Holy Crazy HS Tryout

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Apr 26, 2015
704
43
DD will be a Freshman this fall. She is trying out for SB at her HS.

Good grief - the tryout started at 4pm SHARP. Check in was a 3:45. Lots of infield work and running bases, etc. Always 2-3 balls flying around, no slacking off and no down time. 8 coaches there. Barely time to grab a drink (and it was warm out). They hit off live pitching and off the machine. About 45 min of outfield work. About 8:15 pm it looks like they are winding down (yes 4.25 hours later) and THEN they are told to go run a mile around the school property. It is dark by now. They were told their goal needs to be 7 minute miles. DD came in 2nd out of 35 girls. And was then told to go back and help the stragglers. She finally left the field at 9:20 last night and has to go back again tonight. Is this really how it is? I mean DD is used to efficient and productive practices but her TB teammates had 2 hour tryouts for their schools.

Not complaining per se...just surprised. DD is a hard worker and pushes herself but she came home in tears. She had a horrible headache and blurred vision - probably from not eating well earlier in the day and not drinking enough water...lesson learned. She was one of only 2 Freshman who were moved to the Varsity group. This school does have a very good softball program and they have been very successful. Wondering if the coach is trying to weed out the lightweights so she doesn't have to cut. In the past it has been a no cut program but this year they may not have enough for a 3rd team so they may have to cut.
 
Oct 1, 2014
2,218
113
USA
That seems a bit much. Pushing them and setting the bar is good but to do all that the first day...I agree with your speculation that the coach is hoping for some attrition rather than having to tell a kid they didn't make the team. Congrats to your DD for rising above and making Varsity.

ps. Our tryouts were yesterday also...officially 2 hrs and not nearly as fast paced as we're used to. Some kids straggled in late (with a variety of excuses). Roughly 23-25 kids showed up. Brand new Head Coach and new Asst Coach., the program has been in shambles the last couple of years and while having some talented players available the last "Coach" destroyed any fun or enjoyment of softball for just about everyone. So, starting from scratch basically and we have our fingers crossed! My DD's stayed late after practice and worked on come pitching/catching stuff long after everyone else was gone. Day 2 of tryouts are today and the Parent/Player meeting is tonight. I want the coaches to set the bar high but until kids see the program as something other than the joke it has been for the past 4 years it's hard to recruit athletes!
 
Last edited:
Jan 18, 2018
22
0
Our high school had a brutal tryout several years ago. Most girls in shorts and were required to slide on a rock hard infield. Lots of blood and a broken ankle. Half of the girls did not come back for day 2. I believe coach wanted to weed out the weaker ones and it worked. I am not trying to justify the abuse, just confirming that's how some coaches think.
 
Apr 26, 2015
704
43
DD is back at it again tonight. She prepared better today - didn't just binge watch Netflix all day and then try to go to tryouts! Lol! She is excited about what this season will hold...I don't know where she will wind up - Varsity or JV - I would be thrilled for her to be JV - I know she would actually PLAY on JV. We have a lot of good returning upperclassmen coming back so it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out. Apparently the coach invited a bunch of girls to tryouts tonight (after they've had forever and a day to turn in paperwork and sign up) because she doesn't want to cut and wants to have a C team. I am not sure how I feel about it...I guess I'm kind of annoyed. I'm a rule follower and I got DD's paperwork turned in the first day it could be. Oh well...hoping tonight doesn't go until after 9pm again. They meet with the coach tomorrow to find out what team they are on and the parent meeting is on Thursday. Scrimmages on Saturday and first game on Wednesday. Yikes!
 
Jul 5, 2016
652
63
DD will be a Freshman this fall. She is trying out for SB at her HS.

Good grief - the tryout started at 4pm SHARP. Check in was a 3:45. Lots of infield work and running bases, etc. Always 2-3 balls flying around, no slacking off and no down time. 8 coaches there. Barely time to grab a drink (and it was warm out). They hit off live pitching and off the machine. About 45 min of outfield work. About 8:15 pm it looks like they are winding down (yes 4.25 hours later) and THEN they are told to go run a mile around the school property. It is dark by now. They were told their goal needs to be 7 minute miles. DD came in 2nd out of 35 girls. And was then told to go back and help the stragglers. She finally left the field at 9:20 last night and has to go back again tonight. Is this really how it is? I mean DD is used to efficient and productive practices but her TB teammates had 2 hour tryouts for their schools.

Not complaining per se...just surprised. DD is a hard worker and pushes herself but she came home in tears. She had a horrible headache and blurred vision - probably from not eating well earlier in the day and not drinking enough water...lesson learned. She was one of only 2 Freshman who were moved to the Varsity group. This school does have a very good softball program and they have been very successful. Wondering if the coach is trying to weed out the lightweights so she doesn't have to cut. In the past it has been a no cut program but this year they may not have enough for a 3rd team so they may have to cut.

How is the coach the rest of the season and do the girls respect him and does he know softball. Based on the one data point you have given us, I have to say - well, maybe I won't say anything.
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
Heck, I am crazy but not that crazy as the OPs experience. I do have long practices and they are intense but I do give water breaks. BTW, it is not uncommon for us to have 3 balls in the air at a time. When we do double infield and multiple infield, it can get crazy.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
To the original OP: I just hate when coaches do totally unnecessary things for hours of time for no real purpose.

Sounds like one of these HS coaches who has a successful program in spite of their efforts to fail because there is talent.
 

Top_Notch

Screwball
Dec 18, 2014
512
63
He's weeding the kids out that think they want to play softball against the ones they know they want to play softball. Stick with it.
 
Aug 29, 2015
26
3
Midwest
Agree, our School District doesn't allow cuts, so some of the coaches find ways to make kids cut themselves by deciding it's too tough.

Not sure it's a bad thing, but someone will always go overboard.
 

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