Another open workout question

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Jun 12, 2015
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DH is AC on our team. My DD is somewhat well known in our age group locally. There's a team that has open work outs and I've heard they're really, really good. Like 4 hours of drills and hard work. My DD loves those and our team doesn't have them often. I know the HC of this team, a little bit. Would it be totally uncool for me to see if he minds if I bring DD to the open workout even though we're not looking for a team? It's a very well known org so she'd be one of a bunch, I'm sure. As much as she'd enjoy the work out (and she knows some of the girls on the team and would enjoy working out with them again), I'm not sure if my question would violate tryout etiquette. Or if they might think I was spying for DH or something.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
4 hours!! Wow. I'm a TB newbie but I would tread carefully. Maybe DH can gently suggest that the team incorporate a few more of these intense workouts for DD's team first?? Although I don't think
they need to be 4 hours. You can get a lot done in 2 hours if things are kept moving. For example see this for infield work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDwFdR4gluQ
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
It is fine to go. Some organizations charge for thier open tryouts, more organized ones give player evaluation in a few days.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
DH is AC on our team. My DD is somewhat well known in our age group locally. There's a team that has open work outs and I've heard they're really, really good. Like 4 hours of drills and hard work. My DD loves those and our team doesn't have them often. I know the HC of this team, a little bit. Would it be totally uncool for me to see if he minds if I bring DD to the open workout even though we're not looking for a team? It's a very well known org so she'd be one of a bunch, I'm sure. As much as she'd enjoy the work out (and she knows some of the girls on the team and would enjoy working out with them again), I'm not sure if my question would violate tryout etiquette. Or if they might think I was spying for DH or something.

Make it well known upfront that your DD is going and why especially to your HC and 'that' parent on your current team. The softball rumor mill will go into overdrive the moment you turn up, and your HC will need to be able to answer "Yes I know they went - they told me they wanted to go for the workout and to see how DD stacked up and how they run their tryouts and workouts. They also let me know they are absolutely not looking for another team." If you make the final softball decisions for the family, don't go to the workout if you can avoid it - if at all possible just have your DD go so you or DH don't spend 4 hours interacting with the other parents and org members.

Whether you are doing it or not, this will be a sign to many on your current team that you are 'looking' no matter what you say (especially for those with kids who couldn't make the tryout team even though they would love to), so it will still be some level of political headache, but you can cut out 99% of it by getting out in front of it. If you don't want to deal with it - and there will be some dealing with it - then don't go.

Unless of course you are really thinking even just a little bit about moving....
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
4 hours!! Wow. I'm a TB newbie but I would tread carefully. Maybe DH can gently suggest that the team incorporate a few more of these intense workouts for DD's team first?? Although I don't think
they need to be 4 hours. You can get a lot done in 2 hours if things are kept moving. For example see this for infield work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDwFdR4gluQ

The first A level team we ever practiced with had 4-hour weekend workouts, with half an hour in the middle for food/rest. He counted down the seconds on their water breaks. It was all hustle. It was June or July and so hot. When we left she was red faced and sweaty and she said it was the most awesome practice she ever went to. The kid loves to practice. Who am I to argue?
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
The first A level team we ever practiced with had 4-hour weekend workouts, with half an hour in the middle for food/rest. He counted down the seconds on their water breaks. It was all hustle. It was June or July and so hot. When we left she was red faced and sweaty and she said it was the most awesome practice she ever went to. The kid loves to practice. Who am I to argue?

First, I am glad your DD loves to play that much. I was the same way and up to this point my DD is the same way. That is cool and the idea that hard work pays off will carry
over to other aspects of her life.

Also I am not doubting that teams do practice that long..just doubting the need
for it although I guess if that is the only practice they have all week or even all month I can perhaps understand.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Make it well known upfront that your DD is going and why especially to your HC and 'that' parent on your current team. The softball rumor mill will go into overdrive the moment you turn up, and your HC will need to be able to answer "Yes I know they went - they told me they wanted to go for the workout and to see how DD stacked up and how they run their tryouts and workouts. They also let me know they are absolutely not looking for another team." If you make the final softball decisions for the family, don't go to the workout if you can avoid it - if at all possible just have your DD go so you or DH don't spend 4 hours interacting with the other parents and org members.

Whether you are doing it or not, this will be a sign to many on your current team that you are 'looking' no matter what you say (especially for those with kids who couldn't make the tryout team even though they would love to), so it will still be some level of political headache, but you can cut out 99% of it by getting out in front of it. If you don't want to deal with it - and there will be some dealing with it - then don't go.

Unless of course you are really thinking even just a little bit about moving....

Not even a little bit. It seems like it might just be too much drama to be worth it, really. Our coach wouldn't mind, he already said as much. But you've got me thinking about the rumor mill and that doesn't sound like fun to deal with.
 
Mar 8, 2016
313
63
DD was by far the best player on a really bad local team in 12u. Over winter a very good team from an hour away invited her come to a practice to see if she would be a good fit. DD was hesitant to go. She did not want to leave her friends and team commitment. She had already turned down another invite to another team. Her mom and I suggested she go to practice to see what it was like. DD was worried about being a team hopper and her current team. Fifteen minutes into practice the coach called DD and us over and offered her a position on the team. In those 15 minutes DD had gone from I don't want to switch teams to I want to play with these girls. You never know what goes through a girl's mind. She would have signed up right there.
For those agonizing over team switching. We told the coach we needed a week to decide. DD's old team was coached by two young former D1 players and we had a long talk with them. Luckily one of them was very direct and after a lot of talk finally said she would switch teams and we would be stupid not to switch teams. DW and I lost a lot of sleep that week agonizing over the "right" thing to do for our DD. In the end it was the best decision we could have ever made to switch teams. In the end it cost DD one friendship but she is miles ahead in her softball career.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
In the end it was the best decision we could have ever made to switch teams. In the end it cost DD one friendship but she is miles ahead in her softball career.

The whole "Friends" thing can be one of the biggest detriments to a talented player's development. What a lot of girls don't understand is it's an opportunity to make more friends and usually on a stronger team. And if they lose a friend over their softball path choice, the lost "friend" was not a friend at all. Some young girls can be very adept at emotional blackmail.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
For us it really is just about the work out. I've heard from other parents how great they are and I think DD would love them. But we're 100% set for our first year of 12U unless something very drastic happens. After that, who knows. I don't plan that far ahead.
 

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