This is the first year in 4 seasons that my DD has truly had to do the tryout circuit. I can tell you it has been stressful for her and her parents. The stress of her performing under that pressure and then having to make the best decision about where to spend her Junior, and hopefully, Senior year seasons is not easy.
I have noticed a few things so far about how the tryouts are run here in this neck of the woods. She has been to 3 different organizations so far. The first is a very well established name with a Gold and Elite team setup. From the minute walking to the fields there was little communication, none to the parents and you got the feeling the teams were set and they were just going through the motions. Got an email the next day that she didn't make the cut. Not surprised.
The next organization was a lower level team that had graduated 10 seniors, so no surprise the tryout was very different. The recruiting co-ordinator talked to the parents for 15 to 20 minutes about what he does to help the girls reach out to college coaches, showed us the recruiting books and profiles from years past and explained his philosophies. All this while 4 or 5 coaches and past players worked out the girls in small groups. DD was offered a spot the next day.
The latest was another big organization. Over 90% of girls a the tryout wore the teams uniform. It was a good tryout, really ran them through the gauntlet, but a lot like a cattle call, no offer so far.
What I have found is that if your DD is not that stand out player, these bigger teams really don't look too closely at you. They are trying to build a team of stars, and I understand that so they can protect their brand. The have no way to know that DD may be a great team mate, hard worker in practice, etc. They have no way of knowing how many 2 out RBI she had, or how many times she shortened up to hit behind a runner to move her over in a tight game, how many times she layed down a sac bunt to get a runner to 3rd with less than 2 outs. All of the intangibles about how to play the game get lost in home to first times, home to home times, 8 swings off of a wobbly pitching machine, or one live simulated at bat.
There is more to a complete player than "data", the good coaches will see it and take a chance.
Thanks for reading.
"Not so" NewSoftballDad
I have noticed a few things so far about how the tryouts are run here in this neck of the woods. She has been to 3 different organizations so far. The first is a very well established name with a Gold and Elite team setup. From the minute walking to the fields there was little communication, none to the parents and you got the feeling the teams were set and they were just going through the motions. Got an email the next day that she didn't make the cut. Not surprised.
The next organization was a lower level team that had graduated 10 seniors, so no surprise the tryout was very different. The recruiting co-ordinator talked to the parents for 15 to 20 minutes about what he does to help the girls reach out to college coaches, showed us the recruiting books and profiles from years past and explained his philosophies. All this while 4 or 5 coaches and past players worked out the girls in small groups. DD was offered a spot the next day.
The latest was another big organization. Over 90% of girls a the tryout wore the teams uniform. It was a good tryout, really ran them through the gauntlet, but a lot like a cattle call, no offer so far.
What I have found is that if your DD is not that stand out player, these bigger teams really don't look too closely at you. They are trying to build a team of stars, and I understand that so they can protect their brand. The have no way to know that DD may be a great team mate, hard worker in practice, etc. They have no way of knowing how many 2 out RBI she had, or how many times she shortened up to hit behind a runner to move her over in a tight game, how many times she layed down a sac bunt to get a runner to 3rd with less than 2 outs. All of the intangibles about how to play the game get lost in home to first times, home to home times, 8 swings off of a wobbly pitching machine, or one live simulated at bat.
There is more to a complete player than "data", the good coaches will see it and take a chance.
Thanks for reading.
"Not so" NewSoftballDad