HS Cuts

I can vouch for CB. His school has an excellent softball program. Our school is usually happy if we just get out of there with a loss and don't get short gamed lol. I am seriously envious and I know our coach would be too, that they had 30 girls show up that want to play.

Side note...CB, I have to work the day our schools meet, so I won't get to witness the carnage.

One aspect that has to be addressed often is the parents too.

I was given some advice 20+ years ago when I started coaching HS sports from a successful Indiana boys basketball coach. It is always easier to cut a player and deal with the parents once than to have to deal with them for a whole season.

Now I have never cut a player because of the parents and never will but there is some validity to that statement.

IndyHScoach said:

One aspect that has to be addressed often is the parents too.

I was given some advice 20+ years ago when I started coaching HS sports from a successful Indiana boys basketball coach. It is always easier to cut a player and deal with the parents once than to have to deal with them for a whole season.

Now I have never cut a player because of the parents and never will but there is some validity to that statement.

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I think this is much more prevalent in TB and college sports. Coaches want to meet the whole family for a reason! Of course, a stud might still make it with difficult parents. But some talented kids may lose a shot at playing because of difficult parents.

Going into DD's tryouts this year I was worried about how many would come out. Ended up with close to 30 so they had cuts. They kept 17 and we are young. Two seniors, three juniors, four sophomores, six freshman, and two 8th graders pulled up from the MS who start. Tons of talent as I can pretty much guarantee 9 will play at some level in college if they desire (one loves track and can fly). We tend to be talented and as long as pitching comes through the school they can always compete.

Of track but it does not seem fair to pull up 8th graders if there are enough HS players.

quincy said:

Of track but it does not seem fair to pull up 8th graders if there are enough HS players.

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I agree completely. Our school is so bad my 11 year old could make the JV team and probably start, she would probably be the #2 pitcher as well. I know because I take her to work out with them sometimes, she has a better arm and hits better than most of them.

quincy said:

Of track but it does not seem fair to pull up 8th graders if there are enough HS players.

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In Illinois you can't pull up 8th graders even if there aren't enough HS players.

Cannonball said:

We kept 22 with another one who is hurt to make the team when she passes her physical later. This young lady played varsity last year. We had 30 tryout. We selected a "top 12." From there, we had to determine who would play varsity, who would go back and forth between varsity and then who would play JV. That is how we came to 22 this year. Naturally, this can change if someone on JV has a breakout year.

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Wow, Cannonball I feel for you. That is just tough and no way around it! I respect you did what was best for your teams and knowing you put your heart and soul into it is all you can do.

With that said, our HS had 32 tryout and no cuts were made. Yes, limited playing time for some but lots of feel good about being part of something for those who won't play much. There is not a right or wrong answer and I go both ways so you have to choose what is best for your program. Just glad for "my situation" that that Texas powerhouse schools do all they can do to keep girls playing!

When DD's played HS ball they would have 120+ kids show up for tryouts for the 3 levels of teams. The head coach would cut about 50 after the first day. She had to use a posted cut sheet with numbers. She would keep 16 or so on Varsity, 20 on JV and 20+ freshmen. It was inevitable the AD would get a call from a parent complaining their daughter was cut and they couldn't understand because she was a "good" player. Fortunately for the HC the AD had her back and told the parents their DD was not strong enough to make one of the teams.

With that many kids showing up they'd get the full spectrum of players. DD told me at one of the tryouts on the first day a girl showed up wearing deck shoes and a new glove. After about the 5th sprint the girl never stopped. The girl ran out of the gym door without looking back. DD was standing near the coaches when the HC asked the assistants if anyone caught her number?

I'm so glad I don't have to "cut" players. The problem is that I can't. I feel for those who have to.