College Fall Open Try-outs ?

Technically a coach cannot stop a kid from from coming out for the team, regardless of the Division, be it I, II or III


Open tryouts cover the bases

My question is more in regards to what does it say about the program, if anything, that they have these tryouts. why aren't their rosters full?? or like I said is it just some kind of final formality with recruited walk-ons. Can't imagine some kid showing up that they have never heard of and after an hour and a half try-out he makes the team - so what is the real purpose and what does that tell you about program??

NCAA requires that D1 have open tryouts.

For the bigger programs, many don't show. Last year, at Clemson three made the fall squad and two got roster spots for the year in the spring. Making the fall squad is not making the team. There were some injuries and this put them in a good position. One was a catcher who caught pens and was happy to do so, the other got a start a few times at second and pinch hit. But there overall talent was not as apparant as the recruited players for the program. They didn't mind taking a back seat enjoyed being part of the team and accepted their roles.

I think ALL schools have these. If you are D3...it is simply business. Those schools never know who is going to return or be there until tryouts. Thus...everyone pretty much "tries out" every year.

Interesting. Thanks TPM. I guess some DIs make a bigger deal out of it than others because on some sites I saw it posted in the news releases and others I didn't, so I didn't realize they all did it. Great that some actually make it.

I heard that at some D1 schools, the dates are convenietly not accessible.

I do believe that this is for all D1 sports, not just baseball, and is an NCAA requirement.

quote:

Originally posted by JT:
I think ALL schools have these. If you are D3...it is simply business. Those schools never know who is going to return or be there until tryouts. Thus...everyone pretty much "tries out" every year.

The competitive D3's know who is returning and they recruit an incoming freshman class. There are still have walk on tryouts, but it's not to start. It's to fill out the roster if needed.

TG,
I don't think there are blanket statements that can describe DIII baseball.
Our son played in a very good program. The coaching staff is excellent and equally good in recruiting.
As the program increased in visibility due to the program making the regionals, the number of players who showed up relatively unnanounced for the first day of Fall ball increased significantly. In 2003, I believe they ended up with 67 players, when the staff anticipated 40 between returners and recruits.
That staff allowed every player to compete during the Fall. Cuts did not occur in mid January, when they had already had about 2 weeks of Spring practice and were one week before the first game. The coaches even tried the JV route for 2 seasons.
That program never had a tryout other than the 6, now 5, weeks of Fall ball.
Players, both recruited and unnanounced walk ons were given every chance to compete for a roster spot.

So, does that mean that if you don't play or tryout in the fall you can't play in the spring. This is for DIII.

It sound like it varies from school to school. At my sons' D III school, two days of tryouts are held every fall; returning players and recruited players need not try out. Some years, 1-2 players from the tryouts are invited to play fall ball, some years there are none. At the end of fall practice the roster is pretty much set, and the guys remaining are competing for playing time. The head coach meets with each player after fall practice and tells them where they stand at that time. Some guys hear they won't see the field much and don't return to the team in the spring. Some hang on so their proposed class schedules go into the computer early for the spring session.

At no school, any level, can you relax and coast. If you're a starter, there is always somebody that would like to take your spot and if you have a few bad games, they'll likely get their chance. If the sub performs well, it may be a while before the former starter gets another shot. It's very competitive at all levels. Coaches are always looking to improve the team.

quote:

by hh: I guess some DIs make a bigger deal out of it than others because on some sites I saw it posted in the news releases and others I didn't, so I didn't realize they all did it

yes, it's a compliance thing that it has to be posted for all full-time students & requires a recent medical "OK to compete" (on the student's dime)

just wondering, with the new roster limit - will coach be required to recruit less than 35 & keep a roster spot or 2 open?
otherwise how could a "open tryout candidate" have a chance at making the team if roster is full of recruited players? (including coach's recruited walk-ons whom he had been given a roster spot)

quote:

So, does that mean that if you don't play or tryout in the fall you can't play in the spring. This is for DIII.

At my sons school, skipping fall baseball is quitting the team for established players.........Absences for school or personal reasons are accomodated with coach approval. But skipping the fall program is not acceptable.

There is no spring tryout for walk-ons....so skipping the fall try out means you can try again next year....

Hokieone nails my sons experience as well with this

"Two days of tryouts are held every fall; returning players and recruited players need not try out. Some years, 1-2 players from the tryouts are invited to play fall ball, some years there are none. At the end of fall practice the roster is pretty much set, and the guys remaining are competing for playing time. The head coach meets with each player after fall practice and tells them where they stand at that time. Some guys hear they won't see the field much and don't return to the team in the spring."

This also includes participation in the off season conditioning program and/or camp schedule....

[QUOTE]"Two days of tryouts are held every fall; returning players and recruited players need not try out. Some years, 1-2 players from the tryouts are invited to play fall ball, some years there are none. At the end of fall practice the roster is pretty much set, and the guys remaining are competing for playing time. The head coach meets with each player after fall practice and tells them where they stand at that time. Some guys hear they won't see the field much and don't return to the team in the spring."


This also includes participation in the off season conditioning program and/or camp schedule....

This is what I have seen over the last couple years. I expect this will change slightly due to new restrictions but generally the same.

quote:

just wondering, with the new roster limit - will coach be required to recruit less than 35 & keep a roster spot or 2 open?

This is where it will get dicey. Coaqches will need to recruit more carefully or they will be cutting more players after fall workout to get thye best players to fill out the roster for the spring.

At my son's D1 there were 2 days of tryouts over 1 weekend. All players were required to attend the tryouts, including the veterans.

When all was said and done, none of the 30 nonrecruited walkons were invited back the next week.

quote:

This is where it will get dicey. Coaqches will need to recruit more carefully or they will be cutting more players after fall workout to get thye best players to fill out the roster for the spring

agree, but with new rules, other than during "2 day open tryout" coach could never have more than 35 players.

open tryouts are held the first week or so of practice - not nearly enough time to eval any other player who woul need to give up a roster spot if an "open tryout" guy made the team

At my son's school (D1) the recruited walk-ons don't participate in the open tryout. The open tryout is for 2-3 days. Only 1 player in the last three years made the team. They typically have 25-30 kids at the open tryouts.

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:

quote:

This is where it will get dicey. Coaqches will need to recruit more carefully or they will be cutting more players after fall workout to get thye best players to fill out the roster for the spring

agree, but with new rules, other than during "2 day open tryout" coach could never have more than 35 players.

open tryouts are held the first week or so of practice - not nearly enough time to eval any other player who woul need to give up a roster spot if an "open tryout" guy made the team

There is confusion. If a program is only allowed 35 and has 35 why the need for open tryouts? The only reason I could see was that some didn't show up (drafted, transfered), etc and he needs warm bodies. No coach is going to let a recruited player go he has watched for months over someone he saw for 2 days, unless it's needed. One player got a walk on catcher position last year as one of three catchers couldn't throw due to surgery. He had only one start, was a great bullpen catcher, and happy with his status.

I am going to try to find out.

I don't believe there is a restriction on how many players can show up for fall Roster (if you must ). The only roster restricted is the spring roster. Walk ons recruited or otherwise are different than open tryout guys. THIS IS PART OF THE CONFUSION. tHERE IS NO ROSTER IN THE FALL BUT A LIST OF PLAYERS WHO ARE ALL TRYING OUT FOR THE TEAM. Some are scholarshiped and some are not. Cuts and RS take place at the end of fall and that roster has to be down to 35.

quote:

by TPM: If a program is only allowed 35 and has 35 why the need for open tryouts? The only reason I could see was that some didn't show up (drafted, transfered), etc and he needs warm bodies.

it's confusing .. formerly, when there was no limit - ncaa said MUST allow a "student population" tryout, if talent was found all they had to do was find another uniform

quote:

by bbhddl: I don't believe there is a restriction on how many players can show up for fall Roster (if you must ). The only roster restricted is the spring roster. Walk ons recruited or otherwise are different than open tryout guys.

true, that open tryout guys are in a catagory of their own ... and yes FORMERLY coaches had flexibility during the fall and could over-recruit and/or use fall practice essentially to trim a XXL roster since "Scholarship Compliance" AND "Academic Progress Rate" were NOT required until about Feb

BUT NOW, the "NEW NCAA RULE CHANGES" moved those two compliance conditions to the beginning of fall term

Do you have the rule changing this. I haven't seen it .
There essentially has never been a true roster in the fall.
Many teams cut and RS several players before spring semester. Does that open up spots for walk ons etc. What about injured guys who don't start until spring due to rehab.

All of this still has to be voted on and approved in the January meeting