Dusty cleat diaries: DD cut, Mom not thrilled

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Feb 3, 2011
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For people that are into numbers, it was a good tryout season for Mojo. Six teams got to see her, and 4 wanted her. People into numbers would probably be thrilled. But it's the 1 that didn't want her that has mom upset. I understand it's natural to compare your kid to everyone else at a tryout, but let's be honest about our assessments. It doesn't matter what happened during fall ball. It also doesn't matter if your player is better than any player on the current roster. If there are 3 spots available and 20-21 players fighting for them and DD does not have a strong tryout, then she's likely to be cut.

She would not have been able to play for them because of location, but DD felt it would have been an honor to be selected. Mom's ego is taking it hard. As for dad, well, I don't take it quite so personally. Maybe I've spoiled the hunger out of her by keeping her in rec so long, but it's up to her to ramp up her game in a tryout situation.

The other team that did not take her was a 12u team with an amazing coaching staff. I don't know why she seemed so intimidated, but I teased her about needing to make sure she uses a big girl glove instead of her 8u glove next time she tries out for a 12u team. lol

After getting the news, we stopped for a donut and all was well. I'm sure mom will eventually recover, too.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
The hardest thing for most of the coaches to do is to cut a player who you know really wants to play for you. I've had to do it too many times. Tell your DD to keep a positive attitude and fight hard. One of the things kids forget about at tryouts is it's about sticking out. Too many kids will just blend in.
 
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JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
While no player likes to be 'cut', a lot of teams hold tryouts looking for a specific position player. Your DD may be a great SS, but if the team is looking for a catcher, it is not a good fit. Most teams will hold 'open tryouts', so parents do not know what position the coaches are looking to fill. I have also seen tryouts with 30+ girls in attendance when the team is looking for 1 or 2 players, so 28-29 girls are going to be disappointed.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Getting turned down when she had other choices was probably good for her. It was only a light slap on the wrist though it might not feel that way now.

Sometimes it breaks my heart when players get cut at something like their school team, it is their only school they cannot play for another one. VB tryouts just finished at DD’s MS and some players and parents are devastated.

Thanks for sharing your DD tryout process in various posts.
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
Getting turned down when she had other choices was probably good for her. It was only a light slap on the wrist though it might not feel that way now.

Sometimes it breaks my heart when players get cut at something like their school team, it is their only school they cannot play for another one. VB tryouts just finished at DD’s MS and some players and parents are devastated.Thanks for sharing your DD tryout process in various posts.
This may help you understand how Momo's mom is feeling. Sometimes its harder on the parents because, it is our baby. We feel bad because we can only guess how our child must feel. After every try-out on the ride home I try an prepare my DD for the possibility of getting cut. During tryouts I think I'm more nervous then the DD.
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
My wife ( mom ) gets too worked up for things she just doesn't quite understand ( softball ). So we made a deal a few years ago after one of her ( mom ) meltdowns, she makes sure DD makes the calculus team..........I work on softball.

If we swapped roles DD would have trouble making a church softball team, and would have to take her socks off to count over 10. :) So our present arrangement works out best.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
My wife ( mom ) gets too worked up for things she just doesn't quite understand ( softball ). So we made a deal a few years ago after one of her ( mom ) meltdowns, she makes sure DD makes the calculus team..........I work on softball.

If we swapped roles DD would have trouble making a church softball team, and would have to take her socks off to count over 10. :) So our present arrangement works out best.

LMAO.....we have a similar deal in our household, but as my DD has gotten older and college recruiting is starting to come into the picture, my DW has suddenly decided that she needs to get more involved in the softball side of things to make sure I don't screw up my DD's chance to get into a good school! LOL
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
Heck, one of our official visits mom was talking to the coach how to care for the plants in the flower bed outside his office. DD and I were purple from holding in the laughter, the coach handled it well and just kept nodding his head like he gave a crap. LoL
 
Apr 11, 2012
438
0
Every team has there own agendas and political decisions to make and shear talent is usually only part of the equation.

Your story reminded me of when my DD as an 11 YO (now 15), she try-out for, at the time, was the best 12U club team in town. Despite having a great try-out and really one of the best kids on the field and everyone around was sure that she would make their team....we got the dreaded "no, you didn't make it" call and couldn't believe it. At first we were all pretty upset, as the HC would be here future HS HC and with all the fierce competition at a very large suburban big class school, one could see that her current opinion may carry over to her HS team down the line (which it didn't BTW),....but just when we thought the world had come to an end, my DD got a really good offer from the next best 12U team in our area who had been watching the open try-out and we ended up beating them several times that year.....they even asked my DD to guest play several times....our motivation, and it should be for all players, is not to be hateful or mad, but to make any team regret that they didn't select them in a try-out....to this day I still haven't asked the HS HC why she didn't take her but haven't because I still don't want her to know how dissappointed we all were....

My DD and I should have had a donut afterwards too....nice, quiet, calm, positive talks, over a delious donut can fix alot of things I suppose....and really put softball in purspective....thanks for sharing!
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
You need to get Momo a copy of Jenny Finch's book "Throw Like a Girl", for Christmas. It is a good book for a 12 year old and she talks about a situation very similar to the one mentioned by Pdiddy. She was cut by a team, and she used it as motivation to work harder, and ended up beating the team that cut her!
 

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