Private Try Outs

Trevor,
First, I'm a bit confused. Your profile and first few posts state that you are an 8th grade player. The next few posts state that you are a dad and then a coach. I suppose it's possible that both of you are using the site for info but the spelling and grammar leave some doubt. It's best to be up front here.

In any case, to address your question...
What are the circumstances that exist that would compell this player to want/need a private tryout? If there is a scheduling conflict and he is unable to make your regular tryout for some legitimate reason, then I don't see anything wrong with allowing a separate tryout. Otherwise, he should be evaluated the same as any other player at the regular tryout. His abilities and stats should have no bearing on your decision. In fact, if he is asking for a separate tryout without a legit reason, this is a bit of a red flag.
I would be more impressed with an "urge to be on the team" in the form of attending the regularly scheduled tryout and busting his butt and being a good teammate there with all of the others.

quote:

Originally posted by Trevor:
Hello everyone. Im the coach of a 14U Team up in MA. My team won every tournament we entered last year and were the best 13U team in New England.
Any way we are holding tryouts next week and a young man wrote me a email asking for a private tryout on top of the regular tryouts.

He said that he has played at the travel baseball level for 4 years and hit over .450 last year for his travel team in our league (would be best on my current team).

I am not sure what to take from this? Should I allow him to tryouts privatly on top regular tryouts? Should I be impressed or not by his erge to be on my team?

Thanks

I see the bigger problem is that you need to move up in classification if possible if you are winning every tournament.

My son's 13U team this year could have won every tournament at AA but what's the point? At AAA and majors we are pushed to get better.

I agree with cabbbagedad. Why would this player need a private workout? To stroke his dad's ego because he feels his son is special? At this private workout you'll probably get a earful about how good junior is and what position he plays from dad. Work him out with the rest of the kids and judge him the same way.

If you allow a separate tryout without a legit reason you might be encouraging an problem parent.

This kid is already a red flag. he tries out like everybody else or you pass on him. If he was so awesome last year (according to him) you should know something (talent and attitude) about him if he played in your league. After one year of travel and LL all-stars I knew of some good players to stay away from due to the way they or their parents acted.

My son ended up on a 17U team with a kid I stayed away from when I coached due to the dad. It turned out my instincts and advice I collected was spot on. I could have gone through three years of hell with the dad.