Try Outs in Nov/Dec for 2011???

[amazing]

It seems like more and more teams are advertising try outs for 2011 in November and December of 2010. Traditionally team’s let the kids enjoy the holidays and hold try outs for 2011 in January or early February.
A review of the teams shows very few, if any, established programs doing this.
What is driving this?
Is it a trend?
Will you see more teams doing this?
Will you start to see the established programs doing this?
Is there any advantage? Disadvantage?

[twinsmom]

The reason you see the teams that are new or not long standing doing this is to try to get a jump and grab up some of those players that may be sitting the bench on the "longer established" teams that are unhappy sitting. The kids on the bench of some of those more established teams would be the "star" on a few of the newer teams. More established teams don't worry about pushing tryouts. They figure they will get the players they want pretty much regardless of the time they hold tryouts (and they are usually right). Frequently, the majority of the roster is set for the spring season, but tryouts give them a chance to pick up a diamond in the rough or that one player that has moved to the area from somewhere else. Just what we see here. Not sure about others experiences.

[Wormburner]

I agree with twinsmom. I don't think this is anything new. I really think for a team that has been out there for awhile, regardless of organization, the tryout process is highly overrated. Personally, our team gets most of our inquiries during the year when approached by parents that are looking for a change for their daughter. I prefer the open practice format for checking out prospective players. It gives me the chance to see how they fit the chemistry, attitude, and work ethic of my existing players, and it give me a much better look at the parents in action.

Bill Savell
99 D-Bat (Savell)

[pbj2000]

Open workouts are great to evalute if a kid can hang with your program. I do disagree that it is a time to evalute the parents though...most parents at this point have heard somewhere along the road to keep quiet when their daughter is working out.

We like to evaluate the parents in a game or a scrimmage...that is when you find out which parents are helicopter parents...making a big hoot when their kid is on the diamond...then as a coach you say...wooohhhh, pump the brakes! Where was the parent at the open practices...quiet and encouraging...now it's do this, do that parent...ehhhh see ya! Start your own team or your own org for that matter!

Glad to see the bucket making a comeback!

[Wormburner]

Maybe "looking at the parents in action" was misunderstood to mean evaluating. I can tell a lot about what I am getting into with a parent by their posture and body language at an open workout whether they say anything or not, plus I have the parents from my team present to give me "insight" into anything that I might have missed. No system is perfect, I realize, but I'll take parent and team chemistry over talent any day. The less drama, the more rewarding the experience for the players. Again, just my two cents.

Bill
99 D-Bat (Savell)

[pbj2000]

Agreed...some parents you can get a read in an open workout...we've had some that were just ridiculous. Going off on the previous coaches and previous teams they played on and their abilities. Their kid had TONS of talent and could be a starter, but you just can't get past that coach bashing parent...and the gut just sais...nope!

But for those parents who already know the system and keep quiet a good scrimmage or weekend tournament also reveals some hidden skeletons.

Anyways, tryouts in nov and dec for 2011 IMO is bad on both parts...the teams that are hosting the tryouts don't get an opportunity to see the kid in action since there are no tourneys Late Dec/Jan/Early Feb and who knows if they work in the off season to get better or just loaf it.

If parents take an offer in Nov for a 2011 team you also don't get a chance to evaluate the teams performance or better yet the coaches performance in gametime situations. A team in Nov/Dec might be comprised of half girls that can't even play for the same age bracket in the Spring.

Peanut Butter and Jelly

[Wormburner]

I agree on all points, PB&J! For both coaches and parents/players, it is essential that you do the homework and research. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. If the players on the team don't seem happy, or if the coaches don't enjoy the kids, or if your gut just screams, NO!, then you should avoid the committment and keep looking. Too many opportunities and too many girls for either the team or the kid to get stuck in a bad situation. I appreciate your dialogue.

Bill
99 D-Bat (Savell)