recruiting players at a tournament?

[Judd]

I have seen coaches from teams not playing at a tournament, out talking to parents, trying to recruit players.

Whats the general opinion on this?


How do they actually do it? Just ask who is #27's parents and go talk to them?

[TulsaEliteGold]

A lot of times those parents have contacted the coach and asked them to come watch them. Especially this time of year. I get contacted all the time by parents wanting to tryout for our team and asking me if I can come watch them ahead of time. In Plano, last weekend, I cannot count the number of parents who came up and asked me to watch their kid and see if we would be interested in her trying out for us next year. If I am approached by the parent, I will look at the kid. If not, I may watch them, but am not going to try to find their parents and recruit them. If your team is good enough, they know who you are and we want kids who want to play for us, not kids we have to try to talk into it.

Now, there are some coaches who never stop recruiting and will try to recruit your kids while playing against you. I always tell them, please just tell me which kids you want and I will be the first one to encourage them to go to your tryouts, the last thing I want is a kid that doesn't want to be on our team.

[Judd]

No, these coaches were "cold calling" without a doubt.

This is a new team so trying to get the word out. I just am not sure I am comfortable approaching parents while playing on another team though. The tournament tomorrow I am interested in is an All Stars tournamnet so I thought I would see if there were any prospects there. For the most part, girls on All Stars are done at the end of the season.

I have talked to many parents and they have no clue where to look for travel teams like Eteams and local softball boards. So a large portion of parents dont even see those adds.

[2bucketdad]

When you say an All-Star tournament, I think of rec ball and players and parents that are not on a travel team, and may be worth devoloping into travel players. IMO it is fine to approach these players and parents...

[Judd]

Thats exactly what all stars is. Its supposed to be the best players from the rec league, playing tournaments after rec is over. Usually the team is done at the end of summer with no plans of sticking together

[SDSUXO]

Thats exactly what all stars is. Its supposed to be the best players from the rec league, playing tournaments after rec is over. Usually the team is done at the end of summer with no plans of sticking together

This is exactly how my DD got picked up to go and play in West. Nats...she was done with rec all-stars and we are making the transition to travel, it was a great opportunity and experience for her (and me) to go and see how life on the travel side is. Definitely eye-opening!!!

[Martin]

Since no player intended to continue with the team after Allstars were finished, the tournament amounted to a quasi-showcase for the area travel teams. I don't see a problem with it.

[Nzane]

If they were doing it at a travel Tourney, that would be wrong. But, I agree, at a Rec All Star tourney, good idea..........

[Judd]

I went out today but no canidates. All star tourny

Its funny. Someone told me how if you just sit in the bleachers, you can find the unhappy parents. How true it is...