Best way to notify a player they have been cut

What the kids need today is NOT to be coddled !!!

Especially by their baseball coach

Post the list of roster makers and those who are not listed can make an appointment to talk with you as to why they did not make it

Agree with TRHit on this one. Post the list, and offer to meet with the player. I would add...the player needs to bring a notebook to take notes. From that meeting, we would discuss strengths, weaknesses, and an action plan for what the player has to do to have a better shot next year. I would clearly articulate this is not open to debate, and I do not want to get a call from his parents. I would thank him and tell him I will see him next year.

Our coaches meet individually with each player. If that's how they choose to do it, fine by me as it's their time. If they chose to post a cut list or something like that, I'd be fine with that as well.

I'm not sure I'd call meeting with each individual player to discuss their tryout performance and their strengths and weaknesses "coddling" though?

I agree that players do not need to be coddled but I think it's only right to meet with them face to face to explain why they got cut. To me it's about maintaining dignity. You post a list in the hallway of the school and a kid gets cut but because playing baseball was something he wanted so much he ends up breaking down and crying. I can't see that being right no matter how tough they are mentally.

Here is a thread that sorta deals with the question you raised from several months ago. I'm not going to say a coach who posts a list is wrong but it's not something I'm going to do. If that kid is going to give me three days of hard effort to try and impress me I owe it to him to look him in the eye and tell him his fate.

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...=548106202#548106202

Our HS coaches meet with the players individually. Yeah, it takes some time but it's the right way to do things. Absolutely do not see this as coddlling the players as some of the meetings can be pretty harsh depending on the player. Coaches also tell the players on the team the role the coaches see them playing on the team that year; sometimes those are pretty deflating to the players also.

Lists are fine for some but if I make the decision to cut a kid, I should at least set an example for the kids about doing things the right way and standing behind your decisions, popular or unpopular. I do agree I don't want the parents calling but if so, I'll handle that also.

Doubt the coach would like being fired by a posted list.

I have seen many ways but the one I like is to hand out envelopes at the end of the final tryout.
Each player is given an envelope containing a hand written note telling why and making a point to contact the coach if he needs further explanation. Each player was instructed not to open the envelope at the ball park.
The other way was a personal phone call after the final practice.
Both worked well.
A lot depends on age of the player.

At the older level the coaches held a meeting with a parent and the player to let them know if the player made it or not. They also told the player his expected role on the team.

Why are parents involved in this?

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I have seen many ways but the one I like is to hand out envelopes at the end of the final tryout.
Each player is given an envelope containing a hand written note telling why and making a point to contact the coach if he needs further explanation. Each player was instructed not to open the envelope at the ball park.

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I think this is a great way of doing it. Like I said I have no problem with the list either. I'm not a big fan of the chat. I think the last thing a kid wants to do is be pulled aside in front of everyone to have a chat with the coach on his lack of skills. Agree with TR (which almost never happens ), NO PARENTS. And to the whoever said that posting a list may make a kid cry - well, all I can say is what happens when he strikes out, or makes an error and gets reprimanded for it.

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Why are parents involved in this?

TR the parents understand what the players role is going forward. It allowed them to vent if need be. At that level the parents were paying the freight so it was important to be up front.
The chat was at the end of a 4 hour tryout (of 6 tryouts) and was held for every player. I liked it and I will add that the role put forward was not always the reality as the season progressed.

The meetings should be with all players, both those making the team and those cut, and done individually in the coaches office. Like I said it takes time but I think the all the kids will respect and understand the coaches decision that way because no matter the coaches decision, the kids feel they were at least respected for their effort.

Some may believe it doesn't matter as the coach is the final word...that final word if done poorly can lose a team's respect for the coach as fast as anything. Rarely have I seen a team really perform well as a team when they don't respect the coach ...they'll do what he says and go through the motions but they do it as individuals versus being a real team.

If the purpose of doing cuts is for the easiset method for a coach, just do a list with a simple thank you for trying out. In college, I don't have a real issue with that but for a Freshman in HS I believe there is a better way. JMO

I think how cuts are very important. It is important that you don't kill the kids love of the game.
My guy was cut at minor mosquito. That was the year he would get to pitch for the first time. He was devastated. He cried himself to sleep for 2 hours. It was done by a phone call and the selected players were called first. When it got to 10pm we knew it was bad news. It was a great learning experience.

Our high school has done it both ways, the best results were individual meetings with all the players, those who are cut and why, and those who made it and what their roles are on the team, i.e. bench player who is expected to be ready at any time and leader, expected to lead the team from the player's perspective.

My high school basketball coach had a pretty good way of handling it, I thought. All the players waited in the hall outside the gym. One by one you went in to meet him. You either gave him your shoe and uniform sizes, or got the bad news, then exited the gym on the other side. No parents were around, but that was 35 years ago.

At my son's high school the first cuts are listed. A coach will explain to any player why they were cut if they ask. After the first cut the remaining players will be in the program. Each player ultimately has an individual discussion with the coaching staff as to what team he will be on, expectations, what he needs to improve, and if not on varsity what's involved in getting to the next level. Before tryouts the head coach holds a mandatory meeting for prospective players and parents are welcome to explain the expectations and harsh realities of trying out for high school baseball.

When I played the rosters were called out in front of everyone. If a player didn't hear his name he walked away with his head down. I don't recollect anyone dying from the humiliation. I remember friends helping friends shake it off. Then again no one played travel or was an all-star since 8U since it didn't exist. Player and parental expectations were more realistic.

I say post a list but if a kid wants to talk to the coach then make that available. I am sure that there have been several kids cut one year but came back the next year or so to be solid contributors, starters or even stars. But I will bet that the kids that overcame being cut one year showed the initiative to go to the coach for an honest assessment. The kids that show that initiative will be better off in life (and on the baseball field).

My son's HS does individual meetings with each player as has been noted before. The boys seem to appreciate the meetings, but it definitely does not stop the crying. According to my son there have been a few kids over the last two seasons who came out of their meeting and started crying. I'm guessing there will be some of the same today...he said they had about 75 kids at the tryouts...

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The best way? I remember back in the day... it was always done this way!




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If we are we are worried about HS players crying because they were cut we have a major problem with our youth in this country.

I remember the days in LL where kids without talent, even if they were 12 years of age, were placed in the minors --that is when they had major and minor leagues in LL--the word coddle never existed at that time

If they cheese out and post a list, atleast do it at the end of the last try out. So that the players that don't make the team can plan on not bringing their gear. Our high school posts it in the widow of the gym door, the following morning.

when i was a kid LL tryouts had about 80 kids. 4 teams in the league. they maybe needed about 12 to 18 kids. you tried out, then waited a few day's to read the rosters in the paper. if your name wasn't on the roster.......you didn't make it.

in high school you waited a few day's for the coach to post the roster. nobody ever complained that i know of. it was just how it was done.

come to think of it, lots of kids were cut back then. maybe they are in charge now?

And I doubt that any of them are emotionally scarred for life !!!

Never ever post a list. Have you ever been near a list when it was posted? Give a man his dignity.

If you're man enough to cut him, you should be man enough to tell him face to face.

If I had to find out who made the HS team by a posted list in the school lobby I do not see it as that bad for everyone else

When I was in HS there was no JV baseball in our area. HS was soph through sr. Ninth graders went to Jr high school where it was 7th grade through 9th grade. So when you went out for baseball it was varsity only and you had alot of kids trying out for one team.

Usually it was very hard for a soph to make the hs baseball team. My soph year which was 34 years ago I still remember how cuts were made. We had a couple of days of tryouts. The coach never talked to any of the players about who made the team and who did not. He said he was going to post a list of who made the team on the gym door the next day. "If your not on the list your not on the team."

I remember the next day walking by the gym doors to see if my name was on the list. I did not see the list so I waited later in the day to check again. I remember walking to lunch and a couple of guys saying to me "Sorry man. I thought for sure you would make it." I didnt know what to say. I put on a good face. But I was so Peed off. I was embarrassed. I was angry. I just wanted to go home.

Later when I had time to process it I thought "Why couldn't he just tell me? Why did he have to post that for all to see? Why couldn't he just tell the guys that didn't make the team? Why wouldn't want us to know why we didn't make the team and what we could do or coud have done to make it? "If I am ever a coach I will never whimp out like that. I will never make another kid feel the way I feel right now."

How hard is it to get the phone numbers of the kids trying out and call the ones that didn't make it the night before cuts are made? How hard is it to call each one in the next day and have a short meeting with them? How hard is it to think for one minute "If my kid was going to be cut how would I want it to be handled?"

To simply post who is on the team is just wrong. Coddled? No its called having some heart and understanding on how its going to impact a young man. Its called doing things the right way. 34 years ago and I still have not forgotten. Hey coach have the guts to look me in the eye's and tell me why. Look me in the eyes and tell me what I could have done and need to do. Simply posting a list is bogus and its weak.

Having to cut kids is tough most of the time. Sometimes you dont have any problem when the kid is lazy and doesnt show up to work hard. But the vast majority of the time its a kid that wants it very badly and has busted his tail to be a part of something he really wants to be a part of. The LEAST you can do is have the guts and the common decency to give him five minutes of your precious time to explain to the young man what he didnt go and what he can do. Thats not coddling kids. Thats being a good coach.

I went out the next year and made the team. I was determined to show the coach he was wrong about me. But I always had a lack of respect for him for the way it was handled. You shouldnt have to go find a list. You shouldnt have to find out from other students that have viewed the list. As a coach you should want to talk to each kid and you should want them to know why and what they need to do to make the team the next season.

Its easy to have opinions on things when you have never experienced it or your kid has never experienced it. This is just my opinion based on my experience. But I never wanted a kid to feel about me the way I felt about this coach. And I dont think anyone's kid deserves to be told by anyone other than the coach. jmho

Coach May: I wish my son could play for you.

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Is there a line forming? All four of ours would love to play for you Coach.

You've got it together...in a very good way!




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My son's coach had a talk with at least the returning kids before tryouts and gave them an idea were they stood. Then posted a list on his office door at the end of the tryouts. There weren't a lot of surprises when tryouts were over. I don't know if he spoke to any kids that were cut afterwards or not.

I think as long as your honest with a kid it's not coddling. Just tell them what they need to work on and it's up to them what they do with that information.

If a player wanted to quit the team for whatever reason you'd want him to come talk to you not just stop showing up for practice. Wouldn't you?

CM you always make a lot of sense. It is about being a good human being. Over the years I I have seen a lot of kids lose heart and walk away from sports just because of coaches who treated the poorly and showed no empathy. Yes there are some who dig in and make the team but the other also. should be treated with respect

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"come to think of it, lots of kids were cut back then. maybe they are in charge now?"

Yup.






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[QUOTE]Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
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"come to think of it, lots of kids were cut back then. maybe they are in charge now?"

Exactly, like one guy in particular who seems to be a know-it-all from the Northeast who loves to create threads about his travel program that really, nobody cares about.

CM great post.
This has nothing to do with being coddled but decency on the part of the coach, to thank the players for showing up to try out and telling them why they didn't make it and what they have to work on so they can make the team next year.

What they need to work on for next season can be discussed when the player meets with the coach if he, the player, wants to.

The bottom line is that each and every coach handles the cut situation differently and none of the ways are wrong

I wonder how many poster's opinions are swayed by whether or not their name or their kid's names, was or wasn't on the list. It's not a criticism of poster's views. Maybe some people haven't walked in the shoes of the player not on the list. I haven't. The one time my son wasn't on the list in high school basketball he rationalized it with, "You told me a day would come when I would have to choose two sports (basketball was the third). The decision was made for me." He was over it later that evening so it didn't bother me.

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Originally posted by TRhit:
--the word coddle never existed at that time

Sure it did. It's origin in English goes back to around 1598.

Seriously, though...I don't know what the best way to announce cuts would be. I think Coach May demonstrates that the best interest of the students should outweigh convenience.

In my district written policy states that the athletic field is an extension of the classroom and students have the same right to be treated with respect there as they do in the classroom.

Coaches are teachers and are held to the same standard, which is why one baseball coach who, after his team screwed up both ends of a double play and responded by yelling at them, "I don't know why any of you little f@@kers even try to play this game...you don't know sh!t about it!!!!" was relieved of his coaching duties and suspended from his classroom.

I know select team coaches do not feel hindered by the same expectations and provide a more "real life" experience. But as for high school, the "big league" stuff doesn't fly.

I wonder how many poster's opinions are swayed by whether or not their name or their kid's names, was or wasn't on the list. It's not a criticism of poster's views. Maybe some people haven't walked in the shoes of the player not on the list.

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when i was a kid, you knew if your name should or shouldn't be on the list. maybe the coach talked to kids, i know i wasn't one.

but regardless of was it right or wrong it's just how it was. coaches were looked at with great respect or fear, or a combination of the two. you didn't question their choice. kids are smarter today, but i still think most know who belongs where.

What is your goal when you cut a kid? If it is simply to send him on his way - get him out of the way so you can move on then go for it.

What is my goal when I cut a kid? Educate him on why he was cut. Tell him what he needs to do to have a chance to be a part of the program in the future. Motivate him and give him hope that if he really wants it and he works his tail off there is hope. That he will be the one that decides if he plays in this program not me. Prove me wrong.

There are many reasons kids are cut. Sometimes they simply dont understand that acting immature and clowning around is not going to cut it. Sometimes its showing up 1 minute late each day. Sometimes its lack of basic fundementals and physical limitations. Sometimes they were the last guy cut and were a hair away from making the team. Would it benefit the player to hear why? Could it possibly motivate him and educate him to hear why?

How many 14 15 16 year old kids who have been told by a posted list they are not wanted will come back and ask for a meeting with someone that didnt have the backbone to meet with them?

When I cut Mike Robbins and I told him why he was cut and what he needed to do to have a chance in our program he responded "Thanks Coach. I am going to play in the pony league and work out all summer. Can I work out with the guys this summer? Yes you can. "I am going to come back next year and I promise I am going to get better." And that is exactly what he did.

Micheal hit in the lead off spot for us his Sr year and was our #3 pitcher on a team that was ranked #1 in the state. He was offered several D2 and D3 schools but opted for ECU and his field of study. He is one of many that proved me wrong.

I dont believe you gain a thing when you simply post a list. I do believe you gain a lot when you meet with players and you explain to them why and what they can do to have a shot. A list does not offer hope , direction , motivation or explanations. Some would say you dont owe them anymore than telling them they made the team or they didnt. When I cut a kid all I am saying is right now you are not good enough to be a member of our program. Now you can prove me right or you can prove me wrong. And its one time I hope that I am wrong.

The best way to do it - IMO.

Post a list of all those who made the team. Then get Baseball America to write a few articles about each player's "ceiling" and "tools".

For those who didnt make the team - Arrest them and incarcerate them - minimum prison terms of 2 years - no parole.

As a LL All-Star coach I called the kids who did not make it and posted the list the next day. I figured they gave me 100% and I owed them at least the same respect. If they wanted to share the news, they could, but no one was told the complete list until it was posted.

I agree with not coddling kids, but, I thought there was nothing more uncomfortable than a young man standing with his friends in front of a board and not seeing his name, then having to hold back the emotion, or fake it. As coaches, we try to prepared the kids for every game, why not prepare them for this part of the game.