Tryout Forms

okay... I'll say it... take the freshman. A coach has three more years to work with this player, who by the time she's a senior will possibly be way beyond the present senior talent wise.
The reality is that in most cases the coach will keep both. The senior because of loyalty and the freshman because of potential. The coach will then have to make a decision about playing time. If he is a good coach then the best one will be on the field, which ever one that ends up being.

As far as the senior's parent's feelings goes... Please! that's not even in the equation. There is not a place in the scorebook where you list "feelings".
For the senior that looses out to a more talented younger player, it's a life lesson. She should stay positive minded about herself and the team. She has a lot of life ahead of her, it just may not include playing ball. For every player it has to end at some point.

 

Phreak,
If you are really able to really question this I salute you. If it is the difference in a championship you play the freshman if she is better when the title is on the line. Since you are looking at a season, perhpas you work it out over the year for the older girl. We all forget this is for fun.

 

Play the best player. Seniors shouldn't be cut, but they shouldn't start just because they are seniors. Any good coach will plan ahead from year to year. Most varsity players are juniors and seniors. If a kid doesn't have what it takes to be an eventual varsity player, they shouldn't ever make it beyond the freshman year. Its not difficult for a coach to spot their future potential players. All it takes is a visit to a middle school practice or a game or two involving their players in the local TB organization. Then a final determination can be made at tryouts.

If a freshman (or sophomore) JV is good enough to take the place of an upperclassman and it will make the team better, they should be moved up. They should not be moved up just to sit on the bench. They need practice and playing time to get better. That's what JV ball is for.

 

If the senior has worked hard and paid her dues, I would make sure she gets the opportunity to feel an important part of the team. Pinch hitting, baserunning, somehow make her have the best experience for her last year. In game sthat you are pretty sure you can win she starts. She may be later in life your nurse or the police officer who stops you speeding.

 

.....In this case I would probavbly play the senior, and look REAL hard at getting that freshman into the lineup somewhere.
Put your best 9 on the field regardless of age/class.
And don't forget to make time for the 2 or 3 kids/subs who rank right up with your starters.
Fishman

 

Tryout Considerations

I copied this from Cindy Bristow's site Softball Excellence. Great info for what to consider at a tryout.


Let's look at a list of 5 Things You Should Always Consider Whenever You Hold Tryouts:

1. Do Some Individual Teaching to See How Coachable They Are
   • You don't want to pick a good player only to find out later that they are uncoachable.
   • Eliminate as many surprises as you can by exposing as much as possible during tryouts.
2. Make it a Tryout and Not Just Another Practice
   • Do all the skills you need to see
   • Be sure to expose both Physical and Emotional/Mental Skills
   • Create some frustrating situations to see how players respond
   • Do things at different speeds to see who can adjust
3. If Using an Evaluation Form
   • Only list what you can use
   • Make sure you allow for a variety of skill levels
   • Have more than one person evaluating
   • Keep your evaluations in case you are challenged
   • Evaluate both the mental/emotional as well as the physical
4. SLOW Down the Pace - It's Not a Race
   • You don't need to see who can go through tryouts the fastest, you want to find who can play softball the best.
   • Softball games can take time and sometimes it's the time in between plays that cause a player to struggle - find that out before you pick them!
5. Be Honest and Kind
   • Nobody likes to hear they aren't good enough
   • It's tough to tell someone they weren't good enough but it's harder to hear it.

 

senior plays

everytime

 

all being equal...agreed
Got to assume there has been some positive leadership instilled with 4 years experience.

 

I know a girl who is currently playing softball at a small college. The last time I saw her she was telling me about her experience of playin there. One of her comments was that she is still trying to get over the emotional beat down she took from her high school coach. My comment to her was, "who, you really need to forget him" . I never thought she was a great player, but she did contribute. She is still playing and most of the other girls off that team are not. Unfortunately she will always remember her high school team some for the wrong reason.