Tryout Season (aka Silly Season)

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Aug 29, 2015
26
3
Midwest
OP here. We had an offer we were sitting on and yes, I know how some of you feel about sitting on offers. But DD had a private tryout with one of the Assistant coaches and we had not been able to meet the Head Coach or any of the girls. Although they are joining a solid (but not top-tier) org this year, we were just way too nervous about accepting an offer with knowing next to nothing about either the team itself or the coach. There was an Org tryout on Sunday and HC told me by text that he would not extend an offer to a catcher from that tryout until after he gives us right of first refusal. Cool, that's nice of him.

Monday night, we get a text saying he found a catcher at the Org Tryout who was willing to commit immediately, so he gave her the spot. I mean, what? It is so hard not to get disillusioned with this process. I don't know that we ultimately would have accepted the offer, but don't lie to me. Be honest and say hey, we're having an org tryout and I may offer the spot to someone else if we don't hear from you.

We have had several "you're still being considered, but we're looking at other catchers before we decide" responses from higher level teams. I'm starting to get nervous, but I think we have another week before we really have to worry and several tryouts scheduled for this weekend. Wish us luck!


Yea not saying anything on the sitting on the offer, but agree with the fact that if they said first right of refusal, then they should have honored that. Not sure why a coach would ever tell a parent that....
The comment about not having met the team or HC yet pretty much would have sealed the deal, for us anyway. I know we wouldn't have agreed to join a team if we didn't know the girls or the coach and my DD would feel the same way I'm sure. I've seen some teams that look great on paper, but it's a different story when you show up to watch a game or for a tryout.
After a tryout the first things always discussed in the car are "how do you feel you did" and "how were the other girls".
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
Yea not saying anything on the sitting on the offer, but agree with the fact that if they said first right of refusal, then they should have honored that. Not sure why a coach would ever tell a parent that....
The comment about not having met the team or HC yet pretty much would have sealed the deal, for us anyway. I know we wouldn't have agreed to join a team if we didn't know the girls or the coach and my DD would feel the same way I'm sure. I've seen some teams that look great on paper, but it's a different story when you show up to watch a game or for a tryout.
After a tryout the first things always discussed in the car are "how do you feel you did" and "how were the other girls".

We were trying to work it out to meet, but between his work schedule, his DD's school ball, my DD's school ball, and other tryouts, we had not been able to find a time to do so. Then the next weekend was upon us and he had his org tryouts and this is what happened. It wasn't due to lack of trying on either one of our parts. But, I guess we'll just take it as a sign that this wasn't the team for us. I'm not into people making promises and then breaking them right off the bat. I wonder how the rest of the year would have gone.
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
My dd has saved one spot on her team for a certain player who I coach hitting with and have since she was 8 years old. DD has offered this player a private tryouts etc. but the parents say she isn't ready for this type of commitment this team will require. So, last night my dd calls me and ask what she can do to get this player. DD is also coaching middle school ball at the top school district in the area for softball. This girl beat her team last night by hitting a, "major bomb."

I think we sometimes miss out that there are parents out there that refuse to drive their dds too hard. We constantly talk about the one side of the spectrum but there are parents on both sides. The young lady I reference will be a big time player. She is the one I referenced in an earlier post/thread that was 12 and jacking balls out of 200 foot fences while playing up in a national tournament. I credit her parents for being level headed and rock steady with regards to her and her abilities allowing her to have fun and develop at her own pace.
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
If the kid is good enough they can walk on a team anytime between now and the last pitch of the 2019 spring season. All of this rushing to get a spot is all a joke. I don't know of one team in the area that would turn away a stud pitcher or CF with a big bat. Hell I've seen some pitchers commit to teams this week that shocked me. In the past these teams would never sign these kids but because of how watered down the talent has become they are forced to fill spots with kids that are not as good as they were looking for.
I read a few posts about pitchers and the power that they have. Quite simply there isn't a team without pitching. To a large degree the same holds true for catching but think of it this way. If a team is catcher-less but has 2-3 stud pitchers it would be much easier to get a catcher to come aboard versus a team with 2-3 stud catchers and not one good pitcher.
This drought of pitchers will haunt the sport for the foreseeable time being. There is nothing that can be done safe of eliminating new teams from popping up and we know that's impossible.
 
Apr 20, 2017
152
28
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Got a kick out of this meme going around Facebook groups.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
If the kid is good enough they can walk on a team anytime between now and the last pitch of the 2019 spring season. All of this rushing to get a spot is all a joke. I don't know of one team in the area that would turn away a stud pitcher or CF with a big bat. Hell I've seen some pitchers commit to teams this week that shocked me. In the past these teams would never sign these kids but because of how watered down the talent has become they are forced to fill spots with kids that are not as good as they were looking for.
I read a few posts about pitchers and the power that they have. Quite simply there isn't a team without pitching. To a large degree the same holds true for catching but think of it this way. If a team is catcher-less but has 2-3 stud pitchers it would be much easier to get a catcher to come aboard versus a team with 2-3 stud catchers and not one good pitcher.
This drought of pitchers will haunt the sport for the foreseeable time being. There is nothing that can be done safe of eliminating new teams from popping up and we know that's impossible.

We made it through all of spring on 2 pitchers. My DD and another good pitcher just pretty much split the innings. The only reason it worked was because we were an 06/07 team (I think half our team was 2025 grad year) playing mostly 05 high B/low A teams, and we never went deep. lol Of course, there were times where we didn't go deep BECAUSE we only had two pitchers. I definitely do not recommend it.
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
There seems to be a new trend going around where pitchers are not committing to a team for the year. They instead will guest with teams throughout the season. I know we've debated it on here at nauseum but I know of 2 top level pitchers in our area choosing not to commit and only to guest play. They like the flexibility and can play for free.
 
Apr 16, 2013
1,113
83
There seems to be a new trend going around where pitchers are not committing to a team for the year. They instead will guest with teams throughout the season. I know we've debated it on here at nauseum but I know of 2 top level pitchers in our area choosing not to commit and only to guest play. They like the flexibility and can play for free.

If you've got the option, it's a pretty dang good one. No team dues, play for free outside of travel expenses! If your DD is a stud and well known, seems to me it could be a very viable option.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
There seems to be a new trend going around where pitchers are not committing to a team for the year. They instead will guest with teams throughout the season. I know we've debated it on here at nauseum but I know of 2 top level pitchers in our area choosing not to commit and only to guest play. They like the flexibility and can play for free.

When we weren't sure if our team was going to make it, we strongly considered this option. DD liked the idea of playing with several teams over the fall and choosing one for spring. I don't think she'd want to do it long term. She likes bonding with one team. But if your player is in demand why not do this? It seems like a great way to get some good exposure and experience. Also to learn which coaches you might consider playing for and which are no way.
 

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