How to break the news?

[CoachKevin]

Thanks everyone for the responses. We are going to hold tryouts on the 14th. Is 48 hours a good time to keep letting players know if they made the team? Also, is it better by phone call or email? If by phone, do you call the player or the parents?

 

[SoftSocDad]

Thanks everyone for the responses. We are going to hold tryouts on the 14th. Is 48 hours a good time to keep letting players know if they made the team? Also, is it better by phone call or email? If by phone, do you call the player or the parents?

I'd definitely want to hear by phone, but very interesting question, player or parents? Is that an age-dependent thing? My 7-year-old knows exactly what it means to make a team or not be selected, so surely a 10u would? I guess you talk to both player and parents, eh?

 

[CoachKevin]

I'd definitely want to hear by phone, but very interesting question, player or parents? Is that an age-dependent thing? My 7-year-old knows exactly what it means to make a team or not be selected, so surely a 10u would? I guess you talk to both player and parents, eh?

This is 14U

 

[SoftSocDad]

At that age, players first, absolutely. The parents are welcome to speak to you if they'd like, but the call goes to the player.

 

[starsnuffer]

Hold open tryouts, let the players know that all positions are open. It's easier for the kids to be cut when they see that they didn't perform up to par to the other kids trying out, rather then simply have their coach say "you're not good enough".

Remember, there is no point of winning until your daughter is in college. The point is building softball and life skills to the point where your daughters can get that good scholarship. If the kids who have been with you for 4 years aren't going to play with you anymore, you might as well give them one last life lesson on their way out by showing them where the measuring stick is.

-W

 

[InsidePitch]

on their way out by showing them where the measuring stick is.

At first I thought...harsh. But a second later it really makes sense. All through life you will be measured. Finding out now that it counts for something may make these kids work harder to achieve the things that are important to them.

DD tried out for a team and didn't make the cut. While disappointed she observed that there were 11 girls there better than her. To bad only 9 of them made the team. The other two were coaches daughters. That's where the "who you know" lesson was introduced.

 

[PlanoHeat]

Thanks everyone for the responses. We are going to hold tryouts on the 14th. Is 48 hours a good time to keep letting players know if they made the team? Also, is it better by phone call or email? If by phone, do you call the player or the parents?

What happens if the girl kills it at the tryout? Would you keep her or still cut her loose?

At 14U I could see calling the girl but anything below that I'd rather be getting the call as her parent.

 

[CoachKevin]

Nope, The history tells all. Even if they have a good tryout, I have the stats that shows what type of players they are...

 

[ElmoBlatch]

Nope, The history tells all. Even if they have a good tryout, I have the stats that shows what type of players they are...

Then be up front with these players and don't invite them to the tryouts.

 

[PlanoHeat]

Then be up front with these players and don't invite them to the tryouts.

I agree why not just tell the dad then? I'd rather someone be up front with me then get me out there and have me go through some dog and pony show. IMO