OK, tryouts started today....

Good Luck to your son and I hope he makes the team......best advice I can give you is to be supportive and try and hide the nervousness from your son (I am still nervous and this is my son's 3rd year)........as parents I think we all get nervous because we know how hard our son's have worked, we know how much they want it and it is all out of our control, so sometimes it is more the feeling of helplessness than nervous, it is all part of this process of letting go..............

Good Luck and I hope your son and his team has a great season.

Yeah, I left for work early this morning so he didn't see me being nervouse about it.

My Freshman son starts tryouts today too. We had a winter storm over the weekend. Today it's supposed to be in the 40's, there's still snow on the ground. I guess they'll be in the gym. My son has a great group of friends also trying out. I'm thinking of all of them. Some making it, and others not. Our school has a regular freshman team, and a sort of developmental team. I guess they can also play up, though there are a lot of strong players at Sophomore, and above. My plan for the week is to feed my son well, support him with his homework, and make sure he gets enough rest. Everything else is up to him!

Fun, isn't it?

Tryouts for my freshman started yesterday (although he'd been working out for six weeks with the team on a voluntary basis.)

First day of tryouts: it snowed! Not much, but very unusual for Portland area.

What a wonderful time in your and your sons life. enjoy!

These 4 years of HS seem to fly by ... I hope the next 4 crawl a little slower for you, so you can really enjoy the ride.

You never really get over the nerves and you are never comfortbale with your kids spot on the team.

Having said that, enjoy it...my kid never worries but his mother and I do.

Its nice that you are getting advice on this site on how a parent can help. I was, unfortunately, not so informed when my oldest had his first HS tryouts 3 years ago.
I scheduled major construction on our house, which began the week before HS tryouts. We put wood floors on the whole first level of our house and had to live upstairs with a hall bath as our only kitchen. Lots of dust and inconvenience. Little did I realize that the smell would be so bad when the finish was applied, that we would have to move to a hotel. Five people in a hotel room on school nights is not fun. Oldest had to be at tryouts at 6 am each morning and daughter was in a play that rehearsed till 11:00pm each evening. Could I have made it more stressful for my son?
Maybe the distractions helped, because he made JV his FR year as a starting pitcher.
BTW...This is his SR year and its the first year I haven't felt the stress you are talking about. But believe me, a whole new dimension of stress had taken its place. We're parents...it never ends!

I was same way his first 2 years. So I understand your nervousness!

Now I suffer a case of the "nerves" when ever he pitches. I can't sit and watch. I have to get up and walk or pace. Last year for most of the year he was first out of the bullpen. Always seemed to be when the game is on the line or a critical point.

You have that to look forward to.

Last year (son was freshman) I was able to get off work early and attended most of the tryouts and practices. I wanted to see what the coaches saw, how my kid stacked up.

As his sophmore season begins, I am a lot more relaxed about it. I feel like he will get a fair shot and whatever happens happens.

Its a short season and summer ball will be here before you know it.

This is the first year I'm not nervous, so parents, you can look forward to the senior year.

Best of luck to all starting this week. We don't start until next week. Son's a sophmore this year. I'm nervous as h*** too. Anxious to see how much the off-season training and lessons helped.

Here's hoping for the best for everyone.

You know it has been a number of years since my last guy tried out for the HS varsity but I cannot recall it being the nerve wracking adventure that many of you talk about.

He never worried about lessons etc--I wonder if it was because of the excellent coaching he got in LL---he came into HS feeling very confident about himself and ability as did I.

Or are we making too much of it all nowadays

Any thoughts ?

Coach Robert, Just curious if it's considered acceptable for parents to attend/watch the tryouts? I would be interested in seeing them as well but don't want to 1)put added pressure on my son by him seeing me there and 2)make it seem to the coaches that "Dad" can't stay away.

I'm still a couple years away from HS tryouts but am curious as to how parents are received at team tryouts.

You're too cool TR. I don't think our kids are that worried at all. At least mine's not. For me, being nervous is just a dad thing. Always want our kids to do well and succeed. We already know my son will be splitting time with varsity and JV so my anxiety is just hoping he has a great year.

TR,

I think this post was about a nervous dad.

Most kids don't worry too much about tryouts. They just go out and do it.

Guys

I wanted all the things you speak of but I was able to eat and not pace behind the fence

TR,

I agree and I was never near a break down. I functioned and worked and, believe me, I ate because nothing will deter that.

During those tryouts, however, you think of your kid and you want him to do well...I believe that is the feeling of "nerves" he might be referring to.

Actually my son began the tryout process yesterday and as a fourth year varsity player am not concerned. I do remember, however, when he was a freshman trying out and brought up to play with the "Big Boys". I thought JV at best. The coach divided kids into first base dugout and third base dugout. One by one called every player out individually. Lost track of my son which made me nervous. A parent said that varsity was third base dugout and that is where he was. He was the last one called out to talk to the coach. He was excited and nervous. Ended up being a key reliever in high school for pitching and starting in the outfield. I really appreciated how this process was handled as every kids was talked to by either a JV or Varsity coach and explained how they could better themselves to make the next level team. Then we had to relive the whole process again through legion tryouts. Very nerve wracking process.

Wow, so glad I live in the south. Tryouts began in Mississippi the day they returned to school after Christmas Holidays, Jan. 4th. The season opened this past Friday, Feb. 17th. We've already got a couple of games under our belts.

My youngest is now a junior, so I don't get the "will he make it" jitters any more, but I do get the "opening day anticipation" jitters every year.

Good luck to him with making the team. And relax and enjoy every minute of his time in HS. It'll be gone before you know it.

Redhawks 27 -
Maybe schools are different, but at my son's HS parents are not allowed to be at tryouts or at practice at all. The coach said that he wants it that way because that way the kids are not nervous because dad is there. I and many others would not be a problem, but I don't blame the coach because I know of parents that would want to tell the coach how to do his job and also of other parents that still try to coach their sons from the sidelines (how embarassing!!). You may want to check it out first before being the only dad there (or one of a few) and embarassing your son; especially if the coach has to ask you to leave.
Tim Robertson

quote:

Originally posted by JT:
This is the first year I'm not nervous, so parents, you can look forward to the senior year.

I'll drink to that!!

Enjoy it . . . even if they go on to play in college, you won't have the same connection with the team and the other parents that you did in high school. My son graduated last year. But I still went to back there tonight to see their first home game.

Now, the REAL nervous parents are of this year's juniors. Coach will not cut seniors and we have nine, plus 9-10 juniors--he won't keep 18 players, more than likely just 16. So, some players that have been on JV 2-3 years are going to get cut--I hate to see that.

Our tryouts are always in the gym. No parents are bold enough to walk in. Plus there's nowhere to sit, and balls are flying everywhere. Don't know what a coach would say.

Funny how freshman and sophomore parents all arrive early to pick up the kids after tryouts. At our school it's possible to peek into the tryouts from the hall and there's plenty of that going on. Coaches, of course, don't know who the parents are.

Once things move outdoors there are usually a few parents watching on nice days.

Man these tryouts started late
We started the first week of school so the incoming freshman like myself could develop a good onfield relationship and to find our strengths and weaknesses

Hakko936

Tryouts here in CA started Jan. 10th. I was a wreck until final cuts just a couple of days ago. No worries now. As mentioned the nerves never go away allways something to worry about(pithcing,hitting,fielding). I watched most of the tryout practices, but was able to do so without being seen. I asked my son if it was cool and he said he had no problem with it. I have watched every practice and game since he was 6 years old. Habits are hard to break. I know my days are numbered watching him compete on the baseball field and have promised my self to enjoy every second. Now a couple of dads show up about 45 minutes before practice is over. Strength in numbers. Let us know what happens. Best of luck to your son!!!!!!!!!!!

We are in a similar situation as JT's school except our coach will cut Seniors also. There will be about 4 maybe 5 Juniors and Seniors cut combined this year. This will be one tough year. I am really worried about my Senior son. I have a Junior also. I am hoping that the fact my oldest is a pitcher helps. I will feel better once the tryouts are over. Then it will be will they get playing time. LOL. I stay nervous!!!!

OK, I thought I would drop an update since everyone was very supportive.

I have not been able to see any of the tryouts. They are working in a gym and have pads covering the glass on the doors. (I don't want to be overbearing and walk in.)

My son has been very satisfied with his performance to date and has garnered a couple of compliments from the coach on his pitching.

We'll see how it progresses from here.

quote:

I have watched every practice and game since he was 6 years old.

Someeone who has surpassed even me!

Some of the coaches out there may have some insight here. In reality, if a coach knows who is coming out, how many spots are actually up for grabs? I know you can say that there are no guarantees, but a good coach will spend a significant portion of the off season thinking about the makeup of his team. An exception to the rule would be a new coach coming in. The HS season is so short that a coach cannot go into tryouts with a blank page.

Tryouts for my freshman son start next week. Nervous no, excited for him yes. He works hard, plays hard, and enjoys the game. Some people worry about pushing there kids. In actuality he pushes me. My only advise to him was to relax, don't think to much just perform the way he is capable of performing. Like most of you, I haven't missed many games or practices. I'm glad baseball is starting and I can sit back and watch because my arm hurts, lol.

Parents watching HS baseball practice is sort of a no-no at my kid's school. I used to coach him until he was twelve and then decided that I didn't know as much as I needed to know to take my son's talents to the next level..so we signed up with a baseball academy..The more I stayed away, the better he became...I would only watch his games and the last few minutes of practice when I was picking him up...His travel ball coaches were outstanding and they teach responsibility and independence...This independent attitude was great for him when trying out for his HS team...Rather than see first hand what he did, I actually enjoyed our time together as he explained to me...often in detail, how his practices went, his assessment of the other players etc. The pressure to make a team is daunting enough. Our kid's don't need the added pressure of us as parents looking over their shoulders...IMO, they'll be fine and maybe just better without our attendance at their try-outs...Yes, it's hard...but in thelong term very worth it.