In our pre-tryout meeting, I give a handout to the prospective players outlining the procedure, some guideline and a letter to the parents. I might take a couple of ideas from that handout and mention them here. Parents need to realize that any anxiety that they might have COULD affect their child. In short, control the things you can control and do your best to make those days of tryouts like any other day. Secondly, during tryouts it is easier on the player if you talk to them on their terms. Many will feel that they didn't do well. For some this will be truthful. For others, they are harder on themselves than they should be. Your child doesn't need coaching or admonishments at this time. Rather, they need parental support. Having suggested this, and again, it is from our perspective and what we hand out in a community where we've lived most of our lives and have coached for several years, I do think the advice is sound. Per what all of the parents "say." Most coaching staffs worth their salt are not sharing anything with any parent at anytime during tryouts. JMHO!
