Our team coaches meet with all kids individually and go over things. Kids get the thumbs up or down then. About 20% of kids are cut at each level most years.
.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
For me it was always simple--the team roster was posted on the office door of the coach--very simple--you read it and you either wept or jumped for joy.
Today in our politically correct society I guess the parents want a meeting and an explanation backed up by a psychologist note
In actual fact most kids know before the announcement whether they made it or not. It is not usually any surprise to those who get cut
Today in our politically correct society I guess the parents want a meeting and an explanation backed up by a psychologist note
In actual fact most kids know before the announcement whether they made it or not. It is not usually any surprise to those who get cut
putting a list on the door so all can gather around with no explanations of why you did or did not make the team sux and says a lot about a person/coach to me.( I really hate the ones who wont look you in the eyes either,lol, dont trust them if they wont either.) Im happy to say my sons high school coaches are man enough to bring em in and sit them all down one at a time, and let them have the straight scoop. I applaud them for that-stand up guys. 
No argument that the players who will make your team the best stay and the others are cut. But during the season I grow pretty close to these guys and if I have to cut someone who has played for me in the past I let them know in advance they are being cut and let them know why. I also make sure I give them encouragement to not give up baseball if it is something they love. It has nothing to do with the Political Correctness or the kid’s psychological state; it is just in my opinion the right thing to do.
My stepson's team had about 80 try out for fresh, jv and varsity squads. It would have taken forever to talk to each kid individually. Georgia only gives you about 3 weeks to prepare for the beginning of the season so time is precious. He posts the names of those making the team on a board for all to see. Most will be obvious but you feel a little bit for those on the bubble. One of lifes lessons.
Our boys all receive a letter at the end of tryouts. The news, good or bad, is in your individual letter. Many of the cuts aren't surprises. Our coach encourages kids to come and see him individually if they have questions and he's happy to tell them what they need to work on to improve.
Blackheart,
I don't know if you were referring to my post but let me clarify. I am not suggesting a coach talk to all the players he cuts, just the ones who have played for him in the past.
I don't know if you were referring to my post but let me clarify. I am not suggesting a coach talk to all the players he cuts, just the ones who have played for him in the past.
I am a believer of the same approach. As coaches we owe it to the kids to make them aware of their strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, we need to ensure they know how, and in some cases where, they work on those.
If not done, some kids feel they failed, in some cases create or transfer blame, but never learn to deal with failure. How many of these kids grow up to be the adult who never admits to mistakes at work?
I want kids to UNDERSTAND. Never understanding and they can not, or probably will never fix anything.
Even if I cut a kid, I want them to try out again next year. I want a kid to play baseball not give it up. One thing I am proudest of, I cut a kid two times, and he is now playing college baseball at Catholic University.
Thanks
Al McCormick
www.mostvaluableplayer.biz
If not done, some kids feel they failed, in some cases create or transfer blame, but never learn to deal with failure. How many of these kids grow up to be the adult who never admits to mistakes at work?
I want kids to UNDERSTAND. Never understanding and they can not, or probably will never fix anything.
Even if I cut a kid, I want them to try out again next year. I want a kid to play baseball not give it up. One thing I am proudest of, I cut a kid two times, and he is now playing college baseball at Catholic University.
Thanks
Al McCormick
www.mostvaluableplayer.biz
I think there are two ways to do it, depending on whether you are talking about (1) players trying out for the first time who aren't making the "cut" or (2) players who have been on one of the squads and are now being cut from the team.
With a large school such as my son attended, it would not have been feasible to talk with each guy that was trying out for the first time. There were always two cuts, and I believe it was posted on the door.
However, once a player made the program and was cut at a later date, it was done on a one-to-one basis between the coach and the player ... sometimes before the actual game season started, but more often than not, during their end-of-the-season "interview".
With a large school such as my son attended, it would not have been feasible to talk with each guy that was trying out for the first time. There were always two cuts, and I believe it was posted on the door.
However, once a player made the program and was cut at a later date, it was done on a one-to-one basis between the coach and the player ... sometimes before the actual game season started, but more often than not, during their end-of-the-season "interview".
When I played High School, which by the way was several years ago, the head coach posted the list on the window outside his classroom. Never said a word to you about what you did right or wrong. Like TRHit said, you either wept or jumped for joy. Today our High School coach sits down with each and every player and goes over whether you made the team or not, and if not, what weaknesses you need to work on before next years tryouts. Parents are not involved in cuts/playing time/where Johnny plays during the season. Coach says "I don't go into your office, and tell you how to run things". My team/My rules basically. I totally agree with that concept, if a parent comes up to the coach and says "what role do you see our son playing on the team this year", and they get the response "well Johnny's role will be to sit on the bench and be the best cheerleader we have, if we are getting beat bad or winning big, he might get an at bat", that is the way it goes. Don't ask the question, if you don't want to hear the response.
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
For me it was always simple--the team roster was posted on the office door of the coach--very simple--you read it and you either wept or jumped for joy.
Today in our politically correct society I guess the parents want a meeting and an explanation backed up by a psychologist note
Our HS is facing some payroll trimming next year. Maybe they should post the names of teachers and coaches who "made the team" on the front door next fall.
--
Yeah, I know speaking with each kid individually isn't feasible if there are 100 cuts, but it's a gentlemanly thing to do otherwise.
It's probably a lot easier for a kid to be cut among 99 others, than to be THE ONLY ONE cut in a small HS.
Former coach posted list on door....awful! This coach....last day of tryouts he stands on the field with his assistant coaches, and the kids that tried out for varsity approach him indvidually and he tells them their status......JV coach does the same. Kids get to exit field with some dignity....and have time to work through it before school the next day.
No matter how the "axe" is lowered, I would hope all the players that "made it" would have some compasion for the players that didn't. Because after all, EVERY player sooner or later gets "cut".
We got the axe this week. List was posted on the wall.
I got cut last year as a freshman. My coach put a list on his door and when my name wasn't on it I wanted to cry. There were lots of names on the list of kids that I knew I was better than. I went and talked to him and he told me I was close but just wasn't quite good enough. So I told him I would be back in 364 days and I have been working my *** off ever since. Last week I tried out for and made a 19u Legion team. I am 16. March 7th is the beginning of tryouts for the school team and the guy that cut me last year and I can't wait.
Max,
I love your attitude. A kid at our school was cut last year as a Junior and took a similar approach as you and he will be a starter and near the top of the batting order this year. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
I love your attitude. A kid at our school was cut last year as a Junior and took a similar approach as you and he will be a starter and near the top of the batting order this year. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
40 freshman are trying out for my team and 22 of them will be cut 
I have absolute confidence I will make it because Ive been playing select ball on the best team in the city since I was 9, but the people that never played select probably wont be so lucky
I have absolute confidence I will make it because Ive been playing select ball on the best team in the city since I was 9, but the people that never played select probably wont be so lucky 
Lots of informative posts on this thread. I agree that there is no perfect way to tell a kid he can't play a game he loves. But I probably learned the most from CoachB25's post about kids telling him how hard it was for a player to have to sit there and let someone watch him deal with the news, trying not to show his pain. At my kids' HS, a list was posted after practice on the final day of tryouts, so players could read the list, leave in privacy if they needed time to deal with bad news, then meet with the coach for feedback the next day IF they wanted to. In a couple of cases, the coach met privately with upperclassmen a day or two before the list was posted, either to warn them that they hadn't made it, or to explain that if they made the team they were expected to play a limited role. I thought he handled this duty with respect and kindness.
Our coach posts the players names that made the team. He waits in his office after cuts. If you want to come in his office and speak with him, you can. Some do, most don't. I coached with him for three years and that seemed to work out well.
The problem here is that all aswers are right, and all are wrong. Meeting with kids who are cut can be good, or bad. Posting a list can be good, or bad. Personally, I have no problem with posting a list. Sometimes a coach wants to meet with a player personally, and that's OK too. The coach should know when he wants to do that, and can choose a time and place to do it (before posting the list.) Sometimes it's best just to post the list. I do think that if a senior is projected to have only a limited role he should be told that before the final cuts are made. Some seniors will choose to drop off the team and have "senior fun" instead if that's their role, and it's better for everyone if they know up front.
P-Dog....interesting, on another post about cuts I have that same situation. I was thinking about doing exactly what you said.
Everyplace I played posted a list. That is what I do also. I try to post it in the evening on a school night, or early in the morning and tell the kids they can come see it when no one else is around if they want to. I found posting it right after school may force a player to be standing around with 20 other friends/players and have to have all those people see his pain.
Before I post the list, I tell all the players that after cuts, anyone who is cut the next day can call me or come meet with me privately so I can tell them why they were cut and what they needed to work on. I always encourage them to try again.
I really think that this is the best way to do it. One year the Athletic secretary begged me not to do it that way cause she hated seeing the kids who were so upset. We agreed to have an envelope ready for every kid after school telling whether he made it or not. It seemed to work great, until I went outside the back door next to the AD's office and found about 40 envelopes and letters crumbled up on the sidewalk! I had to clean it all up.
Everyplace I played posted a list. That is what I do also. I try to post it in the evening on a school night, or early in the morning and tell the kids they can come see it when no one else is around if they want to. I found posting it right after school may force a player to be standing around with 20 other friends/players and have to have all those people see his pain.
Before I post the list, I tell all the players that after cuts, anyone who is cut the next day can call me or come meet with me privately so I can tell them why they were cut and what they needed to work on. I always encourage them to try again.
I really think that this is the best way to do it. One year the Athletic secretary begged me not to do it that way cause she hated seeing the kids who were so upset. We agreed to have an envelope ready for every kid after school telling whether he made it or not. It seemed to work great, until I went outside the back door next to the AD's office and found about 40 envelopes and letters crumbled up on the sidewalk! I had to clean it all up.
We meet individually with the player cut. We tell him why he was cut and what he needs to do in order to have a better chance to make the team next time. We tell the player if his parents want to meet with us to have them call the school and set up a meeting. We also meet with each member that makes the team. We tell them what we feel their role is and their weakness and strenghts and what they need to focus on in order to improve in these areas. We also tell them it is up to them if their role is expanded or shrunk depending on how hard they work and how they perform. When I was cut as a Soph in HS (no jv no freshman team) a list was posted on the gym door of those that made the team. It hurt me but it motivated me as well. I think we do it the right way but that in no way means that I am coming down on how other people do it. Just my opinion
I like the way they did it when I was in school and the way the MLSB does it in their camps. They call your name (number in MLSB camp) and say the rest of you, thanks for coming. The kids will either quit or get mad and come back better the next time. It's time to grow up.
quote:It's time to grow up.
At 14?
Were you one of the guys cut? If you were I dont think you would like it done that way. Time to grow up has nothing to do with leaving someone some dignity and not humiliating someone that might have the same desire as the rest but less talent. How about a phone call or a private meeting? Or even posting a list. Put your self in the other persons shoes before you make a dicision.
Hey, we are neighbors...
My method has always been to sit down, look them in the eye, and lay out the facts. It was how my coaches did it, and I always respected them for not posting a list. I understand the list, but it just struck me as to remote an action.
My method has always been to sit down, look them in the eye, and lay out the facts. It was how my coaches did it, and I always respected them for not posting a list. I understand the list, but it just struck me as to remote an action.
My freshman son went through it tonight with the high school JV team.
After an evening practice in the gym (2 days outside, 2 inside), coach apparently met individually with almost every player. He met first, though, with the kids he cut (about 15-20 players). My son said the cut kids included at least a couple of starters from the previous season (from a team that did very well).
The way my son told me tonight, he got down to roughly the last five kids (all but one a freshman), it was nearly 10 p.m. and he told them they all made it and practice was tomorrow afternoon.
My son was very relieved. He was pretty sure he would make it, but his was pretty sure this one friend of his (they play guitars together) would get cut. He was a sophomore who made it.
After an evening practice in the gym (2 days outside, 2 inside), coach apparently met individually with almost every player. He met first, though, with the kids he cut (about 15-20 players). My son said the cut kids included at least a couple of starters from the previous season (from a team that did very well).
The way my son told me tonight, he got down to roughly the last five kids (all but one a freshman), it was nearly 10 p.m. and he told them they all made it and practice was tomorrow afternoon.
My son was very relieved. He was pretty sure he would make it, but his was pretty sure this one friend of his (they play guitars together) would get cut. He was a sophomore who made it.
Our middle school basketball coach decided to post the list at 11:00pm on a Friday night. Prior to this he had split the kids 30 on one court and the other 50 on the other court. The 30 group had the better kids, the 50 group had many weak kids. Our son was in the 50 group so we made him go to bed while dad went to check the list. Another boy was checking out the list as dad pulled up so he waited, watching the boy cry all the way to the car. Fortunately, my son was on the list and he made me promise to wake him up and tell him. He didn't remember it the next morning as dad drove him over. Originally, I thought it was the chicken ---- way for the coach to let them know but maybe it allowed some to recover before school on Monday. But most knew based on the fact that either they were with the "for sure" group or "the probably not" group, ours was new to the school and later played a lot. As many have said, nothing good about being told something bad.
I always have a face to face meeting. At the end I always ask them if they have any questions and wish them well, and invite them to tryout next year.
Last season I had a few players who were not very good and they did not agree with me (in their minds). I sat the whole squad down and asked the following question.
How many of you have seen American Idol?
All raised their hands. I said OK you know the people who are terrible singers but in their minds they are incredible. Those singers who can not believe that these 3 jerks are telling them they have no talent. I then told the team unfortunately that is how it is with some of you. In your minds, you believe you are a great player and when I cut you I will be the Simon Cowell who can not see your talent.
The next day 2 kids who were going to be definite cuts did not return. Sometimes you just have to speak their language!
Last season I had a few players who were not very good and they did not agree with me (in their minds). I sat the whole squad down and asked the following question.
How many of you have seen American Idol?
All raised their hands. I said OK you know the people who are terrible singers but in their minds they are incredible. Those singers who can not believe that these 3 jerks are telling them they have no talent. I then told the team unfortunately that is how it is with some of you. In your minds, you believe you are a great player and when I cut you I will be the Simon Cowell who can not see your talent.
The next day 2 kids who were going to be definite cuts did not return. Sometimes you just have to speak their language!
IMO it should be required for a PAID coach to talk to the cut kids because this is a SCHOOL activity. If a student is failing in math would just post a list of who passed or failed without trying to find out why they failed?
It can be boiled down to strengthes, areas of improvement and work ethic. If you don't have time time do it then don't coach. You have an obligation to let an adult or kid know what you need to see so they can try and succeed. It is then their choice to decide if they want to put forth the effort required for success. This should be mandatory in all High Schools IMO.
This isn't that hard even if you cut 100. Take the time and do your job!
It can be boiled down to strengthes, areas of improvement and work ethic. If you don't have time time do it then don't coach. You have an obligation to let an adult or kid know what you need to see so they can try and succeed. It is then their choice to decide if they want to put forth the effort required for success. This should be mandatory in all High Schools IMO.
This isn't that hard even if you cut 100. Take the time and do your job!
In large schools you might have 3 or 4 different cuts. During my tenure I posted a list with the instructions that anybody that wished to discuss the decision I was available to talk with them. No matter how you do it somebody is not going to agree with your decision. that is just the way it is.
Our organization has a 2 day tryout for our team every year.This is 16 hours of baseball on a weekend.We try to limit the number of players to around 80,by having kids fill out form with teams played for,honors earned,and a list of referances that we can talk to prior to tryouts.We also have people from around the state whose kids have played for us that we contact to see if kids are what they say they are. In a sense we have a pre tryout before they ever see the field.these kids are from through out the state and some travel as far as 250 miles for tryouts.We keep anywhere from 12 -16 players depending on pitching needs,or if maybe 2 kids are equal.Normally 1-8 are easy to pick as they are heads above others. 9-12 are always argued about till final decisions made and then 13-16 are put on a list fo about 6-8 kids and we discuss good/bad until final selections are made. Sometimes this process takes 3-4 hours to complete.All the evaluaters have seen players in differant stations,settings, Etc. Lots of times it comes down to not taking a kid because parents were real jerks all weekend.Last year had a boy who probably was in top 8 players but father was telling every coach/parent what they were doing wrong,how his son did it better,how we/they should do it- you get the picture.After the process is finished head coach has final decision on who he wants to keep.He then writes a letter to kids that made the team telling them congrats and dates of our first team meeting with parents with 4 hr practice to follow.Kids that didn't make the team are sent a form letter informing them that they didn't make the team and coaches phone number and hours to call if they want to discuss anything that took place. In most cses there will be probably 5-10 calls from parents that thought their kids had a shot at making team and in most cases they were on our final list.At this time we will ask them about the group that son was in and if they could pick anyone that they thought made it -they pick them out right away.After any other discussion our coach will tell them that if they want to come to our practices that they are more than welcome.We aren't going to change the team but it allows them to see if son is willing to work at his game to get better through our coaching.In most cases kids might come once or twice and it always shows that we made the right choice.We also receive calls from parents telling us that there kids had a great time at tryouts,learned a lot from our staff and knew that there son didn't make the team when they left .These parents usually will ask who made the team and we ask for feedback from them if they agree.This is also pretty positive from them that we made the right choices. We do have several former players dads that were major leaguers,college players and/or coaches and they are always willing to help out with tryouts and practices whenever they can.They also evaluate and help in the process of picking the team.This process has worked in our group for for 8 years and we keep trying to add more if we think it will help. Last October we held a camp on a Sunday to get the players that will be trying out for the team in 2005 what we were going to be looking for,what drills we run,fundamentals,etc. This gave them a chance to come in relaxed and just see what the tryout is all about and see some of the other players. This also gave us a chance to get an early start on evaluating for next years team.Oh, we had 45 kids show up and so far we have over 3/4 of them signed up or this years tryout!
Actually I was cut from my basketball team that way when I was 13. It was embarrassing and I decided that it would never happen again. I worked hard the year after that and was not cut from a team again. It's funny to me that every year it seems like we coddle our kids more and more but expect them to act like men when they leave home at 17 or 18. Just my opinion.
quote:Originally posted by wvmtner:
It's funny to me that every year it seems like we coddle our kids more and more
You sound like the kind of guy who REALLY liked running fraternity Hell Week when you were in college.
---
Am I right in assuming that 80% of cutting is done by the kids themselves...before tryouts. If the process is too humiliating, some good players won't even try.
Almost every kid I see tryout is pretty talented. Virtually all had played YEARS of baseball. Every one of them could have made the team at a smaller, less competitive school.
Smart coaches, parents and successful players understand that a few of the cut kids may be better than the ones who made the team.
Why must getting cut be termed "humiliating"---its part of life--they have to learn sometime what the real world is like
I agree with wvmtner in feelings on coddling !!!
What does the kid do when the first job he applies for after college does not come his way--he gets turned down---and they wont even send a letter or call--he just never hears back from them-- they leave him hanging--- are you as the parent going to call the guy he interviewed with and ask why your son did not get the job ?
Its a tough world out there --why not begin to learn about it early !!!!
I agree with wvmtner in feelings on coddling !!!
What does the kid do when the first job he applies for after college does not come his way--he gets turned down---and they wont even send a letter or call--he just never hears back from them-- they leave him hanging--- are you as the parent going to call the guy he interviewed with and ask why your son did not get the job ?
Its a tough world out there --why not begin to learn about it early !!!!
TR....when a list is posted the kids who do not make the team are not allowed time to deal with the cut themselves... before they have to face all their peers...who are also hanging around reading the same list. When a person is rejected for a job....it's not posted on an office door for all to see. When you cut a worker....you don't do it in front of his co-workers....and then post it on the bulletin board...the toughness is being cut in the first place....it's not about coddling....it's about allowing a player to deal with it himself first...... before he has to face his peers....IMHO
Ariz
Theyhave to learn at some point in time how to cope with these situations
They can always talk to the coach after it is done---
Even when I was in LL the list was posted in a certain coffee shop in town--and that was were the players picked up uniforms when they made it--then the town paper listed the players by team--usually the kids that were cut knew their ability level anyway
In HS the list was posted on the Bulletin Board outside the gym
We all lived thru it
Theyhave to learn at some point in time how to cope with these situations
They can always talk to the coach after it is done---
Even when I was in LL the list was posted in a certain coffee shop in town--and that was were the players picked up uniforms when they made it--then the town paper listed the players by team--usually the kids that were cut knew their ability level anyway
In HS the list was posted on the Bulletin Board outside the gym
We all lived thru it
TR....today....everyone makes a Little League team, but not everyone makes the High School team. I don't buy any of the analogies...nor do I buy that a Coach can't take a few minutes, per kid, to tell them if they made the team or not....there is not a doubt in anyone's mind that all kids, as they grow and mature will face disappointment and loss....they will learn life's lessons....plenty of time....
The list on the board is fine.
Talking to the kids is fine.
Almost any way of doing it is fine if the reflects the personality of the coach and school/organization. It's only wrong when the coach gives off what I can only describe as a phony vibe. Then the kids think the whole tryout process was a nothing more than a dog and pony show and bitterness can linger.
As a coach, I'd prefer the more personless approach and simply post a list. If I felt the need to talk to a particular cut, I'd do it before I posted the list (but I'd try to resist that urge). If a cut wanted to talk to me about it a week or two later, that would be fine. But I would not discuss it until then.
Cuts was tough. The cleaner the break, the better it is for all concerned.
Talking to the kids is fine.
Almost any way of doing it is fine if the reflects the personality of the coach and school/organization. It's only wrong when the coach gives off what I can only describe as a phony vibe. Then the kids think the whole tryout process was a nothing more than a dog and pony show and bitterness can linger.
As a coach, I'd prefer the more personless approach and simply post a list. If I felt the need to talk to a particular cut, I'd do it before I posted the list (but I'd try to resist that urge). If a cut wanted to talk to me about it a week or two later, that would be fine. But I would not discuss it until then.
Cuts was tough. The cleaner the break, the better it is for all concerned.
ARIZ
I dont agree that all kids should play at the top LL level if they dont have the talent to do so-- I would like to see LL go back to the way it was--you played with your talent level regardless of age
I am not asking you to agree with or buy anything from me-- These are my feelings--you can agree or disagree --it is your choice--you won't hurt my feelings if you do not agree with me
I still feel we are too soft with todays kids--we let them get away with too much--
I dont agree that all kids should play at the top LL level if they dont have the talent to do so-- I would like to see LL go back to the way it was--you played with your talent level regardless of age
I am not asking you to agree with or buy anything from me-- These are my feelings--you can agree or disagree --it is your choice--you won't hurt my feelings if you do not agree with me
I still feel we are too soft with todays kids--we let them get away with too much--