Is this any of the coach's business?

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Oct 15, 2013
727
63
Seattle, WA
Got an email from my DD's coach from last season the day before tryouts part of which read as follows:

"I am asking any family who is weighing other team options to contact me before our tryout tomorrow. As I work to establish a roster of twelve (12) it will be important to know who is evaluating other organizations as well. I do not take this position or responsibility lightly and want to do everything I can to make sure that the players who are selected are all in and not looking at or wishing that they were on a different team or questioning the situation. That does not bring success for the team or families. I will work hard for this team and believe it is important to have that effort reciprocated."

While I certainly understand his desire to know who is looking elsewhere is it really any of his business? Is it out of line for him to ask?
 
Jul 16, 2008
1,520
48
Oregon
While I understand what the coach is getting at, I have found out that each year you are going to have a different team (hence why tryouts are held). I could care less if players go to other tryouts. Seems like this coach may take it a little personal because the players are looking elsewhere.

About the only thing that kind of bothers me are the players who come to tryouts with no desire to join the team and are just using it for their own workout. Had one last night in fact, very good player outshined everybody there, made her an offer just to find out that she is staying near her home (about a 4 hour drive) but if we needed a pickup player to call her. Why even come then, why drive the 4 hours each way to attend a tryout? At a loss at that one.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
As a coach I find this odd. I assume that all players are "free agents" and weigh all of the options available to them at all times.

I tell my existing players that I need to know on the first day of tryouts for our team if they are coming back. Reason being I can't offer a new player the SS position if my starting SS is returning. If a player is unsure they are returning, that's fine, I just can't hold their position.

It's not complicated. Your coach is making it messy for no reason.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
I saw something like week I haven't seen before. An org was advertising its upcoming big Org tryout and it listed each team and coach. By one of the teams, it says basically "All our players have committed to staying and this team will not be adding any more players for next year." I was thinking that's a mighty confident coach!
 
Jun 29, 2013
589
18
It isn't, but I see the majority of coaches doing the same thing different ways. One team had a no-cut policy, but you were off the team the first time you tried out for anyone else (or guest played). Another wanted to know immediately after tryouts if you accepted, and you had to agree not to go to any further tryouts. Others are more subtle, but it's the same basic loyalty demand.
 
Jul 16, 2008
1,520
48
Oregon
Well honestly, if a player accepted the offer why go to other tryouts? We have had many players that we offered told us they had other tryouts they wanted to attend, some came to us some didn't but they didn't accept the offer the first time. I don't know if I would tell the player they couldn't attend other tryouts though.... A good way to lose them in the end.
 
Jun 11, 2012
741
63
Many organizations ask for a non-refundable deposit from returning players so they know what positions they have to fill, and by giving a deposit you are guaranteed a spot for the coming season. To me it sounds similar to this but without the deposit.
DDs coach always sent an email stating that he is trying to put the best team he can on the field and unfortunately no spot is guaranteed. Only once in 3 years did I see him cut a player that had played the previous season. However I know there were conversations with some of the players/parents where he told them that they had a spot on the team but that spot may not be in the starting 9 and it was their decision whether or not they wanted to stay
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
If returning players are guaranteed a spot, and he's just trying players out to fill holes, then I don't think it's out of line.

I know there are coaches out there who are bad actors and screw over their players by constantly recruiting replacements but assuming this coach doesn't do that, shopping for "better" teams while stringing along the existing one is wrong.

If you don't like where you are, by all means, find another team, but have the courtesy to let the current coach know.
 
Oct 15, 2013
727
63
Seattle, WA
Well honestly, if a player accepted the offer why go to other tryouts? We have had many players that we offered told us they had other tryouts they wanted to attend, some came to us some didn't but they didn't accept the offer the first time. I don't know if I would tell the player they couldn't attend other tryouts though.... A good way to lose them in the end.

What offer?
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
The coach can set what he asks for prior to tryouts. It's up to you if you want to abide and tryout. I wouldn't do it but it's his team.
 

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