How To Make Yourself Stand Out At Softball Tryouts

Editor’s note: Next week begins high school tryouts in many states. This guest post by*Brandon Capaletti, vice president of*Cisco Athletic, offers some timely tips on how to have a successful tryout. Tryouts can be a nerve-wracking process. Players are being scrutinized en masse, coaches are assessing needs and talent levels, and families are trying to […]

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Great info, but there are other points.... (sorry, I just can't help it)...

9. If the HS coach has a summer travelball team, he/she might expect you to worship at that altar. If you don't, you might just be wasting your time trying out for high school ball. Not all HS coaches seek the best talent. For some HS coaches, it's about kissing their a$$ and worshiping at all of their altars. You know.... some players run into a god complex. Sorry, but it is often true. It certainly is here.

Sad... I guess they need something else to do since they ain't got a shot @ WinningState.

1. Understand that a tryout is not a social event. You are there to take someone's job. In the past, various players have earned varsity positions from all grade levels. They were competing against friends and veterans. Nothing is guaranteed!
2. Dress like a ball player. Wear baseball pants if you have them, cleats and a hat. Be prepared to go outside or stay inside. So, you will also need to have some type of shoe be it basketball etc. so you can practice on the gym floor. Wearing your hat backward or sideways will not ever be allowed. We want to go outside!
3. Lockers will not be assigned yet. If you need to store your equipment in the coach’s office for security, please give it in the morning to Coach Bugger. The locker room is a place for CHAMPIONS not CHUMPS. You will act mature in there. When in the gym, place your equipment in an area that you can access your equipment quickly. Do not leave it in any area where it can be stolen.
4. During warm-ups, throw sufficiently to be completely warm. You will do this with your coat off if we are outside or inside. After you are warm, you may put your jacket or coat back on for a time. Be sure to keep throwing if necessary to stay loose and warm. Playing catch is also not a social event!
5. Many think that hustling and trying to aggressively make plays is the way to impress your coaches. Understand that it is early in the season and your game is not in midseason form. When it comes time to show your defensive skills you will be much better off attempting to be smooth, focusing on proper mechanics. Get your feet under you and focus on making an accurate throw. If you try too hard, rush it and throw it as hard as you can, you probably will not perform well. Also, if you are not used to throwing, you will have a sore arm for day 2.
6. When hitting, you can take a pitch to get a feel for the timing of the pitch. After this, be selective but don’t take strikes. The ball will not be placed on a “T” for you. Hit it if it is in the strike zone. Don’t over-swing and try to hit the ball out of the park. Swing smoothly and try to hit line drives and hard ground balls.
7. Hey coach, my Dad wants to come and watch. Well, ok but he WILL NOT TALK TO ANY OF THE COACHES AND HE WILL STAY OUT OF THE WAY! Lobbying will not help. Insecure parents are typically an omen of problems to come. There are four experienced coaches making these cuts and so, we don’t need any help with anything at anytime ever when it comes to coaching! If we do need help, all of the parents will be asked to help via a handout to your sons or through the Triad Athletic Booster Club.
8. You will not be allowed to tryout without a physical on file with the Nurse. It is your obligation to do so. In the event that you don’t have it, you won’t be allowed more time to obtain one. The team will already be selected! If you are a freshman, you have a physical on file.




Parents:
Parents, we don’t recommend that you run out and buy equipment just prior to your son trying out. If he is using a new glove, it might hurt his fielding ability. If he has new shoes on, he might develop blisters. After he makes the team, and you are assured that your investment is sound, then you can do it.
1. Soon after the final team selections, please plan to attend an informal meeting. The time of this meeting will depend upon gym time and the weather. Topics to be discussed will be presented in a handout. The IHSA has suggested but has not demanded that schools have meetings with parents concerning sportsmanship etc. My staff, as well as myself, feel that we need to address growing concerns that we have with several topics. (Please note that this meeting will take place after the basketball season has been completed and those players have been given an opportunity to try out. Your son will be notified of the Parent’s Meeting and will then notify you.)
2. Your sons will be under a lot of pressure due to their desire to “make” the baseball team. Don’t place additional pressure on them by coaching them etc. As my Dad has often said, “the hay is in the barn.” You won’t be helping them out by adding any pressure. Should you attend any of the tryouts, don’t coach or give any instruction. You will be asked to leave if you do.
3. We, as a staff, do not care about what teams your son has played on in the past. Typically, selections to those teams are based upon many factors and while ability might be one factor, it is not the sole factor for who makes those teams and who plays. We will be the judges of who can play now.
4. Parents and Players please note that the success of the basketball team will directly affect the tryouts. Should the basketball team advance in the state tournament, the final cut will be held after the basketball season has finished. Therefore, it is possible for a player to be allowed to practice for a week before being “cut.” We want what is best for all of the kids while also trying to be “fair.”
Other Information:
1. Tryouts will be Monday February 26 for Sophomore, Juniors and Seniors and a week later for Freshmen. Please note that inclement weather could affect the date for freshmen tryouts. We must accommodate the basketball team as well as other spring sports teams. Tryout times will be posted outside Room 144 and placed in the school announcements.
2. Depending upon space and the weather as well as other concerns, practice times will be presented in the form of a weekly calendar. However, we intend to go out everyday. This means that your child should be ready to practice in 40 degree, wet and trying conditions. They should also be prepared to "come back late" if we can't get into a gym at an earlier time.

Is "kick rear and take names" an option? That is usually what I tell my DD before she takes the circle....

Cannonball said:

5. Many think that hustling and trying to aggressively make plays is the way to impress your coaches. Understand that it is early in the season and your game is not in midseason form. When it comes time to show your defensive skills you will be much better off attempting to be smooth, focusing on proper mechanics. Get your feet under you and focus on making an accurate throw. If you try too hard, rush it and throw it as hard as you can, you probably will not perform well. Also, if you are not used to throwing, you will have a sore arm for day 2.

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Good tip. DD was at tryouts last week and made that point, said that some were so eager to look fast that their throws were wild. Better to be a little slower, smoother and inconspicuous, IMO. The one way that you do NOT want to stand out is by making people duck because of your wild throws.

Then you wouldn't play. They? This is what I handed out. My record and success are available for anyone to see.

You never put in writing and handed expectations for tryouts to players? You never sent stuff home to parents outlining what was happening in the tryout process? What in particular is so offensive?

I always boiled it down for DD as:
1. listen
2. hustle
3. line drives & dives

You impress on all three you are on "the watch list".

Out in Left Field said:

Is this for real? I would not play if this is what they hand out....never seen or heard of anything like it. How about some simple dates and times, what to wear and leave the rest out.

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But not allowing a girl to pitch for you bc something annoys you is perfectly fine?

"Quote Originally Posted by Out in Left Field View Post
I just read this all again, but I want to make two points:
I am not against slapping the thigh because it helps the hitter. I would still be against it regardless.
I am against it because it has caused injuries
I am against it because grunting and slapping are poor body control, a sloppy technique for several reasons.
When I manage the player, that means being around her for hours, so if you grunt or slap, the rest of us find it distracting, and often or can lead to players conversing, getting sloppy with technique, or grunting themselves. (If I have to tell them to shut up or be precise on something, I am going to tell my pitcher also to do so.)

Or the other team gets riled up and messing with her, which can help them.

Sorry, but both bad habits in pitching are really annoying. Because it is not necessary to do so, then I tell you, you can't pitch for me unless you get rid of that slap. You can pitch for TB, etc. just not for me. But the ones that are high level that have come to my team never had these bad habits.
I doubt you will have any scientific studies on this. Really, make a kid slap her thigh to test theories....I think researchers are looking into more important things. However, they have found grunting a problem in women's tennis."