Finally through the meat market

[quandofloo]

My DD, Cricket, is 11. She is a 2004 that is aging up to 12U and we just decided that she has completely outgrown the local rec community so she has been growing through tryouts. It has been a frustrating and at times infuriating process. We went to 8 different tryouts spanning almost 2 months.

1. Team 1 - Coach emailed me for 2 weeks before tryouts and practically begged me to drive over an hour to bring Cricket to the tryouts because he needed a catcher and a coach. Tryouts went well, I was involved in multiple stations and coached girls up while they moved through and Cricket fielded and ran well. I didn't see her hit since I was not involved in the hitting stations. Feedback was incredibly positive and we home feeling good. Then, complete radio silence.
2. Team 2 - Coach personally invited us to his tryout after watching Cricket and I workout to prepare for tryout 1 at a local batting cage. She had never used a pitching machine before so we borrowed a local facility for a session and he was impressed. She did great and he was very enthusiastic about her after the tryout. Unfortunately, his entire team would have been 10 2003 girls and Cricket. We both agreed that it would not be a great fit just because of the maturity difference. I would not have been comfortable with it. He did offer to ask around to try to find a better fit for her.
3. Team 3 - "New" team that was looking to fill every position. Turned out to be a team that needed 2 spots filled and neither of them was a position that Cricket plays.
4. Team 4 - Went on a whim to a tryout because the coach said all the right things in his posting about his coaching style. He had run two tryouts sessions before the one we made it to and had 4 girls from the first two sessions that were there. Didn't explain anything to the other 8 girls about the drills he was running. He set the 4 girls that had been there in the front of the lines at his positions and told the others to follow their leads. I would have been more okay with this for higher age brackets, but at 12U I think the girls needed more coaching. Nobody did real well. Cricket was tired and frustrated because it was the hottest day of the year and the she almost threw up when she had to put her catcher's gear on after they did all of the rest of the 2+ hour tryout. She caught for a few pitches and then tapped out and we thanked him for his time and left.
5. Team 5 - True A level organization. True A class coach. True A class tryout. True A class parents. This one was great. Cricket did well. The coach was awesome with the kids. The parents were supportive of all the kids. The tryout moved quickly and the kids had fun. The coach explained things and handled the girls perfectly. We wanted this one. It hurt a little when I got the email that she didn't make this team, but I expected it since this was an A level 12U looking to fill with experienced A level players and she isn't quite there yet. I did find out that Team 1 had not contacted anyone yet from another parent(this is over 6 weeks later).
6. Team 6 - High level local organization. Very hot day. Day after tryout 5. Cricket is exhausted and sluggish. I thought she looked worn out and it showed. I intentionally stayed away from the field so she couldn't look at me until I saw that she was starting to show signs of heat exhaustion. Grabbed a coach and pointed it out and they hustled her into an air conditioned room to cool off where that particular coaches daughter happened to be dealing with the same thing. Cricket finished the tryout and caught for one of their pitchers. Their head coach called me a few hours later and told me that they would have taken her but they were already carrying 4 catchers and it would be unfair to her but he offered to help her find a team. That was a huge confidence boost.
7. Team 7 - Local organization. Advertised as A level organization. Cricket was involved in a car accident the day before and had a bruised sternum but wanted to try anyway. I warned the coaches and told them that I would keep an eye on her. Team was C level at best but had plans to jump from USSSA tournaments to ASA A level tournaments this year. Cricket couldn't throw or run without severe pain so I pulled the plug and we didn't go to the next week's tryout.
8. Team 8 - Local monster organization. 10 teams ranging from 10U to 18U showcase teams. 42 college scholarships already from the organization with 11 more expected this year. Tryout was muddy and disorganized. Cricket was basically average in every aspect. She ran middle of the pack times, she had middle of the pack throw times. Nothing outstanding but no mistakes. Coaches were all positive and said they would call that day. Finally got a call 3 days later that she made their 2004 new 12U team.

She was getting frustrated and we had actually started talking about just starting basketball practice up and waiting until spring to try again. She wasn't happy but I didn't want to burn her out completely and she was getting close to the edge. I am so proud of how hard she fought though. Her goal is to play college softball and she knows that she has to work for it. She didn't let the aggravation of these tryouts stop her and she didn't let the stumbles slow her down. I swear, these 11 year old little girls are stronger than we give them credit for.

 

[JJsqueeze]

That's a lot of tryouts, no wonder you got a little fed up at the end. Hope she has a great season.

 

[JAD]

But which one had the best team website???

 

[Orange Socks]

Thanks for sharing. It is a grind for sure, but I am sure you are glad that you did it. You will hear that there is a team for your daughter out there. You just have to do the work to find that team. You have learned more than most families will in 6 weeks of tryouts than they will in 4 years of TB. You now have a better idea of what type of team your DD's skill set will fit in best. What type of coaching is best for her. How horrible some coaches communicate or lack there of. I bet your DD got better quickly too, once she saw the players that she could be playing with especially if they were stronger than her. Many girls never get a chance to truly tryout, since they are legacy players from a team that turned into a TB team or they go to one private tryout midway through the season and are asked to join. As others have said, I think every girl should go through the tryout process every year and be worried about earning a spot. Your DD will do great this year!!!

We went through the grind last year. 5 team tryouts=22 hours of workouts and call backs...all within a week and half. MY DD did get better quickly. They say coaches are looking for "line drives and dives" which is true. Your DD has to stick out to be noticed especially in a cattle call type of tryout. One thing my DD does not have is speed, so other aspects of her play better stand out. She is vocal, so she is always noticed right off the bat. College coaches really like that too. Smile! Never wear previous team's gear if possible. Her batting helmet will tell the coach where she played. She better be diving for ground balls. If she boots a ball, ask for another. Smile! When it comes to the batting portion of the tryout she will be shagging balls, so she should be on the dirt if possible. Do not blend in and become a wall flower in the outfield. Smile! If she is a bubble player these things will set her apart from the rest. Now, if her skill set is not up to par for the team she is trying out for at least the coach will remember her. If she doesn't make that team. Rinse and Repeat.

This year was a different story for us....

 

[3bmama]

I really appreciate this post. We have been lucky enough to not have to go through this yet and with any luck won't have to, but you can only get lucky for so long. Good luck to your dd.

 

[CMMom1740]

Wow, that is a circuit. I, too, feel as though I've gained about 5 years of insight on this process within the past month. DD, age 11-beginning second year of 12U, tried out for just one TB team. Stupid, naive me thought we should only try out for one team that is nearby. Long story short, they were looking for just 1-2 players, although that was not advertised. I had no clue. After she didn't make that team, I found a local Coach's website/Forum and lined up 4 more tryouts for her within a week-long period. She was asked to join two of those teams. I didn't know "jack" about A vs. B vs. whatever teams or the different organizations. That week of tryouts plus DFB have taught me an absolute TON in the past month.

Here's to a great first year of Travel!