How are tryouts usually run by high school coaches. My tryouts are a week long. What do you think the tryouts will consist of as far as hitting, fielding etc.
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All you can do is be prepared for everything. And...hustle your butt off.
quote:Originally posted by jvos baseball:
How are tryouts usually run by high school coaches. My tryouts are a week long. What do you think the tryouts will consist of as far as hitting, fielding etc.
Hitting, bunting, groundball, fly balls, 40 yard dash time and running and more running, cone drills for speed and agility times.
This is a short list or at least what happened at my sons JV tryouts that I could pull out of him.
drill
I like the idea of week long tryouts--it give the player a chance to show himself ---much better than a one day session
We do three days of tryouts. First day we do defensive fundamentals and show some basics and then they do them to see how they pick up what we have just taught. Second day we do nothing but hit in our indoor facility. Third day - cut day - we let them go to the position they want to tryout for and do a whole field position to see how they react.
We do very little coaching outside of the first day. Reason is the ones who are no doubt to make it we can wait with them until we get started. The ones who are no doubt we will cut there really isn't any point in wasting our time. We do make corrections / comments to the ones that are on the fence. If we are not sure about them then we look for things to correct and see how they react. Usually we will keep the ones who try to do the things we want them to and if they dont do the stuff we want then they might not be coachable.
We tell them on cut day they will be given one of three outcomes - keep outright, cut outright or give them a week's extension. We saw something we like but still not quite sure. So we bring them back for a week and let them get more reps in.
We do very little coaching outside of the first day. Reason is the ones who are no doubt to make it we can wait with them until we get started. The ones who are no doubt we will cut there really isn't any point in wasting our time. We do make corrections / comments to the ones that are on the fence. If we are not sure about them then we look for things to correct and see how they react. Usually we will keep the ones who try to do the things we want them to and if they dont do the stuff we want then they might not be coachable.
We tell them on cut day they will be given one of three outcomes - keep outright, cut outright or give them a week's extension. We saw something we like but still not quite sure. So we bring them back for a week and let them get more reps in.
At my high school, our coach doesn't do true "try outs." He only has 20 days to practice or thereabouts and probably 75% of that will be spent inside due to weather. He pretty much starts practice on day one. Part of this is that for the most part, he's only going to cut two-three players total. Freshman thru senior. We have 3 teams: Varsity, JV (mainly sophomores), and freshmen.
He goes through like somewhat normal practice routine and is able to get a pretty clear evaluation of whether a kid can help the team.
He goes through like somewhat normal practice routine and is able to get a pretty clear evaluation of whether a kid can help the team.
At our small school there isn't really a formal try out. They had weekly "voluntary" work outs for a month or so and this week began daily "voluntary" practices. So, the coaches have a pretty good idea what's out there already. Mar. 5 is the first official practice day and all the kids going out will practice together. Probably the following Monday all cuts will be made and the rest divided up between JV and V.
First of all the coach needs to find kids that are going to "BUY IN" to their program. It's tough!!
The first step of getting players to buy into a system is to get them to take ownership of it. Too many athletes use a team like a rental car…they use it to get from one place to another & never really invest into it. Think about it, with a rental car you don’t really care what type of gas you put in, how much trash is put into it or who you allow to ride in it because when you are finished with it you don’t plan to use it again. However, if it is your car and you are making payments and have an investment in it then you make sure that it is has the right fuel, it remains clean, and you don’t let just anyone in it. To build a program you must get players to feel like they own a part of it. This ownership promotes pride and it creates an atmosphere that they are a part of something bigger than themselves. Today, because so many young baseball players have been a part of so many different teams(AAU,USSSA,Showcase,ETC.) it is easy for them to see a new team as a vehicle for them to use—maybe even take them to the next level. If you can get the athletes to see that the team is a program that requires an investment and they are a part of something bigger than themselves then you have a better chance of getting players to “buy in”. We remind our players frequently that our program is not a rental car.
The first step of getting players to buy into a system is to get them to take ownership of it. Too many athletes use a team like a rental car…they use it to get from one place to another & never really invest into it. Think about it, with a rental car you don’t really care what type of gas you put in, how much trash is put into it or who you allow to ride in it because when you are finished with it you don’t plan to use it again. However, if it is your car and you are making payments and have an investment in it then you make sure that it is has the right fuel, it remains clean, and you don’t let just anyone in it. To build a program you must get players to feel like they own a part of it. This ownership promotes pride and it creates an atmosphere that they are a part of something bigger than themselves. Today, because so many young baseball players have been a part of so many different teams(AAU,USSSA,Showcase,ETC.) it is easy for them to see a new team as a vehicle for them to use—maybe even take them to the next level. If you can get the athletes to see that the team is a program that requires an investment and they are a part of something bigger than themselves then you have a better chance of getting players to “buy in”. We remind our players frequently that our program is not a rental car.
quote:Originally posted by Bulldog 19:
At my high school, our coach doesn't do true "try outs." He only has 20 days to practice or thereabouts and probably 75% of that will be spent inside due to weather. He pretty much starts practice on day one. Part of this is that for the most part, he's only going to cut two-three players total. Freshman thru senior. We have 3 teams: Varsity, JV (mainly sophomores), and freshmen.
Why have cuts if you are only going to exclude 2 players? I might be out of line, but it seems somewhat silly to cut 2 for the sake of "saying you had to cut"
To answer the original question - My son's try-out are a week long - then cuts. The second week all players practice together and at the end of the 2nd week they are divided to JV and V.
Goodie,
John Wooden said that coaches are teachers. What is a teacher's job? It is to prepare his or her students for the next level. A coach's job is to prepare his players for the next level, be it baseball or academics or work and BTW to win a few games if it doesn't interfere with getting them ready for the next level. For good coaches there isn't a conflict. I guess that is something you don't "buy in" to.
While investing in the program and being a part of something bigger than themselves can be a very good thing if done properly, far too often it is simply doublespeak for all about the coach.
As far as the topic of this thread which Goodie's post had nothing to do with all you can do is prepare by practicing, asking current players what they did during tryouts, hustling and by listening and paying attention to, not just hearing, what the coach says and does. Make sure you pay attention to the players who go before you in a drill so that you don't repeat any mistakes they might make.
John Wooden said that coaches are teachers. What is a teacher's job? It is to prepare his or her students for the next level. A coach's job is to prepare his players for the next level, be it baseball or academics or work and BTW to win a few games if it doesn't interfere with getting them ready for the next level. For good coaches there isn't a conflict. I guess that is something you don't "buy in" to.
While investing in the program and being a part of something bigger than themselves can be a very good thing if done properly, far too often it is simply doublespeak for all about the coach.
As far as the topic of this thread which Goodie's post had nothing to do with all you can do is prepare by practicing, asking current players what they did during tryouts, hustling and by listening and paying attention to, not just hearing, what the coach says and does. Make sure you pay attention to the players who go before you in a drill so that you don't repeat any mistakes they might make.
CADad,
I'm not sure what you think I'm saying. I look to John Wooden's teaching strategies. We prepare kids for the next level and while doing that they play as one and part of a program.
What exactly do you disagree with?
When trying out the kids need to understand that we, as coaches, will TEACH the game. And we will do things the right way, on and OFF the field. That's what we are talking about when keeping our car clean...of outside trash (alcohol, drugs, etc)
Could you please explain to me what you disagree with?
Thanks CADAD.
Sorry if I offended you.
I'm not sure what you think I'm saying. I look to John Wooden's teaching strategies. We prepare kids for the next level and while doing that they play as one and part of a program.
What exactly do you disagree with?
When trying out the kids need to understand that we, as coaches, will TEACH the game. And we will do things the right way, on and OFF the field. That's what we are talking about when keeping our car clean...of outside trash (alcohol, drugs, etc)
Could you please explain to me what you disagree with?
Thanks CADAD.
Sorry if I offended you.
quote:Originally posted by CADad:
While investing in the program and being a part of something bigger than themselves can be a very good thing if done properly, far too often it is simply doublespeak for all about the coach.
YES..I'm talking about it as doing it the right way.
Goodie,
If a coach understands that he has a responsibility to help a player get to the next level then it is reasonable for the coach to expect the player to buy in to the program.
My beef is with the coaches who want a buy in to the program then focus only on winning, sometimes at the expense of the player's futures. In my experience those are often the coaches who are so worried about controlling their players that they insist that their players only play for their program and not play outside the program. I'm the first to agree that the program should come first but I also think that the program should encourage players to showcase and play on stronger teams in situations where it helps the player and the program.
It sounds like I misinterpreted the tone of your post. Sorry.
If a coach understands that he has a responsibility to help a player get to the next level then it is reasonable for the coach to expect the player to buy in to the program.
My beef is with the coaches who want a buy in to the program then focus only on winning, sometimes at the expense of the player's futures. In my experience those are often the coaches who are so worried about controlling their players that they insist that their players only play for their program and not play outside the program. I'm the first to agree that the program should come first but I also think that the program should encourage players to showcase and play on stronger teams in situations where it helps the player and the program.
It sounds like I misinterpreted the tone of your post. Sorry.
CADad,
We had 5 players sign last year and are playing at the next level. I encourage our players to play showcase or any other team in the summer that will help them to take their game to the next level...but we expect them to buy in to our program. Do the right things, be dedicated, respectful, loyal, and honest, be a good teammate, take responsibility for their actions, etc. Qualities that will help them in college and thru life. We want to produce good men and if they are good enough to play at the next level these qualities will help them to succeed.
It makes you feel good, as a coach, when former players’ call/e-mail and say thanks after they get accepted in medical school, promotion at NASA, passed the national boards, finished Vet. school, finished basic training, just to name a few.
Yes, coaches are teachers, but there are very few players that make baseball a profession. We just hope that the lessons that are administered can make a small difference in each one of our players life, which will result in positive outcomes.
We had 5 players sign last year and are playing at the next level. I encourage our players to play showcase or any other team in the summer that will help them to take their game to the next level...but we expect them to buy in to our program. Do the right things, be dedicated, respectful, loyal, and honest, be a good teammate, take responsibility for their actions, etc. Qualities that will help them in college and thru life. We want to produce good men and if they are good enough to play at the next level these qualities will help them to succeed.
It makes you feel good, as a coach, when former players’ call/e-mail and say thanks after they get accepted in medical school, promotion at NASA, passed the national boards, finished Vet. school, finished basic training, just to name a few.
Yes, coaches are teachers, but there are very few players that make baseball a profession. We just hope that the lessons that are administered can make a small difference in each one of our players life, which will result in positive outcomes.
