The only reason I would want to discuss with the coach my son's not making the team is if he had some attitude problem that kept him from making the squad. I would want to know because that way I can fix something (hopefully) before it causes him problems later on in life.
If he gets cut for skill (or lack thereof) then I think the kid should be able to handle what is being told to him. Parents don't need to be involved. Teens won't learn to become men if their parents are in there fighting their battles for them.
My point is that a parent should not become automatically involved. If a mature coach with a respected program takes the time to explain to the player why he was cut and provides a genuine direction on what the player nneds to work on so that he can compete for a spot next year, there is no reason to talk to the coach.
Not every situation or coach is the same. Some parents spend a great deal of money on travel baseball, lessons, camps, and high school clinincs. If their son comes home after being cut and he was not satisfied with the explanation of why he was cut, did not get any input, even after asking, as to how he could improve to make the team next year, it should not be a problem for a parent to inquire about the process of determining the roster, improvement opportunities, etc.. Like I said, some of the high school coaches in our area never even player high school baseball or coached a little league team yet. They may need to understand a parent's point of view. It may help him develop his method of cutting players in future years.
Not every situation or coach is the same. Some parents spend a great deal of money on travel baseball, lessons, camps, and high school clinincs. If their son comes home after being cut and he was not satisfied with the explanation of why he was cut, did not get any input, even after asking, as to how he could improve to make the team next year, it should not be a problem for a parent to inquire about the process of determining the roster, improvement opportunities, etc.. Like I said, some of the high school coaches in our area never even player high school baseball or coached a little league team yet. They may need to understand a parent's point of view. It may help him develop his method of cutting players in future years.
Have a scrimmage or some kind of drill that the other coaches can be doing while you call over each player individually to discuss tryouts and their abilities. Make sure you call over all players and not just the ones being cut or just the ones making the team. This way it is not noticable to all the other players. While the drill is going on the other players will have to be paying attention, so if you do send one packing he won't have to deal with the walk of shame.
When a player becomes a coach he can be included in a discussion on cuts. The only cut he should discuss is his own.quote:Originally posted by Vicarious Dad:
OK, parents aren't allowed to question cuts. How does everyone feel about players on the team speaking their minds to the coach about the cuts that he made?
There's nothing wrong with a player privately expressing to the coach why he disagrees with the decision on him. Then the coach explains why he made the decision and what the player needs to do to improve. Parents should stay out of it and allow their boys to mature and become young men.
Bingo! Plus a parent only sees his kid's talent, not his kid's talent in the realm of the other players competing for roster spots and the needs of the team. Not to mention the kid's attitude. The coach may see attitude (or lack of it) the parent can't see.quote:Originally posted by sandlotmom:
I doubt many coaches would put the word of an over involved parent above what he saw himself at the tryouts.
My son told me the his coach went off on the team about the way some of the players are carrying themselves in the perseason optional workouts. The coach asked why some of them were acting cocky when none of the returning varsity players aren't acting cocky and are focused in their work. I named the players involved to my son based on how their parents act. I named them all. They are kids who expect to make varsity because their parents have told them how good they are and how much better they are than existing varsity players.
Bingo! Plus a parent only sees his kid's talent, not his kid's talent in the realm of the other players competing for roster spots and the needs of the team. Not to mention the kid's attitude. The coach may see attitude (or lack of it) the parent can't see.quote:Originally posted by RJM:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by sandlotmom:
I doubt many coaches would put the word of an over involved parent above what he saw himself at the tryouts.
If all of the things mentioned above were explained to the player as the reason he was cut, there would be no need for a parent to follow up. The player knows the reason. Again, the only reason a parent would be involved was if the coach was not being up front with the player that was cut. The reason why a parent would get involved is not to question the decision but to understand the decision.
For example, if a coach cut my son because he was too slow, maybe I shell out some money for speed training to help his chances next year. If a coach cut my son because of his attitude, that is my son's problem and I doubt that I will spend a whole lot of money on developing his baseball skills until he figures that out. The bootom line is the need to get to the root of why he was cut. If a player asks and does not get a straight answer, I could understand why a parent would want to make sure that he does understand.
We were actually talking about this yesterday...former high school coach was recently inducted into the school's Hall of Fame...coached the baseball team for 40 years...wow! He would line his players up along the foul line. He would stand at 2nd base and call each one out and simply say, "you made it, get your stuff and be here Monday," or "you didn't make it, get your stuff." Told of a specific kid where he called him out and said, "you made the team, but you're not going to play. You're going to keep my book, so don't ask me about playing time. Get your stuff and be here on Monday."
sc
You gotta love that coach !!!
You gotta love that coach !!!
Questions for all ... A kid rates out in the top 10 of 20 trying out, and he gets cut.
Did not happen to me personally, but it's a true story.
How do you explain that one to the parents?
Did not happen to me personally, but it's a true story.
How do you explain that one to the parents?
Who rated the player in the top 10 to 20? His parents?
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
Who rated the player in the top 10 to 20? His parents?
Negative.
How did he get that rating ? Usually players are not rated at HS tryouts--they either make the team or they don't
They are ranked for the following:
- running speeds for 30 and 60
- fielding ability
- hitting ability
The ranking gives the staff data to show the reason why they cut a kid IF they are ever questioned by a parent why their son was cut.
But if a kid rates in top 10 out of 20 overall, how in the world is he cut?
Tryouts were conducted inside as well.
- running speeds for 30 and 60
- fielding ability
- hitting ability
The ranking gives the staff data to show the reason why they cut a kid IF they are ever questioned by a parent why their son was cut.
But if a kid rates in top 10 out of 20 overall, how in the world is he cut?
Tryouts were conducted inside as well.
Didn't hustle
Didn't have the right attitude
Was not as good as the other players at his position
Are you saying the staff rates and ranks each player in each of thoise catergories ??
Didn't have the right attitude
Was not as good as the other players at his position
Are you saying the staff rates and ranks each player in each of thoise catergories ??
quote:Didn't hustle
Didn't have the right attitude
Was not as good as the other players at his position
Other possibilities:
Kid asked for time off to accomodate other activities (it happens)
Kids' grades were borderline or below team standards
Kid had raw tools but did not show game awareness (i.e., tendency towards bonehead plays, base running errors, missing cutoff men, etc.)
quote:Originally posted by Vicarious Dad:
OK, parents aren't allowed to question cuts. How does everyone feel about players on the team speaking their minds to the coach about the cuts that he made?
That's fine. The player has every right to ask why he got cut if he chooses to. If the player asks, the coach owes it to the player to take a few minutes out of his schedule and explain why. Then the player can tell his parents if he chooses. The coach owes no explanation to the parents.
quote:The coach owes no explanation to the parents.
sooner or later the kid is going to have to stand on his own merit. Has to start somewhere might as well be now. As far as the parent goes the parent did not try out the kid did. As far as notifying player post list Play ball!!!!
I got the impression the question was a prominent player asking the coach about the cuts he made of other players. My son did this with a handful of team leaders in another sport. It earned them two hours of running laps for practice.quote:Originally posted by zombywoof:quote:Originally posted by Vicarious Dad:
OK, parents aren't allowed to question cuts. How does everyone feel about players on the team speaking their minds to the coach about the cuts that he made?
That's fine. The player has every right to ask why he got cut if he chooses to. If the player asks, the coach owes it to the player to take a few minutes out of his schedule and explain why. Then the player can tell his parents if he chooses. The coach owes no explanation to the parents.
quote:But if a kid rates in top 10 out of 20 overall, how in the world is he cut?
His parents only gave $500.00 instead of the 'suggested' $5,000.00 to the fundraiser?
This is a tough one if not handled properly. I can't imagine a coach having time to meet with 30-50 kids that get cut at some schools?
The key is communication from the get go. Before tryouts start, a coach has to explain to the players a number of nuances involved in choosing the team:
1) How tryouts will be conducted and for how long. If more than one cut will be made, let them know an approximate timeline (first cut after day 3, final cut after day 5).
2) Tell them how players will be notified if they've made the team or not. Posting a list of players who make it, individual meetings with the coach, etc...
3) Tell players they can be cut immediately if they don't hustle, break team rules, have poor attitudes, etc... I'll never cut a kid until the last day if he tries and gives a strong effort...independent of performance.
4) Explain that "stats" during tryouts don't mean a thing. Seeing eye singles can make a kid 4 for 6 during a couple intersquad games. Never mind he is a pie thrower, can't run a lick and just won't help the team. I have seen this one bite lots of coaches in the butt. Returning all-conference player looks lousy during tryout...but makes the team. Paula Abdul's little brother has the tryout of his life, but doesn't make the team (cause all the coaches know the kid just experienced his 15 minutes of fame).
5) Prepare them for other options...outdoor track, lacrosse, rec baseball...explain to them the worst thing they can do if cut is to shut down. Tell them to prove the coaches wrong next season.
The key is communication from the get go. Before tryouts start, a coach has to explain to the players a number of nuances involved in choosing the team:
1) How tryouts will be conducted and for how long. If more than one cut will be made, let them know an approximate timeline (first cut after day 3, final cut after day 5).
2) Tell them how players will be notified if they've made the team or not. Posting a list of players who make it, individual meetings with the coach, etc...
3) Tell players they can be cut immediately if they don't hustle, break team rules, have poor attitudes, etc... I'll never cut a kid until the last day if he tries and gives a strong effort...independent of performance.
4) Explain that "stats" during tryouts don't mean a thing. Seeing eye singles can make a kid 4 for 6 during a couple intersquad games. Never mind he is a pie thrower, can't run a lick and just won't help the team. I have seen this one bite lots of coaches in the butt. Returning all-conference player looks lousy during tryout...but makes the team. Paula Abdul's little brother has the tryout of his life, but doesn't make the team (cause all the coaches know the kid just experienced his 15 minutes of fame).
5) Prepare them for other options...outdoor track, lacrosse, rec baseball...explain to them the worst thing they can do if cut is to shut down. Tell them to prove the coaches wrong next season.
My coach would always say that cutting kids was the hardest part of his job. My high school used the list and it was in a discrete part of the school. It wasn't posted somewhere where everyone could look at it, just people who needed to. My coach told kids he would talk to them if they wanted, but usually none ever did.
My coach always talked about 3 pillars- talent, attitude, grades- that he used to determine if a player was going to make it or not. He talked about kids who were very talented but were cancers on the team who he could not afford to keep. I think it should be done swiftly and without incidence. Post a list and tell kids you are willing to meet with them to discuss what they need to do to make the team next year or why they didn't make the team. It's a tough decision but it has to be done.
My coach always talked about 3 pillars- talent, attitude, grades- that he used to determine if a player was going to make it or not. He talked about kids who were very talented but were cancers on the team who he could not afford to keep. I think it should be done swiftly and without incidence. Post a list and tell kids you are willing to meet with them to discuss what they need to do to make the team next year or why they didn't make the team. It's a tough decision but it has to be done.