Running a tryout

#1 what is your likely turnout for try-outs in your area? If you really only expect 10-12 to be there you can probably do that alone, however I would enlist help for feeding balls/hitting/catching for you. If you expect a lot more, I wouldn't attempt to run it alone.

#2 Make sure you have a pretty good schedule and stations that you want to evaluate (It's very easy to tell when a coach is not prepared to run a try-out and you may loose potential players because of that.)

#3 I always had outside people evaluate skills (HS coach, JV coach, college players) Of course the coaching staff had final say, but this gave a neutral assessment, especially if you have returning players.

You will need other people to help, see if there are other coaches in your organization willing to help out.

This is what we typically do for ours. We start if with general skills, split the group into 2 groups fielding & hitting.

Infield - half the group at 2nd the other hald at 1st, hit a ball & throw it switch lines, than the 2nd line moves to short than finally 3rd.
Outfield - line at center with a 1 at 2nd, 3rd and home, hit fly ball at them, one they must drop step for, one they must charge, a ball they must angle for, and a few ground balls, make them throw to different bases, then they rotate.

Machine hitting. we give them 15 hits, the first 5 are bunts the last 10 are hits. (if there are slappers we give them 5 slaps as well). We mark on the score sheet, whether the hit was fair, foul .. line drive, hard grounder, soft grounder or fly.

The next practice we do more position specific, we allow pitchers & catchers to warm up. During this time we warm up the fielders, hitting balls & making plays. Once the pitchers are warm we split into teams and scrimmage.

We typically also do a tryout specifically for pitching and catching so we can focus on what we need to.

Amy in AZ. said:

Keep in mind that some girls have no intention of playing for you. They just go to tryouts.

I was surprised to learn that, but it is true.

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Girls also have to try out for multiple teams. If they only tried out for 1 team and that team decided they didn't want them then the girl is left in a bad spot. They have to try out for several teams and then decide where to play based on offers.

So coaches should have no expectation that everyone they extend an offer to is going to except.

Drills are good to see if players is coachable. U do want to see if they will listen.

Ask them to throw HE, responses are interesting. From yes to no.