Question - High School Coaches

Bad idea. This will not help you or, more importantly, the boys. Trust in their abilities to do the talking for them. If they're as good as you say they have nothing to worry about.

I think most HS coaches would take offense to it.

I am with MTH ---you might do more harm than good

Gotta agree with MTH and TR.

The coaches just might think (and I know you are just their summer coaches) "daddy ball" is starting already.

Yeah, beware of daddy ball. As a coach, I wouldn't mind a personal visit from you as a local coach. It shouldn't be formal, just maybe go by the school one day after class and ask around for the coach. Tell him that you coach alot of talented youngsters and that you can advise him on the upcoming talent. Also ask him for a copy of the schedule so you can follow the boys progress. You can also ask if there's anything specific that you should be workng on to prepare the kids for the enxt level. Now, mind you, there are big heads and big ego's everywhere. For some of us, we like to get to know the youth area coaches. I can tell you that all of this will mean nothng if the kids don't make it in tryouts. They will still have to earn it. Be diplomatic and don't push any one kid. Most coaches don't or shouldn't be choosing players because of the local town team, they all want the best of the group that comes out. Good luck and keep us posted.

Why bother to have the summer coach write it... Just let the parent do it... We get this sometimes from parents. They come in and tell us what a great player the kid was when he was 12 and made such and such All-star team. Letters we get like this go directly into the round filing cabnet under the desk. It gets emptied daily. What matters is how you do during the tryout and what you showed the previous season.
With us the Varsity and JV practice a lot together. We are always watching, evaluating the younger team. It's almost a 50 day tryout without you even knowing it. You can always tell which kids play on the travel teams and which stay in town.

I agree with coachric. Don't write a letter. Go visit like CR said and have a talk with the coach.

I coached AABC and had a couple of good players on the team. I went to the HS tryouts and sat in the stands and let the boys do what they do. Both are on the HS team now.

Why? Why would you want to alert me? If your kid can play why would you be worried about wether or not I knew him? If the kid can play it will be obvious when he comes out. And most HS programs have fall and winter work outs I know we do. We know all the kids well in advance of the HS season which starts soon. The last thing I could care about is someone trying to tell me about a kid that is coming. "Show me when you show up". Sounds like to me these dads need to realize that they are not playing AAU or select anymore. No one cares about their opinion anymore, its about their kids ability. Its time for the kids actions and ability to speak for itself. Not trying to sound like a you know what. Its just a fact. HS coaches could careless who played for who or who did what on the travel team when they get in HS. Its about what you can do when you step on the HS field and what type of kid you are. Alot of kids are picked and kept on travel teams because their parents are great people , support the program , write checks , help with the team etc. None of this comes into play at the HS level. Its only about what the kid can do. Nothing else. Ive had players that had parents that were always willing to help in anyway they could. Ive had parents that maybe made one or two games a year and wouldnt work a concession stand or sell a donut if their life depended on it. None of that matters as far as who makes the team and who plays. Its all ability , attitude and dedication. THE KIDS NOT THE PARENTS. I would not write the letters. It serves no usefull purpose at all.

Coach May,

You are exactly right. No compromise with money bags in the true nature of playing the best players. That's probably why I'm currently without those money bags-LOL

Hope all is well up there in the Carolinas.

How close are you to Lewisville, NC. I may have a couple of prospects to refer to you at a later date from this area.

Shep

quote:

Originally posted by Dan Janbon:

As the boys go to high school next year, a couple of dads have asked me to write letters of recommendation to the high school baseball coach, basically alerting him to their existence.

Dan

Dan,

IMO - I think you would be better off telling the Dads that they should spend their time encouraging their kids and helping them get prepared for tryouts - and less time devising some bs public relations campaign.

Maybe even remind them - its high school baseball - not Madison Avenue.

quote:

its high school baseball - not Madison Avenue

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:
And most HS programs have fall and winter work outs I know we do. We know all the kids well in advance of the HS season which starts soon.

Its about what you can do when you step on the HS field and what type of kid you are.

Alot of kids are picked and kept on travel teams because their parents ... write checks , help with the team etc. None of this comes into play at the HS level. Its only about what the kid can do. Nothing else.

None of that matters as far as who makes the team and who plays. Its all ability , attitude and dedication.

First, I agree with your basic response. It shouldn't be necessary and might be detrimental.

However, some HS's (even very large ones) have only a one day (or two), two hour tryout. No fall program. No other looks at the players. And some HS coaches do not go out & watch the kids play in rec or select ball.

And unfortunately, politics do play a role in some programs. {Fortunately, my son has never been affected by such.}

And I have seen kids receive favors in HS based on the fact that their dads wrote some very large checks to the program.

I wish that your last statement was true at all HS's, not just yours. And again, no sour grapes here as I have no complaints at all with my son's treatment. And I think highly of his current HS coach. But I have seen the effects on others at other schools.

how can i take a letter of recommendation from someone that may or not have any creditals and that i don't even know. if they have the tools they will be noticed.

Let the kids do the talking with their ability at tryouts! I think its great the AAU and league coaches are working with the players, getting them ready for high school baseball. Coach May and Coach Merc have said it all!

sound comments by coach May,

but some other coaches need to work off their "tension" toward summer select pgms & parents

Let me just add this. I think its great that there are people that take these young kids under their wings and coach them with the purpose of preparing them for HS baseball. In some situations the coaching and instruction as well as the competition is better than what they will see at the HS level. What I mean by the competition is at the high level AAU ball all the players are talented at least most of them. They are all serious and dedicated. The level of play is outstanding. Now sometimes these kids go into a HS program and play JV and the level of the play is not as good as the AAU they are used to. Their team mates in HS may not be as serious as the players that they have played with in AAU or select whatever you want to call it. And sometimes the coaching is not as good either. Kids have to stay focused and continue a great work ethic and work towards varsity and playing in good summer and fall programs. The bottom line is talent and work ethic will surface to the top. If you are in a HS program that does not keep and or play the best talent and plays politics instead you have choices to make. Transfer , suck it up and do the best you can , or just play summer and fall baseball in a quality program. Just dont use politics or daddy ball as an excuse as to why you dont continue to do the things that you need to do to be the best player possible. JMO

Dan,
I commend you on your concern for your players and your dedication to them. It sounds like you are a part of a fine program. I would say use caution when parents request that you send letters anywhere. What do you do when the player is not very good and the parent thinks they are and requests a letter? A high school try-out system should involve a rating system that easily will score the best players at the top. It would not be fair for me to judge a player based on the hear-say, but rather what I see. I would hate to take a player that I heard things about from an overzealous parent or coach and miss a player that was quietly developing into a top-notch player. It is very important for me to have a thorough and accurate rating system to use in the try-out process for this reason. If a player really excites you and you feel motivated to talk to the coach, go and see the coach and develop a rapport with him. He may want to request a schedule in order to see your teams in the future. Just make sure that you do what you do because you feel that the kid justifies it, and not to satisfy the parents. That is sometimes a very hard thing to do but it is the right thing.

I agree with the rest. HS coach will see what he sees at the tryouts, and ultimately a letter won't be anything that will make much of a difference. I know in my case, tryouts are a chance to see MORE of the players in our program...if the coaches in that high school are worth their salt and these kids are not transfer students, they have already seen these kids play anyway! No way in the world that a kid slips through without me seeing him play if he is on the way to the high school - and our school has 2400 in the high school.

I look at this as potentially having different angles. I'm not in favor of the letter. "Hey dumb **** HS Coach, I want to alert you to the real players you should pick." Something like that might not be well accepted. I had that this year for our incoming freshmen. Complete with profiles, schedules... and of course an underlying sentiment that no matter where he played, the coaches kid could play all of the positions better than the one playing there. Naturally I'll keep him but he wanted me to be aware of the others.

A place for some type of contact is if this kid has moved into a community. We have also had that. After it was verified that they parents had moved in, I sat down with a freshman's parents and basically told them the process for trying out ... They were relieved that we didn't care what select teams our kids played on. As I have posted in another forum, we help run 70 kids through our gym on Sundays. They all play out of a feeder select program. However, that doesn't guarantee them anything when tryouts come and we make that clear. We have an Airforce Base in our area and we have move-ins every once in a while. They will get an equal opportunity to tryout and make the team.

It is called selecting the best players available to you that can help your program

Yikes Coach B! Profiles and summer schedules for 8th graders. Is a strong feeder system a double edge sword? I know it can be a tremendous benefit. Can it hinder the process?

Hey, thanks! You guys are great.

I guess there was a good reason why I questioned it, although not too bright that I even entertained the idea at all. I'm learning. These kids will stand out OK on their own account. The dads are reasonable and should understand.

Thanks for the quick and thorough response. I expect I'll learn quite a bit here.

very interesting topic!!

especially to me. I have coached a local travel team for the past few years. Most of the kids are now freshman. In my opinion, about half of them should make the JV team. What insight I have that may not come out in a 2-day tryout is how these kids actually perform in game situations. For example, I have one kid who is a real physical speciman. Has all the tools, but is probably the last kid I would want up in a crucial situation. Total brain farts. If you throw him BP, he'll crush the ball. But hey, these are balls coming right down the middle. In a game, he swings at pitches in the dirt or outside the strikezone. And while he has a gun for an arm, and is impressive to watch, can't make an accurate throw when trying to nail a runner. And while he runs like a gazelle, he has very poor instincts as a baserunner. but his times would be amongst the best.

maybe this does get picked up in a day or two of tryouts, but more than likely, a coach will see some tools and possibly pick him over a kid who may have more average skills, but is a player.

but I can completely understand some of the coaches here, who point out that they don't know me from Adam, and my opinion may not be worth a nickel to them. Some of that may be coach's ego, which would be sad, but I can certainly see the point.

"Has all the tools"

If this is the case, it might be a perfect fit for the coach to see if they can develop a better approach for the player and work to help refine their game. Then the next summer the player with all the tools might be the one you want at the plate. I understand your point, but think it would be foolish of me to give up on a player who has so much to offer simply because they need to really refine their game.

How about after the tryouts? I have seen some very good players cut from HS teams that have short tryout periods.

Would it then be appropriate for a summer coach to contact the HS coach?

I have always wanted to know the local youth coaches, at least the ones that are dedicated and have proven themselves. For me to ignore them would be the same as a college coach ignoring high school coaches. The youth leagues should be somehwat of a pipeline for players. Having a repore with a coach and just keeping him informed can work. Some of these youth coaches don't coach at a higher level for their own reasons. One local little league coach here has been **** it for 30 years and has pro ball experience and has trained many current pros. He chooses to be a L.L. coach. I am against the letter as I stated before. A get to know you kinda thing might be beneficial to all parties. Do leave the parents out of it though. However if the coach acts like some of the posters here and treats you like you don't know what you're doing, ignore him and go about your business. He doesn't deserve your respect. The kids will ultimately have to earn their spots anyway.

hsballcoach,
good point. I could see the HS coach saying "gee, if you were a better coach, maybe he'd be a better player". that's where it comes into play whether he knows me or not.

in my town, I'm noticing that the HS coaches really don't pay much attention to the coaches/teams that are coming up. No "pipeline" at all. That may explain the miserable record our HS puts up in virtually all sports

but in this kid's instance, its the tool on top of his shoulders that needs the most work...

Agree with Coachric.

A good high school coach knows all the local little leagues and pony leagues and something about the players on the way.

Better still, some of the better coaches with winning programs, hold seminars for "fathers/coaches" and suggest that they teach the game the way they play it at the high school.

Smart men.

quote:

but think it would be foolish of me to give up on a player who has so much to offer simply because they need to really refine their game.

....especially a freshman.

Our tryouts last for a week. First practice is on Monday and the last is on Saturday. We make our cuts that day. The bottom line is it is very rare when we have a doubt about a kid. It is usually very clear who should make the JV and who should not. Now there are times when we are not sure if a kid should play up or not. Maybe a talented Soph. In this case they are not cut but are either put on JV to start the season or Varsity to start the season and we let their performance answer the questions. If we have any doubt about a kid we keep him and let it play out. The only ones we cut are the ones that obviously do not have the skills to help the program. Now we usually have around 15-18 on Varsity and around the same on JV. But we will keep more on JV if we have kids that are in the same general talent pool. The fact is it is usually a no brainer on who to keep and who not to keep. Talented kids are not cut because they are overlooked they are cut because they are lazy , have a bad attitude , have no commitment or do not take care of business in the classroom. Talent speaks for itself.

Coach May, not all coaches are as faultless as you. And not everyone lives in your perfect world.

I have seen a HS hold two each two hour tryouts with ~200 kids coming out. One day was cut short by rain. The HC had never seen any of the kids play. Now you want to tell me that absolutely without fail the best 24 were picked? No one was overlooked?

I know better. And I had seen most of those kids play for several years. My son came out fine, made the top team even. But there were some kids who got cut that were more talented than some who made the cut. Heck, I am positive that with one kid there was a case of mistaken identity. And I had lots of company in that conclusion, it was painfully obvious to even the player.

And what about the talented kid who has a bad day in the one day tryout (one day tryouts are not uncommon in some areas)? It happens.

All any kid can do is work hard, do his best preparation and give it his best shot. But merely because he may not make the cut does not mean he was undeserving. If he knows in his heart he was good enough to play, then he needs to keep working & give it another shot.

Wow! Sorry Texan if I offended you. I dont pretend to live in a perfect world. Im sure that all the kids that have played in our program don't believe its a perfect world either. I can only speak for our program and the ones I am familiar with. I don't know what the answer is for the ones you are talking about. A one day tryout for 200 kids? Well I don't believe that is fair. And yes there is no doubt that there would be alot of trouble picking the best in that scenario. I would like to have 200 kids come out. I would like to have more than one day to pick that team. In this HS do they not have fall and winter work outs? So the coaches see these 200 kids for the first time in a one day tryout? What do you believe the answer is in this situation? Maybe alot more time to evaluate the players? Maybe fall and winter workouts where the coaches could see these kids several times before tryouts, and get a feel for their work ethic and make ups? I am curious what is the reasoning behind a one day tryout? Do you feel that writing letters to the coach would help him evaluate these kids more fairly in a one day situation? What about the kids that don't have anyone to write them a letter? Who is writing the letter? What is their motivation? How are they connected to the kid that they are writing the letter for? I dont believe that making sure that everyone gets fair shot is living in a perfect world. And I surely dont think that giving yourself and the kids more than one day to tryout is living in a perfect world either. And lastly making sure that you pick the team solely based on ability is not perfect but I do believe its fair.

No!!!!! If I'm the high school coach receiving this letter, I automatically red flag the kid just because my judgement is in question.

Have these daddy note-requesters any evidence that the hs coach needs name recognition. You think the hs coach doesn't know of the select programs in the area?

Obviously if the boys can play they don't need mommy notes from their coach.

One thing for sure...I doubt that a note would have helped with a coach who has a 1 1/2 days of tryouts. There's always a knucklehead coach out there...kind of like parents

quote:

Originally posted by Texan:
Coach May, not all coaches are as faultless as you. And not everyone lives in your perfect world.

I have seen a HS hold two each two hour tryouts with ~200 kids coming out. One day was cut short by rain. The HC had never seen any of the kids play. Now you want to tell me that absolutely without fail the best 24 were picked? No one was overlooked?

I know better. And I had seen most of those kids play for several years. My son came out fine, made the top team even. But there were some kids who got cut that were more talented than some who made the cut. Heck, I am positive that with one kid there was a case of mistaken identity. And I had lots of company in that conclusion, it was painfully obvious to even the player.

And what about the talented kid who has a bad day in the one day tryout (one day tryouts are not uncommon in some areas)? It happens.

All any kid can do is work hard, do his best preparation and give it his best shot. But merely because he may not make the cut does not mean he was undeserving. If he knows in his heart he was good enough to play, then he needs to keep working & give it another shot.

I think we beat this horse to death, I thought I would slide this in get some of the coaches thoughts on this for those incoming freshman.

Things to do or not do at a High School tryout. There might be a few laughs, and maybe a pointer or two. Here are my initial thoughts. Most of this shouldn't apply to the serious ballplayer since he probably has a clue.

1- Don't wear jeans to tryout in, wear baseball pants.

2- Mom's and Dad's this isn't Little League you don't belong at the tryout (IMO).

3- Don't physically bring Johnny gatorade or a snack during tryouts.

4- Cleats would be a good idea.

5- IMO don't go to the coach before, during or after tryouts and sell Johnny to the coach.

6- Being the rec ball of AAU stud means squat. If you think you are hot s&#t out there and don't hustle and act a little too cool don't be surprised if you don't make the cut.

I'll be interested to see what r coaches out there have to say and/or maybe some of the things that they've seen which had them shaking their head.

Novice Dad you obviously have seen it. And I have too.

Things not to do.
#1. Show up late.
#2. Talk when the coaches are talking.
#3. Walk anywhere you are going.
#4. Forget your hat , cleats , glove , gear , sleeves etc.
#5. Leave early.
#6. Fail to hustle all the times.
#7. Forget your physical forms.
#8. Make excuses instead of listening.
#9. Tell the coach that you were taught to do it another way by your other coaches.
#10. Get in the back of the line on purpose.
#11. Look for ways to avoid drills.
#12. Finish last in runs. Especially if your not a really big kid. And especially if you can not mash.
#13. Act like there is somewhere else you would rather be.
#14. Act like you have already made the team.
#15. And around here - Its not yeah or nawh its Yes Sir and No Sir or No Coach or Yes Coach. I know that in other areas its not a big deal. But from where we come from its a sign of showing respect for the coaches and yourself.

Things to Do

#1. Be early. On time is late. Late is dont bother coming.
#2. Be ready to start practice like its the world series. Have all your gear hat glove baseball pants sleeves tennis shoes in case its wet etc etc.
#3. Make sure you have all your forms signed and with you ie physical etc.
#4. Hustle everywhere you go and in everything you do.
#5. Listen and make eye contact.
#6. Never laugh at another player or make fun of someone that makes a mistake or error. Show respect for your teamates and yourself.
#7. Act like there is no place else you would rather be. And hopefully there isnt.
#8. Practice like you are trying to make the team everyday. Even if you know you are going to.
#9. Never suck up to a coach. We know when you are and we dont like it. Just take care of business. Thats what we want in a player.
#10. Never make excuses - Listen and try harder. The attempt to do it right is what we are after.
#11. Never talk when the coaches are talking. Make eye contact and listen. If you have a question ask it.
#12. Never tell the coaches you can not do something. Cant is a four letter word.
#13. Be the first one in line. Be the first one across the finish line. And if you are not make darn sure you are trying to be the first. Pacing yourself is not an option and it is easily seen.
#14. If you boot a ground ball dont leave the posistion and go to the back of the line. Ask for another one. Want the ball, want the opportunity to show what you can do.
#15. Confident - YES. Cocky - NO. Know the difference.

No offense, Coach May. And again as previously stated, I agree that the letter will probably backfire (especially considering the ego of many coaches).

No fall/winters workouts at that school. As I said the tryouts is the first time the coach has ever seen the kids.

The answer is to change how the tryouts are organized, obviously. They do have too many kids coming out to let them in the baseball PE class in the fall. And any after school workouts in the fall/winter are strictly forbidded by UIL. But they could lengthen the tryout period.

Reasoning? Probably wants to get the roster settled as quickly as possible to start formal practices. But I don't know that for a fact.

And please read my first post on this thread. I don't recommend the letter.

There are kids who read this board. And some of them may not make their HS team. And if they read your prior post -

"Talented kids are not cut because they are overlooked they are cut because they are lazy , have a bad attitude , have no commitment or do not take care of business in the classroom. Talent speaks for itself."

- they will probably get the impression they have one of the problems you named. And that just isn't necessarily so. Your statement was pretty bold, IMHO.

My point is that sometimes deserving kids get cut. And IMHO, everyone always getting a fair shot is living in a perfect world. Sad as that fact may be. It just doesn't happen everywhere. Kids in your school are fortunate that it is true in your program.

Novice Dad, please read my first post in this thread. I do agree with not using the letters.

If the youth coach knows the HS coach well enough, then a conversation might take place. But if the two are strangers such that a letter must be written, the letter will be worthless at best.

Some good comments above on tryouts. Here is a list which will contain overlap with those. Compiled from various sources, including this site & posters from this site.

1. Be in full uniform with spikes, leave tennis shoes in the gear bag.
2. If the tryouts are just one or two days, wear the same uni every day, to make it easier for coaches to remember you. {Mom will wash it overnight.}
3. Be there early & warm up, stretch, etc. extremely well. Take a jog.
4. If possible, warm up with an upperclassman friend.
5. Don't stand around cutting up with the other freshman.
6. Hustle, everywhere, every time.
7. Help without being asked (e.g., moving a screen, ball bucket, etc.).
8. If the radar gun comes out during IF or OF drills, throw hard - going for speed over accuracy.
9. If you pitch just to a catcher (no batter), don't try to clip the corners (not throwing everything right down the middle, of course). Better that the nothing gets by the catcher. And keep everything low. It can be extremely effective to go upstairs to a batter, but it won't look good in a pen (to most observers).
10. Don't go nuts trying to make a play & risk throwing a ball away. E.g., you are playing second, gets late or bad feed from SS & has only 0.1% chance of getting out at first - don't make the throw or take the normal time to make a safe throw.
11. If the team runs, be at the head of the pack.
12. Be accurate in warmup throws.
13. Listen carefully & follow instructions. Ask if not clear.
14. Exude confidence (not cockiness) in how you carry yourself.
15. Don't swing at anything that is not a strike, regardless of how many pitches you have to take or who throws them.
16. If a ball gets by you, go after it like mad.
17. Don’t show any emotion, no matter what happens.
18. You have two ears and 1 mouth - use them in that proportion.
19. When the coach is talking, you are not... and look at him - he will notice who is paying attention.

Good Post Texan as usual. I agree that kids should not take getting cut as an affirmation that they can not play the game and never will. I think they should strive to work even harder to prove the coach wrong. Our #2 pitcher this year was cut as a freshman. Were we wrong when we cut him? No he was not good enough to help the team and was very physically weak. Instead of pouting and getting a bad attitude he decided to work his butt off. Now as a Senior he is getting serious attention from several college programs and is a very good player. Maybe if we had not cut him he would have never become the player he is today. One thing is for sure the way you react to adversity will determine what kind of player you ultimately will be. When I was in HS it was 10th thru 12th 9th graders when to Jr HS. We did not have JV ball I dont anyone around here did at that time. I was cut my 10th grade year. I didnt look for excuses and I didnt whine about it. Actually it pissed me off. I decided to prove that *** wrong. I did and I played the next two years starting my Sr year at SS and had a great year. Was he wrong to cut me? No he made the right call because I was not good enough to help the team win. But I made sure that there would be no doubt the next time. I agree in the scenario that you have given that it would lead to alot of young fellas getting a raw deal. They need to change how they do things thats for sure.

Coach May

Did you get my PM?