My DD is 14, but for the first time in her life, she's checking ads and going to a series of tryouts. She's played 5 years of travel without having to do that. It's been a learning experience for me to observe it.
Let's say you have a daughter who has some offers.
What is it that will persuade her to join a particular team? What advice would you give coaches who give your daughter a tryout and want her? What are some things that coaches can do to blow it?
My DD has looked at four teams. The best of the four didn't offer but said they'd like her in the future when girls age or drop out and wanted us to stay in touch. They did everything right. Very quick to return calls/e-mails, quality practice, made her feel very wanted, even though they didn't take her. It was like they were more disappointed than she was. Their coach then recommended us to another very good team and called that coach and put in a good word. Will try out w/ that team soon. Very impressed. And this was the strongest of the four teams.
The other three could've had her, but I'd say only one still has a chance -
1 - Failed to return e-mails before ever seeing her. Very confident she could've helped that team. (They don't know me or her, so it wasn't that. Just not professional, I guess.)
2 - Offered, but didn't seem to care if she joined. Don't know if my DD is unique, but it's important for her to feel wanted. They tried to sell her on what they have to offer (we put kids in college), like it was some business deal. But my DD wants to be liked and valued as a kid first. She wants the relationship.
3 - Poor instruction. Tried to radically change her swing and introduced her to a device designed to force her to swing down on the ball to create backspin. Good thing we saw that because this team was very friendly and almost had her at hello.
What are your experiences? How do coaches blow it in recruiting?
Let's say you have a daughter who has some offers.
What is it that will persuade her to join a particular team? What advice would you give coaches who give your daughter a tryout and want her? What are some things that coaches can do to blow it?
My DD has looked at four teams. The best of the four didn't offer but said they'd like her in the future when girls age or drop out and wanted us to stay in touch. They did everything right. Very quick to return calls/e-mails, quality practice, made her feel very wanted, even though they didn't take her. It was like they were more disappointed than she was. Their coach then recommended us to another very good team and called that coach and put in a good word. Will try out w/ that team soon. Very impressed. And this was the strongest of the four teams.
The other three could've had her, but I'd say only one still has a chance -
1 - Failed to return e-mails before ever seeing her. Very confident she could've helped that team. (They don't know me or her, so it wasn't that. Just not professional, I guess.)
2 - Offered, but didn't seem to care if she joined. Don't know if my DD is unique, but it's important for her to feel wanted. They tried to sell her on what they have to offer (we put kids in college), like it was some business deal. But my DD wants to be liked and valued as a kid first. She wants the relationship.
3 - Poor instruction. Tried to radically change her swing and introduced her to a device designed to force her to swing down on the ball to create backspin. Good thing we saw that because this team was very friendly and almost had her at hello.
What are your experiences? How do coaches blow it in recruiting?