Tryouts for Returning Players

[ICMTM]

Question...

If a returning player indicates an interest in playing for you and you have reservations on picking that kid up do you owe that family a heads up on whether or not they should consider other teams?

This is not personal to me but curious to get some input.

[Extrainnings]

Yes I feel a coach has a responsibility to let them know so they wont miss out on getting a place on another team, coaches should understand that if they don't want this girl on their team there is no reason to stop them from finding another team

[JimineyCricket]

Can we please add to this question? Rumor has it that the head coach of one of the top-ranked 12u teams in the area recently let his team know that if a player from his Fall roster so much as went to another team's tryout (specifically one held by a certain newly-formed team with "magic" powers), that player would not be offered a spot on his Spring team. In the past, this same coach has not let the weaker players on his roster know that a returning spot was not likely to be offered, instead letting players know they'd been bumped from the team by new recruits only after try-outs for other top teams in the area were over. Talk about putting families in a Catch-22 situation - "I may not be loyal to you, but you need to be loyal to me." Why would a head coach think this is OK, and why would ANY parent on the team put up with it?

[Iluvblue]

Tough question depending on EXACTLY what the thoughts of the coach are in regards to the player. If you have no chance of bringing that player back, you should just tell that kid immediately, and not even let tryout take place. After all, you have watched the kid in game situations for a season, what more can you learn from a 2 hour workout?


But if the kid is on the bubble, I dont think there is anything to say before a tryout.


For me specifically, I have no problems with a player going to a tryout, but Im probably replacing that kid. If they are looking at other teams, they are not happy with me, so lets just end the charade now.

Here is the way I personally handle things on MY team. Our Fall season ended on a Sunday, I tell ALL kids that if they plan on returning to MY team I need an email confirmation from them by Tuesday. If I dont hear from them, Im assuming they are not returning, and I am looking to fill their roster spot.


If the kid stated they wanted to return and I did not want them back, I would then tell them immediately after I got their email, although this happens rarely. This is for MY specific teams Im coaching, not younger Monarch teams, as this was not the case with our 14u team this Fall.

BUt your point about you be loyal to me, but im not loyal to you is a GREAT point. As a coach, you dont get the freedom to replace a kid if you want, but not give the kids that same freedom.

All of that giberish that I just wrote above though, throw that shit out the window, because that is how I do things, that is not how the softball word works. It is a nasty world out there, and you better ALWAYS be looking out for your kid, because most teams will drop your ass in a heartbeat if a better players comes around... just remember that FACT!!!!!!!


This is a GREAT question, and one in which I feel most people dont really think about when selecting teams. I had 4 kids leave us between Summer and Fall from the 14,16, and 18u team(combined)on their choice. 2 of those 4 were calling back as soon as this past Fall season ended, but I had no room to bring them back........ so just remember that when you do decide to go to other tryouts. Think long and hard about making the decision to switch teams before you do it.

[ICMTM]

Why is it so hard to tell players that have played for you where they stand? You have no good excuse for lack of communication. This "all positions open" crap is exactly that. It's the easy way of saying I will make commitments when I have to.

Again this isn't about me and my kid. This is the culture of this sport. You have to try hard to find a place where you pay thousands of bucks to be treated like crap.

[Iluvblue]

I found out a long time ago that I have ALMOST as much fun coaching a very good team as a decent team. Once I came to that conclusion, it is like being set free.

this is EXACTLY why you will not ever see a "All positions open" attached to my team.

Once I find a player I am happy with...... that position is pretty much off the table. That being said, once we add players to the team, the best ones will be playing in qualifiers.

I dont really care who shows up to play 1st base or SS on my 18u team....... I already have my 1st baseman and ss. Are there better players out there that play those positions? sure there are, but that quest for the better player got old after about my 4th year of coaching. It is just a MISERABLE quest for me, and I just stopped doing it. My 1st baseman has been on my team for 4 years, and entering her 5th. Why the hell would I want to replace that kid?


But that is just the way this sport works. You know how coaches always say "The grass isnt always greener?" They only seem to use that expression when discussing players LEAVING their team, but they dont want to apply that same expression to themselves and the players on THEIR team.

[RockThePark]

Love your philosophy ILuvblue. I have a daughter on a younger team right now whose coach has the same philosophy. It is not all about winning at any cost!

[LadyMagic83]

Jiminey/Stealing...please stay with one moniker as the repetitive nature of your obvious agenda is becoming boring. Just so you know (PLEASE...PLEASE...ask any parent that was at the Tuesday tryout) EVERY kid was told EXACTLY where they stood and encouraged to attend other tryouts. We moved our tryout forward two days (in anticipation of the weather) rather than cancel it and wait for the 8th JUST FOR THAT REASON!

But alias, you are clearly an immovable object from you LM prejudices, and I am weary of this battle. I realize it cannot be won, nor do I care to. Please feel free to proclaim your ongoing rants and raves without worry of response.

Magic Mike (which, btw, I take as a compliment).

[JimineyCricket]

Mike, you can believe what you want, but I have no idea who Stealing Home is, nor do I have any type of agenda. My post on this thread clearly had to do with a different coach, as the Lady Magic did not field a 12u team this Fall. If you have done the same thing I described - tell girls they will be cut if they try out elsewhere, and then string them along only to cut them later in the process anyway - I had not heard of it before now. If you have, there's no agenda behind my saying "shame on you!"

I will tell you that a common thread I hear (on this board and elsewhere) is that the Lady Magic folks like to think the world revolves around them - you might think about taking a break from proving that's true.

[Sftball Junkie]

I will tell you that a common thread I hear (on this board and elsewhere) is that the Lady Magic folks like to think the world revolves around them - you might think about taking a break from proving that's true.

OK now that is funny!!!