Monday's Tryouts

All good comments but since he can't go back to July and have workouts or schedule 8 man, Could some of you guys help him out? There are a bunch of you that could help this guy. Which in turn helps kids. Maybe he just got the job. Maybe it's middle school.

 

Sorry, no pull here. He will have to wait till next year. Or he could play soccer .

 

Just thought of it he could transfer to the school next door. They know him and are looking for a good player.

 

You are correct that you can not turn back the clock, and he is not going to get better in one day. If the boy has the ability to help the team this season, in the coach’s opinion, he will make the club. If his skill is below what will help the team, then the coaching staff can not afford the time in season to work with him.

The skill level to play high school ball is not the same everywhere. There will be kids that are quite skilled and have played a lot of ball; some even have played on high school teams previously, which will not be included in team rosters this season. While at other places as Braves mentioned, the coach is combing the corridors to find enough players to field a team.

When the boy is not invited to be a player on the team he as a choice to make. How important is baseball going to be to him?

If the answer is: not really that important, that is why I have not spent the time that the others have improving their game, then move on to something else that stirs their passion.

If the answer is: that he likes the game and still wants to play but have other things that I like to do as well, there will be opportunities for that in just a couple of months with recreational teams.

If the answer is he would like to be part of the high school program that he is at, I would suggest that he go talk to the coach and say: “Coach understand that I am not good enough to be on the team this season, but I would like to be part of your program if possible, is there a place that I would fit, be it as a team manager, scorer, anything? Also, would you be willing to work with me after the season to help me get better? My guess is that the answer to both questions will be yes.

Will it guarantee a spot on next year’s roster, No. But I can guarantee if he does the same preparation that he did for this season that kept him off the team, the result will most likely be the same.

 

All great advice mincmi, but I think the original poster was a coach looking for instruction on how to have an effective tryout.

 

Mom Read Papa's Post Again

He's wanting to make sure it's a "fair" tryout. He never mentioned getting instruction from someone here to enable his son to present himself in the best way possible. He's not comfortable with the evaluation process. That's what began the firestorm and explanations of who works and who doesn't and why it's pretty easy to make (most of the) cuts in 1 day.

 

15 Minute Tryout

You can learn a lot in the first 15 minutes. First you take the 60 kids and pair them up 60 feet apart. Warm them up thoroughly and engage them in an "aggressive" game of catch. Those that are having trouble handling a ballglove are not Varsity caliber players.

Then back them up to 127 feet 2 inches (which is the distance from home plate to second base and watch the kids throw from that distance. Anyone who cannot throw accurately from that distance (with at least average arm strength) cannot play Varsity baseball.

This Catching and Throwing will show you which boys cannot play Varsity baseball. Then after this preliminary "screening" you can move on to evaluate those that you need to see more from. It's my belief that many of the boys will not pass this initial 15 minutes test.

 

Tryout

How many coaches do you have helping you? How well do you know your players already? Have you had off season workouts? Have you had any baseball meetings to discuss with the players what will be required of them if they indeed make the team? Do the players know they will have to have a physical in hand or on file that is up to date in order to tryout? Have you checked elgibility on the players that have informed you they are trying out? Do you have an idea of how many players will be trying out based on your pre season meetings?

These are some of the questions you need to have the answers to before the tryouts even begin.

This is the way we have always done it. The returning varsity players spend the first day of tryouts out of the mix. A coach will take them to the cage and they will spend alot of time on drills and hitting.

The returning JV players and all newcomers will meet the coaching staff. They will show proof of physicals. They will be checked off on the roster sheet based on preseason meetings for elgibility. The players that do not have physicals and are not elgible due to grades or we have not had a chance to check their grades because they did not attend any preseason baseball meetings will not be allowed to tryout on Monday. Their grades will be checked on Tuesday for elgibility. They will have to bring a completed physical before they can tryout. The ones not elgible due to grades will be informed they can not tryout this year.

Then the players will stretch and run the 60 twice. The players will then stretch and throw while the coaches evaluate their ability to catch and throw. Then the players will be evaluated in defensive drills. Then they will be evaluated hitting.

Then all the players will come together for conditioning. Then all the players will work on the field. Then they will go home.

We have several meetings during the school year before tryouts start. In these meetings we discuss the importance of working in the off season and being a part of them in order to be evaluated and get better. We talk about making sure you have a physical on file before tryouts. We also check their grades to make sure they are elgible. The players that have been in school since August that have not attended any of the meetings. Have not attended any of the off season work outs are rare , very rare. 99.9% of the time these players are extremely weak baseball players. Guys that pretty much have no baseball ability and will never help us.

As far as parents and players feeling that making the off season work outs out weighs performance at the tryouts that could be the case with some Im not sure. It definitely helps a freshman to get out there and show he has the work ethic and desire to be a part of the program. And it definitely helps him to have this time to show the coaches what his make up is over a longer period of time.

It is very rare for a kid to love baseball and want to be a part of a program and not show up until the first official day of practice / tryouts. Maybe it happens in some places. But what would be the reasoning behind this happening?

 

Wow that is easy

Can I have that kid that could not throw 127 feet 2 inches dead on. I need a good DH, one that can hit it 325 or so, in the gaps. Oh once in a blue moon over a fence. Or maybe the one that did not hit the gaps but had some good speed on the bases. Need that runner for the old legged catcher behind the plate. I do not think that you can just define a kid by a throwing arm. I have seen those who could hit the nail on the head at 127'2''. I want the one that is not bat blind. He can be my catcher. That is the only one I feel that has to throw 127'2'' and be dead on. The others I want to see their foot work. As for others, I understand that cuts have to be made and you do not have all month to decide. But, with the exception of a few above avearge players. Most are average players of which a few will go to the college level. Most will not. I do agree with a lot of points giving by the group. As far as a parent goes. They will get over it sooner or later. But 15 mins.........

 

Yeah, my First Post...

Does anyone know the official reason why the start date was pushed back?