HS Cuts

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Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
After our 3rd day, we had cuts tonight. We had some great tryouts but no matter how much you know you are doing the right thing by cutting some players, it doesn't make it easier. I feel so badly for those young ladies.

We were outside for 2 of the 3 days. We hit off of live pitching, we fielded OF balls off of a bat and a machine, we did various skills work including various throws. We timed the bases and a 40 yard dash. For our hitting, we did various drills of which some were complex and one was as simple as throwing a ball up and hitting it into the net from about 8 feet out and with a target line in the net. For the first time, we used a machine to pitch so that we could see some consistent swings with balls in the zone. Personally, I think I took over 5 pages of notes, comments, names, ... We had 5 coaches there two of the three days. Pitchers pitched and catchers caught and threw. Finally, we wrapped up with a very complicated infield drill where multiple balls are in play and so, we could see just how quickly some of these players pick up on stuff.

So, again, I thought that this was a very good tryout. When we had to cut this time, it was tough because we had some players who were pretty good that didn't make the team. There were a lot of tears. We did speak to every player face to face about whether they made the team or not and each player received a typed out critique from the first two days of tryouts. It will be hard to sleep tonight for me and I know those players feel so much worse than I. I hate hurting these kid's feelings.

Tomorrow, we get after it.
 
Jul 14, 2017
181
28
I’m sure it is never easy to make cuts but I think it is very helpful that your staff had a face to face meeting with these players and offered feedback. That is awesome that you are in an area that has such a large pool of talent.

My dd is a freshman in HS and since softball seems to be a dying sport, there is no freshmen team nor are they holding tryouts for JV. Show up for practice and you’re on the team. I’d much rather know my daughter earned her spot. Granted being part of the team does not mean playing time.


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Aug 12, 2014
644
43
My dd is a freshman in HS and since softball seems to be a dying sport, there is no freshmen team nor are they holding tryouts for JV. Show up for practice and you’re on the team. I’d much rather know my daughter earned her spot. Granted being part of the team does not mean playing time.

Yup, the talent pool varies widely. My DD is also a freshman. It's a fall sport here so the season is long over. They struggle to get players so they don't cut anyone. They ended up having enough for a JV team for the first time in about 4 years. DD was one of only three players on JV who had any real previous experience.
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
Just curious, how many girls did you have try out? How many did you keep? Just a Varsity team or do you have JV, too?

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.
 
Jan 30, 2018
252
0
SE Michigan
I am not a HS coach but I do help out a little with the JV and Varsity teams at the HS I work at. Our teams are never that good it usually consists of a couple girls that will play college ball, mostly small schools, and a few lower level TB players and some rec players. Its school ball so the coaches usually will take every JR and Sr that try out, which usually leaves a few spots for underclassmen. It works out because they usually don't have to cut many players, some just have to play JV.
 
Sep 21, 2017
230
43
PA
That's one of the worst parts of the job, isn't it? Those meetings are not fun when you have to tell a kid they didn't make the team. This year, because of a couple small classes, we're not going to have to make cuts. Tryouts start Monday, and we have a pretty good thought that we'll have 21-23 show up.

Just a question, but do any other HS coaches who have to cut talk to coaches of other sports and see if they have spots for players? We'll typically talk to our Track/Lacrosse coaches and see if they could use anyone we let go. We've had a couple players, the last few years, do that.
 
Feb 20, 2015
643
0
illinois
Please send the 8 that didn't make it west about 20 miles. :cool: We have a total of 10 that have played before, and a couple of emergency fill ins. Sad state for softball at our school.
 
Oct 5, 2017
214
43
Western Indiana
We will not let a senior play JV. If they can not make the varsity they will get cut. We have a senior that did not play last year and she could not start on our JV. So unfortunately we will have to have the talk with her. She did run track last year so she could still join their squad. ( I have already contacted the track coach.)

Not a fun part of the job at all. I would rather deal with a parent yelling at me (even if they are wrong, LOL) than cut a player.
 

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