Cuts to be Made

In my experience, I can think of no profession where applicants are as impassioned as those who aspire to be a Navy pilot. Unbelievably high acheivers who lay their very beings on the line to have the wings of gold pinned on their chest after a brutal two year interview. And anytime within that two year test you can be dropped like a rock. First you get to have a physical at the Naval Air Medical Institute. Oops your eyes have somehow gone bad! It's called the NAMI WHAMMY...your done. Eighteen weeks of pure physical and mental hell with the Marines in AOCS before you ever see or smell a cockpit. Can't take the abuse...drop on request (DOR) your done. I've seen Harvard honor grads fail academically because they couldn't take the stress and study too. Then you actually start flight school and get simulators with ground school...screw up and your done. If you've made it past all that, you get to start Familiarization (actual fying), then you make it through Basic Instruments, then Aerobatics, then Formation, then Day Navigation, Then Night Navigation all the while you have classroom work. Then your final test in Basic Flight is Radio Instruments...flying in the soup and getting somewhere safely...and for some reason you cannot transfer what your instruments are saying into a map in your head. You don't have spacial orientation. They give you three "downs" (flight failures) and you are sitting before a board of three officers who have what you want and are telling you that you can't cut it... that everything you've done for the past year and a half is a waste. You came early, you stayed late, you left a wife and baby at home in Ohio or Montana when you came to Pensacola to fulfill a dream you've had since you were old enough to put the posters of airplanes on your wall and you and your dad sat in your car at the end of the airport runway watching plane takeoff and land. Now you've got phone calls to make...dad....I didn't make it. Honey, I didn't cut it...gramps was a pilot in WWII and you've got to call him and explain as well.

It doesn't get any easier after high school sports. And by the way, in time, the you find that it wasn't a waste. It might be the defining period in your life. You are not a failure. You're a winner because you had a goal, had the guts to go for it and gave it your all and grew to know yourself better along the way. Nope cuts are no fun.

You keep the players that are the BEST players and who will make the team better

Do this and you have no problems, at least from my point of view

Kids have to earn the right to make the team. On the surface those with the best ability should make the team. But those returning players should be given the opportunity to make the team and possbly get a starting position. Over the years I had a few with ability but lacked in the attitude department. you know the kid that was all this and that coming up and now has to work a little bit. you constantly have to tell them to do this and do that. Some made it some did not. Would they have made the team better? Depends what better is.

Cutting players is very tough and sometimes cutting a player is not tough at all. We keep the best players and cut the rest. Now the key here is how do you define the best players? I define it this way. The most talented players that have a team attitude that are dedicated. This means that a kid that does not have a good attitude is cut. This means that a kid that is not dedicated is cut. But this does not mean that a less talented kid with a great attitude that is dedicated will be cut. Only if we have all the spots filled with all the traits we are looking for. There are times that a less talented kid with great attitude and is dedicated will make the team over a more talented player that does not. We have a Junior that was a back up on JV last year. This kid is not talented at all. But from August to Feb he did not miss one single day of work outs. He has an outstanding attitude. He pulls for his teamates. He is extremely dedicated. The other players love him and respect him because he works so hard even though he understands that he will probaly sit the bench if he makes the team. And there is a good possibility that he will be cut. Because of this he was not cut and he will be on JV again this year as a JR. Now he will not play much. He understand this and is willing to accept his role. And if he continues to show this type of character I will keep him next year on the varsity. I will reward those that exemplify the true spirit of of what we are trying to build. This sends the message to the other more talented players that we reward those that work and are dedicated regardless of ability. And we say good bye to those that dont regardless of ability. Team attitude and chemistry can not be over stated.

Agree with Coach May - we don't have a deep program, and 99% of the V/JV team is decided long before we step on the field - we just don't have much competition for spots on the roster. We do, however, have a couple kids that bring a great attitude and work ethic. We are somewhat "forced" to keep a couple guys with suspect attitudes and spotty attendance records because they can play. We feel we send the wrong message when we cut a kid that makes every single voluntary workout and is a true team player - just doesn't have much skill. Last year we had 2 kids [sophs] that the V/Jv coach wanted to cut; I had coached them both during their freshmen year - both good kids, one little more talented than the other, but neither with a future in the program as a substitute, much less a regular player. I knew the one kid had problems at home with an abusive father and no mother - very polite kid, just happy to be here kind of guy - would actually come in and apologize for making mistakes in games and practice. JV coach is good with kids, said he had no problem keeping him on JV. He ended up getting Most Improved Player Award at the banquet - he even jacked a 3R HR in the last JV game to win the game. The look on this kid's face when he hit that HR and the appreciation of his teammates, who understood this kid's situation - both baseball-wise and home-wise -- was a true joy. The kid all but cried when he got the award. He isn't even coming out for the team this year, because he knows the situation. The pleasure and the lift that he got from the staff reversing the decision to cut him was something he will benefit from for a long time.

The other kid is just a good all around kid, 200% all the time, but no real position. He made other guys look bad in practice and forced them to work harder - he received the Hustle Award at the banquet - he will probably be on JV again as a junior, more to set an example for the younger kids than anything else. Next year he will proabbly just be the coutesy runner for the pitcher/catcher.

Neither of these kids had much of an impact on the W-L measured success of our program last year, but [and I say this NOT as a bleeding heart type, which I am not at all] it was an unmistakable success in other ways.

Most kids cut themselves - some make the roster themselves.

Kids with good baseball knowledge are usually really good at keeping the book, which is a VERY important job and does not require a uniform. If they truly love the game, many jump at the opportunity when asked. It also takes out the mommy/daddy keeping the book and junior got 8 hits in 5 AB that day.

#2, and #3 are pretty clear cut, cuts.

#2 - Sorry there has to be some athletic ability.

#3 - If you go out for a HS baseball team the only other priorities are another in-season HS sport, religious activities and academics and in each case every effort should be made to still make every baseball practice and game. Indoor kickball is not an acceptable excuse.

I'd never heard of it described as "indoor kickball" ROTFLMAO!

I agree with TRhit's view but that does not make it any easier. The first year I had to make cuts we had 41 players tryout for 12 slots. The first 11 slots were no brainers but when it came to the 12th spot it was a real tough choice and the kid we ended up cutting was the son of a good friend. The next year we had all 12 who made the team the year before back and based on our success several players from some of the elite travel teams decided to try out. We had decided to add a 13th guy but the level of talent forced me to cut two guys from the previous years team. The decisions we made were the right ones for the team but that did not make letting kids know why they didn't make the team any easier. Which brings up another subject. How do you let the kids know they are cut. If you have little or no connection to the kid just posting a list is fine but I hate it when coaches cut players that have played for them before and don't talk to the kid to explain why they were cut and offer some words of encouragement.

How do you let kids know deserves its own discussion, I believe. Interesting topic.
I'll start it now on a separate thread.

TRHit,

But what defines "best"? Maybe the unathaletic kid can help your team in other ways. Sometimes you have a "stud" who takes away from the team more than he gives to it.

Here's the real problem (if it is one) for me:

I have 7 Seniors; only 1 of them is a possible cut, the aforementioned QB/Good Field/No Hit Secondbaseman.

I have 18 (that's right), 18, Juniors trying out. And I have 12 Sophomores Trying out.

Without even looking at their talent, wouldn't you agree that a lot of Juniors need to be cut or I'll have to cut them as Seniors? I try to look at next year too.....

Another thing: I was considering talking to the Senior Second Baseman and telling him "Look, based on what we see, I think a Junior or two would start ahead of you. Nothing is written in stone, but that's the way it looks until you prove me different. If you are willing to accept that and continue to have a great attitude, we can keep you and see what happens. If you think you'll have a hard time being a bench player, consider that now and not half way through the season when you might become disgruntled about playing time." And then give him the option of which he might do. Any thoughts?

I've made the tough cuts too. Cut one of my best friend's sons...TWICE. Cut my own nephew. I now coach at the HS where I played. My coach was the head coach for 27 years. I came in 2 coaches after him, and now have the second longest tenure after him (10 years)....I cut his youngest son a couple of years ago. The father still teaches at the school. BOY DID I HEAR ABOUT THAT.....nothing from the dad, but from the mom and all the faculty...WOW!!

Thanks for everyone's input.

TCB

I also said "and make the team better"

What is "BEST" for me may not be the same for others--- we are talking talent and chemistry working together and each piece firs into the team format.

No matter who you cut you will be on the "griddle" for it--you know it and I know it.

But the good coaches weather the storm every year--- you gotta do what you gotta do to field the best team,you can not the team others feel you should have.

TCB1 its tough aint it! I will tell you this I have gone to Seniors before and told them exactly what you are talking about. I have told them that a soph or Junior could very likely play in front of them. I tell them what I percieve their role to be. I tell that if they become the best option they will be in the game but as of right now they are not. I then tell them if they can accept this role I would like for them to stay on. If they can not accept this role and be a team player then they need to let me know so I can let them go. Some have said they could and did. Some have said they could and did not. I then had to deal with them becoming or trying to become a cancer on the bench and in practice and I regretted not cutting them. Some have been honest and walked away. Its a tough call and you have to know the kid and feel that he is being honest with you. We only have to cut a few kids each year and usually its pretty clear cut. My first year as a head coach I cut several Juniors that would not work and quite honestly were lazy. I also cut some seniors for the same reason. It was the best thing that ever happened to our program. It sent the message to the players and the future players. It is never easy to tell a young man that he is not good enough to help your team. But I can honestly say that it is not tough at all for me to send a kid home because he is lazy or has a bad attitude. The toughest ones to cut are the kids that work their butts off and love the game but just dont have the talent to help you.

Hi!

How many players are on the varsity in high school baseball?

TRHit,


My concern has never been about what the parents thought; I just hate cutting kids who work their tails off but just don't seem to get any better, or who work their tails off and are "OK" but just can't make it due to numbers. Or where I've got a half-dozen kids and just one spot left and they are all "OK".

I've never had a problem making the cuts on kids who goof off....Coach May, like you, I cut some seniors my 1st year as coach. Three kids who had been on the varsity as juniors, and in the program for 3 years. But the first two weeks of practice they coasted and screwed around. I cut them and kept a kid with half their talent but twice their heart. He didn't play much, but he was much better to have around than those 3 kids....as a matter of fact, they showed up at our first couple of home games and actually HECKLED our players....I knew right then that I'd made the right decision.

So you all coach or expect adults? Your preference is to coach fully mature and well-balanced individuals rather than teenagers? Very comfortable for you. Have you ever taken a talented but immature 17 year old and made a complete team player out of him? My issue is that it's easy to coach fully mature individuals. Unfortunately most high school kids are not that. They don't all come to you with mature work ethics and attitudes. They must be taught...coached. If I just kept the perfectly behaved kids I've coached, I'd be in big trouble talent wise cause the perfectly behaved ones typically haven't been the best players.