a couple observations from tryouts

[uncdrew]

A lot of time tryouts are just a formality or something that you do just in case you miss something. Most of the top players are recruited heavily throughout the year.

I'm trying hard to get my team to think of themselves as a team we should invite people to join, rather than a team that we hope girls show up on tryout day.

 

[_MIA_]

I'm trying hard to get my team to think of themselves as a team we should invite people to join, rather than a team that we hope girls show up on tryout day.

Yeah that usually is not a self-imposed sort of thing

 

[uncdrew]

Yeah that usually is not a self-imposed sort of thing

True, but we're right on the cusp. We're returning 10 and only need two more, at specific positions. Our team won some big tournaments and have wins against most of the top teams in our age group. So we're on the map, and it's time to act like it. Time to pinpoint the girls we want and start conversations. We shouldn't need a tryout filled with dozens of girls with no hope of making it.

And in our situation, we can self-impose that. We know the girls looking to leave teams, know their parents, know how to contact them. Just need to pick up the phone.

 

[_MIA_]

True, but we're right on the cusp. We're returning 10 and only need two more, at specific positions. Our team won some big tournaments and have wins against most of the top teams in our age group. So we're on the map, and it's time to act like it. Time to pinpoint the girls we want and start conversations. We shouldn't need a tryout filled with dozens of girls with no hope of making it.

And in our situation, we can self-impose that. We know the girls looking to leave teams, know their parents, know how to contact them. Just need to pick up the phone.

Certainly worth a try..if you definitely need players I would have a backup plan just in case nobody else agrees with you

 

[Quigs10]

Let me flip this around a little, just for the sake of conversation ...

Parents, when you go to try outs (or see a team play that you think you want your daughter on) ... are you paying attention and also making the coaches tryout for your daughter? What are you looking for?

I remember taking my daughter to a few tryouts that both she and I walked away from saying "No way." Not only was she trying out for them, but we were watching the coaches. How organized were they? What did their "tryout" consist of? How did they interact with the girls who were already on their team and those who were not? How did the girls already on the team interact with the ones who were not (or did they)?

THIS!!

Absolutely agree! As coaches, we are looking at players and parents to see if they are right fit, but as a parent when I wasn't a coach, I was watching EVERYTHING and trying to listen to EVERYTHING. My DD went to a couple, that in the very first few minutes I knew the coaches were not prepared or the right fit style wise or approach. One team's coaches didn't greet us or say much the entire practice, they isolated the girls already on team from girls trying out and then started the eval/tryout workout by full out throws without ever even warming up in any way. I and a couple other parents just looked at each other and thought "WTF?"

Parents, you are in effect interviewing the coaches too. If they offer, I wouldn't accept right away. I figured, if my DD is good enough and you really do want her on your team, you will still want her in 24-48 hours and let us see if it's a right fit. And if they can't wait, then it's their loss and wasn't meant to be. Very similar to college recruiting.

 

[black17]

Agreed. But most teams and coaches can always make room for a stud that appears outta nowhere. So, want to be on a great team? Be a great player.

From the player perspective, yes, being great certainly opens some doors you would not get otherwise.

Mind blown, right??

 

[Beeg]

Let me flip this around a little, just for the sake of conversation ...

Parents, when you go to try outs (or see a team play that you think you want your daughter on) ... are you paying attention and also making the coaches tryout for your daughter? What are you looking for?

I remember taking my daughter to a few tryouts that both she and I walked away from saying "No way." Not only was she trying out for them, but we were watching the coaches. How organized were they? What did their "tryout" consist of? How did they interact with the girls who were already on their team and those who were not? How did the girls already on the team interact with the ones who were not (or did they)?

Totally agree. Tryouts are a 2-way street. We've been to tryouts that DD say NO immediately afterward if the current players didn't look good at all.

We just attended the best open tryout we've seen. Existing players looked great. Lots of energy, and they were helping the coaches out. Drills were fast, and recruits (is that the correct word for players trying out) must keep up or left behind. Quality of recruits were great also. DD said "wow" on the way to the car and said this is the organization she wants to be on.