Tryout Season (aka Silly Season)

vicimus said:

Thoughts about a club coach offering all current players a spot on next year's roster, but requiring a $200+ non-refundable deposit NOW before all the other competition tryouts?

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We faced this situation, but the coach asked on July 1st, with two tournaments left to play. We knew that we would be leaving, so I had to tell him so.

In a way, it made it easier. He broached the subject early, so we didn't have to quit. I simply told him that we wouldn't be returning. At that point, however, it felt like the die was cast and we had to leave. DD was able to guest play on a team that she was interested in, and they made her an offer after the last game on Sunday. She liked the team and the coaches, so we accepted the offer.

We did spend two weeks going to cattle calls. DD was exhausted, but it was a valuable experience. She was able to see where she fits in and get some first-hand looks at other coaches, so she's much more confident in her team decision than she might have been had she only had the guest play experience.

I hate tryout season. My daughter is a 2021 B player but trying to move to A or a National team. Last year I would say if you put her on a National team she would be bottom half of the roster. Now she seems to have fixed a flaw in her game (her throw to second, she’s a catcher). Now she’s making the throw no problem. (Lots of extra work and practice.) I think part of it was a mental block as well. She wasn’t confident, therefore couldn’t make the throw. Now it seems she is getting more confident and it’s showing. Anyway last week she worked out with an 18u Gold team. I knew she probably wouldn’t make the team but it gave her the opportunity to get ready for tryouts. She did surprisingly well. Looked very much like she belonged on the field with them. Coaches liked her and referred her to their 16u team tryout. High level team. They don’t start until first week of August.

So last night she went to a tryout with a more local team, A and B level in 16u and 18u. As well as she did last week she didn’t look as impressive last night. She didn’t hit well and that’s her strong point. Catching she did ok but they had her paired with a weaker pitcher and I feel like they really weren’t paying attention when she made a good block or jumped high to get a ball. Everyone got invited back to the next tryout later this week. There were like 60 kids there trying out for 16 and 18u. 5 catchers. I’m actually hoping she gets an offer from this club and I hope she does better at the next tryout. I feel like though she was pushed by the 18u Gold and it forced her to keep up. She said it was a tough tryout with them but she didn’t appear to be struggling at all. She was calling out plays and kept up with their speed. I’ll just be glad when she lands somewhere.


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I feel like every post in this thread is a conversation I have had with a couple folks over the last 6 weeks. Its blindingly frustrating

And can I just add how ANNOYING it is to go to a tryout thinking that's going to be it to hear "We hope you guys can come to our next workout and the org tryouts." Now I have to figure out what to do with the two other tryouts we were planning for those two dates. They really shouldn't have to see girls three times to know whether they want them or not. Coaches have told me that they can tell within 8 or 9 swings of the bat whether a girl has the goods or not.
And how many fielding drills do you need to see? Super frustrating.

ETA: I always wonder if this is some kind of loyalty test when they do this and they're more likely to give offers to those who show up for all three times than those who can only come to one. But I think it's kind of foolish to put all your eggs in one basket like this unless you've gotten some clue that they're probably about to make an offer. Ugh. Like I said originally, I loathe tryout season.

Just read an ad that said "This is an established team. All positions are open." I mean, what? I've so had it with this BS process.

CMMom1740 said:

And can I just add how ANNOYING it is to go to a tryout thinking that's going to be it to hear "We hope you guys can come to our next workout and the org tryouts." Now I have to figure out what to do with the two other tryouts we were planning for those two dates. They really shouldn't have to see girls three times to know whether they want them or not. Coaches have told me that they can tell within 8 or 9 swings of the bat whether a girl has the goods or not.
And how many fielding drills do you need to see? Super frustrating.

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This has happened to us too...welcome to club. I translate this to: “We like your daughter as a player but we are holding out hope that Susie Softball-Superstar comes and then your kids is dust, otherwise she is one of the top 15-ish kids and we need to figure it out.”

To me these folks are not realistic or don’t have a good idea of what players will show at tryouts. If it is a relatively new program ok but after 4-5 years you get an idea and you should be able to create a correlation between Tryout Player A and Past Player X.


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CMMom1740 said:

And can I just add how ANNOYING it is to go to a tryout thinking that's going to be it to hear "We hope you guys can come to our next workout and the org tryouts." Now I have to figure out what to do with the two other tryouts we were planning for those two dates. They really shouldn't have to see girls three times to know whether they want them or not. Coaches have told me that they can tell within 8 or 9 swings of the bat whether a girl has the goods or not.
And how many fielding drills do you need to see? Super frustrating.

ETA: I always wonder if this is some kind of loyalty test when they do this and they're more likely to give offers to those who show up for all three times than those who can only come to one. But I think it's kind of foolish to put all your eggs in one basket like this unless you've gotten some clue that they're probably about to make an offer. Ugh. Like I said originally, I loathe tryout season.

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The studs get offered right there, or later that day, or even before they even come to the workout because the coaches know who they are. I think the girls they have come back, they're waiting to see if a stronger players comes along or might be waiting on an answer from one of those studs who plays the same position. It sucks for the players. The coaches are just trying to put together the strongest team they can. The whole tryout season blows all the way around.

CMMom1740 said:

Just read an ad that said "This is an established team. All positions are open." I mean, what? I've so had it with this BS process.

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To me this means, don't avoid our tryout because you know we already have a short stop and you're a short stop. Be better on the field, become the new short stop. Whether it's actually true when they say it is another story.

No question. Tryout season stinks for players and coaches. There is a resource on the board that is too good to miss for those picking through the message board ads: https://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-discussions/24898-tryout-notice-translator.html

grcsftbll said:

To me this means, don't avoid our tryout because you know we already have a short stop and you're a short stop. Be better on the field, become the new short stop. Whether it's actually true when they say it is another story.

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I think you have this just right. Our team has a pretty decent catcher, but if a better catcher joined us, the current catcher would play more third and both positions might be improved. Everyone learns and plays more than one position anyway.