved the game his whole life to have a bad taste in his mouth because he was dismissed by me. That's why the tryout period is the worst part of the season for me."

 

I just wish there were more coaches like braves & cheeze. There are tooooo many that play the politics game and it sucks when that happens against your DD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!