Team Cuts?, how do you it?

Dawgswood

Your assuming that by posting a list the Coach is wanting to avoid talking with the kids, and that may be the case for some, but not all. The coach I mentioned is trying to give all the kids as much field time to show what they bring to the table. 3 days is what most teams have as a try out period as their first games are 10-12 days after the last try out day. He wants to give each kid every opportunity to show their stuff.

30 minutes after the last try out the list is posted on the coaches door. How would you like to be a kid who comes to school the next morning an hour and 1/2 before school starts to find out that you won't need your baseball gear after all.

This coach I'm describing is very well liked by kids at his school and certainly talks to them afterwards as he can, but seeks to reduce the embarrasment from being cut as much as possible. Sitting around for an hour or so to find out you didn't make the team isn't my idea of fun.

Dawgswood you obviously like the meeting route. I like the fact that the kid gets a face to face also, but I don't like the fact that kids have to wait around after practice that long, what about parents waiting to pick up their kids?

Let's agree that there is no perfect way - each has their own way.

 

I am in no way saying any particular way is the best. I just stated one way, that I know personally, that one coach does it.

I'm from the school that a coach would spit a wad of tobacco and say, "tough luck kid...tryout next year"...and that is if he had a personal time for you.

 

coach & program

I think this was mentioned already, but I think some programs with certain "coach" styles probably don't have to cut very many if at all..............the kids sort of figure out on their own that they can't cut the mustard to the high degree that is demanded?? any thoughts on this?

are there any schools out there that rarely have the need to cut for whatever reason?

 

I don't have the answer, and I certainly can understand a coaches dilemma, having done it many times over the past 5 years from ages 10-17. It is absolutely, without question, the worst part of coaching any sport. I have said many times that you can make enemies for life regarding such issues. Funny thing is, soon there after, kids forgive and forget and move on...but parents will hate you years down the road for cutting little johnny off the 8 yo all-star team back in 1987.
As for having the team already selected before tryouts? Well of course it is....for the most part. If you're in tune with the kids in the community and you watch them play summer ball and fall ball and you're talking to baseball people whom you respect their unbiased opinion and you're doing your homework. Sure there is usually a suprise kid or two that just impresses the heck out of you that you love his attitude and respectfulness and conversely, there is usually a kid that going in you thought would make it but comes in out of shape and with a poor attittude that you decide not to keep. But for the most part, you have a solid idea what the make up of your team is going to look like.
Two years ago, I was asked to coach a very well known summer team of which tryouts were in order and 21 kids were cut. My first train of thought was if these kids devoted their time and energy to tryout, they at least deserved a phone call from me. Subsequently, I spent the next several days on the phone (making enemies) with crying kids, irate mothers and ballistic dads trying to explain why johnny did not make it and what he needed to do to get better. Most of which were never satisfied. It's not always about talent, but about chemistry, attitude and numbers.

Oh... what'd I do this year you ask?......I posted a list.

 

They usually cut themselves

I think we have had to cut two guys in the last three years. We only cut Freshman that are obviously in danger of getting hurt by being on a baseball field or display a poor attitude. We keep them in our program for at least one year and give them an opportunity to be part of our off season program. The fact is we have had several kids that were not very good players either from just being physically way behind at this young age or they have never really had any decent coaching at best before trying out. Several of these kids have grown up over the summer and worked very hard once they got a taste of what it takes and become very good HS players. Some have realized that they did not want to invest what we require in order to be a part of our program and have cut themselves by not coming back out. Our off season program starts two weeks after our HS season ends and stops two weeks before our HS season starts. It is not mandantory. It is for the kids that want to get bigger faster and stronger and learn the game. It is about learning what mental toughness actually is and making an investment into the program. Kids learn that they are either willing to make the investment and those that do become a part of the program. Those that dont CUT THEMSELVES. We do not and can not make it mandantory. But what we have found is that the ones that really want to play appreciate the opportunity to get better. And the ones that dont , dont come out. We have had a few that do not work out in the off season. And they still come out in the spring. The problem is the ones that work in the off season pass them in the ability to play the game most of the time. We do not expect anyone to attend that plays football. Basketball players are not expected to attend as well. This year we have 26 in the program. We go Mon thru Thurs with Fridays off. They condition on their own with the sr's in charge during dead zones. Last year we had 24 and 21 had 100% attendance. It has allowed us to contend every year and not just when we have a "good group" come through. It is amazing how much harder kids work to win when they have invested a great deal into something. Again let me just say no one is required to attend or be a part of our off season program. It is there for those who want to get better. I hate to see kids get cut that have worked so hard to be a part of something. We do not cut kids that invest we find a place for them if there is anyway possible. I do not hate to cut kids that have not invested anything and then act as if they are dissapointed by not having it handed to them. In fact I have no problem breaking the news to them. Its about time someone did.

 

I do it a little bit differently. I call each player in one at a time and tell them whether or not they have made the team. We do 3 days of tryouts. Day 1 is all offensive drills. Day 2 is defensive drills. Day 3 is game situations where we divide them up and just play. We grade them on a scale of 1-5 and if there are a couple on the "bubble" we compare and see who we need to keep. Then we have written documents so that we can show the kid who doesn't make the team where they need to improve. We only show them their paper of course. This day is one of the toughest that I have ever gone through. Just to tell them face to face is really hard, but something that I feel like is fair.

 

travel

in travel ball depending on how you choose your team, isn't it possible not to have the need to cut? if you hand-pick a team.

 

coach 27

you have a great philosophy. some schools have a "team" each year; sounds like you truly have a "PROGRAM". stay the course!!

 

Travel Ball

Heres my problem with Travel Ball. Most of them are coached by parents of players who go out and hand pick the players. They may have a tryout but it is not a true tryout. Certain players are going to be on the team before the tryout is ever held. Certainly the coaches kids and the others that have helped form the team. Now you have your tryout but it is really a selection process for that left field posistion or maybe a couple of pitchers. The real problems come when the season ends and people want to "upgrade" the team. Certain kids that have been loyal to the team all season long are now subject to be let go when the new "tryout" is held. Certain kids know that they are not subject to release because dad is the coach or the guy with the checkbook. The kids that are actually hurt in this scenario are not the obvious. Its not the kids that are let go if the parents handle it properly. NO , its the coaches kids or the bank rollers kid. When the time comes where they have to earn it they will be in trouble. And their parents will end up as some poor HS coaches nightmare. There are two ways to go with this stuff. One is the aforementioned and the other is in my opinion the right way. Have a true tryout from the begining. No one has a spot. Everyone must earn a spot. If your going to volunteer to coach it make sure you want to coach baseball, and not just coach your son. Then be loyal to those players you have and as long as they are where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be and have a good attitude and follow the team rules. Teach "your" players how to play and develop "your" players. Instead of trying to "upgrade" by selecting the talented players from your competition hence leaving your loyal less talented players in the dust. There are way too many AAU Select Travel ball etc etc teams that are trying so hard to win that they forget the best thing you can give a young player is a good baseball learning environment that fosters a strong work ethic. This is way more valuable than a plastic trophy on some coaches fireplace collecting dust.

 

we generally have about 65 + trying out for jv baseball. we have a set way in which we run tryouts with a scoring rubric to help us out. when we make the 1st cut it is done by the old list way. for varsity they have usually weeded themselves out to where we only have to cut 2-3. we talk to these guys individually. usually after 1st cuts for jv (we cut down to about 23-25) we talk to the guys individually. 3 days for 1st cuts, and usually 3-5 more for 2nd cuts on jv. usually 3 days for varsity cuts.