- Feb 7, 2013
- 3,188
- 48
I wanted to share some observations about 2nd year 14U DD's most recent tryouts experience. Backstory: DD has played travel ball the past two years and the teams, coaches were a mixed bag so my goal this tryout season was to do my due diligence in an effort to place her on a team that would be a good fit for both her and the team.
About two weeks ago, I started reviewing Heybucket 14U Tryouts (SoCal) almost daily to see what teams within an hour's drive were holding tryouts in August. Last week, I narrowed the list down to 6 teams and I called the coaches first to ask questions such as a) will the team be a true 2nd year 14U team?; b) how many players on team?; c) how many college showcases/tournaments/friendlies; d) are there any dad coaches?; e) how many practices per week and where?, etc. From these conversations, we narrowed the list further to 4 teams so this past weekend, DD attended several tryouts.
Observations:
1st Tryout was fairly well organized, with all of the coaches (including former women college players) from org 12u - 18u helping to run the 1 hour tryout. Approx. 20 players showed up (and 5 pitchers). The head coach is also a pitching coach and has pitched in Men's adult fastpitch. DD had an ok tryout, had a few bobbles during middle infield drills (not her specialty!), had a few nice hits to the outfield. Near the end of the tryout, the pitchers paired up and pitched to each other as the coaches observed. From a distance, I could tell DD's change-up was not working well and thought she had an average to below average pitching session. Well, 10 minutes into the session, HC pulls DD aside and said he wants her on the team, asked her about what other tryouts she is attending and that he would call me this weekend. She was beaming after the tryout.
Team 2 Tryout was a 3 hour tryout with about 30 girls including 8 who played on the team last year. They did about every drill/skill you can think of a) infield/outfield fielding, situation fielding, timed running, hitting off of machine, 20 min pitcher/catcher evaluations, etc. DD had a very good tryout, fielding, hitting and pitching and in my mind was one of the top 25% overall players. The coaches were all male and several ACs had daughters on the team. An interesting observation, so the head of the org shows up a little late, and apparently is the hitting coach for the team, and commented on and corrected every batter as they took their swings. For example, DD likes to release her top hand after she makes contact. Hitting coach told her not to do that, implying that her dominate (top) hand should stay on the bat the whole time, including the follow through. By the way, her personal hitting instructor has never had a problem with this area of her swing...
So as tryouts are winding down, the hitting instructor/head of org pulls aside 7 (DD not one of them) of the 30 girls and has them go talk to the coaches. The HC looks puzzled and annoyed but thanks the remaining players, says that he will call if things change, blah blah blah. DD and I were a little disappointed because we thought she had a great tryout and we knew they were looking for a couple of additional pitchers. Well, about two hours later I get a call from the HC who apologizes to me, saying that when they went back to review the tryout stats that DD scored high and that they "accidentally" left her off the first cut of players, and they would like her to attend a practice this week with the existing team players to make the final cuts.
Well last night the HC from Tryout 1 says that he would like DD to officially join the team, that his top choice catcher and SS already committed (among other players) and they will be having one more tryout next weekend. While we have not accepted yet, we like this team and having the HC also know alot about pitching I think will be a bonus as he can help DD become a "pitcher" not just a "thrower".
Some quick additional observations:
- I am still surprised by the number of players who show up to the tryouts wearing their full team uniforms from last season (whether its a rival team or they played with the org hosting the tryout!)
- Some of the players wore their emotions on their sleeve and would get down on themselves right in front of the coaches. Not good..
- During one drill, the batters were hitting off of the machine and all of the other 28 players or so were in the outfield shagging for over an hour as they rotated the players in to hit! Not an effective use of time.
- There seemed to be some miscommunication between the coaches on who they wanted to make the first cut and who they didn't.
- On Team 2, I found out later the assistant coach (pitching coach) also has a DD that pitches. Possible red flag, especially because she is a returning player.
So I think we are done already and will pull the trigger on Team 1 this week. How are your tryouts going????
About two weeks ago, I started reviewing Heybucket 14U Tryouts (SoCal) almost daily to see what teams within an hour's drive were holding tryouts in August. Last week, I narrowed the list down to 6 teams and I called the coaches first to ask questions such as a) will the team be a true 2nd year 14U team?; b) how many players on team?; c) how many college showcases/tournaments/friendlies; d) are there any dad coaches?; e) how many practices per week and where?, etc. From these conversations, we narrowed the list further to 4 teams so this past weekend, DD attended several tryouts.
Observations:
1st Tryout was fairly well organized, with all of the coaches (including former women college players) from org 12u - 18u helping to run the 1 hour tryout. Approx. 20 players showed up (and 5 pitchers). The head coach is also a pitching coach and has pitched in Men's adult fastpitch. DD had an ok tryout, had a few bobbles during middle infield drills (not her specialty!), had a few nice hits to the outfield. Near the end of the tryout, the pitchers paired up and pitched to each other as the coaches observed. From a distance, I could tell DD's change-up was not working well and thought she had an average to below average pitching session. Well, 10 minutes into the session, HC pulls DD aside and said he wants her on the team, asked her about what other tryouts she is attending and that he would call me this weekend. She was beaming after the tryout.
Team 2 Tryout was a 3 hour tryout with about 30 girls including 8 who played on the team last year. They did about every drill/skill you can think of a) infield/outfield fielding, situation fielding, timed running, hitting off of machine, 20 min pitcher/catcher evaluations, etc. DD had a very good tryout, fielding, hitting and pitching and in my mind was one of the top 25% overall players. The coaches were all male and several ACs had daughters on the team. An interesting observation, so the head of the org shows up a little late, and apparently is the hitting coach for the team, and commented on and corrected every batter as they took their swings. For example, DD likes to release her top hand after she makes contact. Hitting coach told her not to do that, implying that her dominate (top) hand should stay on the bat the whole time, including the follow through. By the way, her personal hitting instructor has never had a problem with this area of her swing...
So as tryouts are winding down, the hitting instructor/head of org pulls aside 7 (DD not one of them) of the 30 girls and has them go talk to the coaches. The HC looks puzzled and annoyed but thanks the remaining players, says that he will call if things change, blah blah blah. DD and I were a little disappointed because we thought she had a great tryout and we knew they were looking for a couple of additional pitchers. Well, about two hours later I get a call from the HC who apologizes to me, saying that when they went back to review the tryout stats that DD scored high and that they "accidentally" left her off the first cut of players, and they would like her to attend a practice this week with the existing team players to make the final cuts.
Well last night the HC from Tryout 1 says that he would like DD to officially join the team, that his top choice catcher and SS already committed (among other players) and they will be having one more tryout next weekend. While we have not accepted yet, we like this team and having the HC also know alot about pitching I think will be a bonus as he can help DD become a "pitcher" not just a "thrower".
Some quick additional observations:
- I am still surprised by the number of players who show up to the tryouts wearing their full team uniforms from last season (whether its a rival team or they played with the org hosting the tryout!)
- Some of the players wore their emotions on their sleeve and would get down on themselves right in front of the coaches. Not good..
- During one drill, the batters were hitting off of the machine and all of the other 28 players or so were in the outfield shagging for over an hour as they rotated the players in to hit! Not an effective use of time.
- There seemed to be some miscommunication between the coaches on who they wanted to make the first cut and who they didn't.
- On Team 2, I found out later the assistant coach (pitching coach) also has a DD that pitches. Possible red flag, especially because she is a returning player.
So I think we are done already and will pull the trigger on Team 1 this week. How are your tryouts going????