tryouts for teams you aren't considering. etiquette

[CoogansBluff]

A top program has a question in their Player Information sheet. It asks: "If offered a position today, are you ready to take it immediately?"

I wonder what the point of that question is. Is this team going to rule you out if you say no? And why would they want players in general who know before the tryout that no matter what happens during the tryout that they will accept an invitation on the team?

The best answer would be, "It depends on what I see. I'm trying you out, too.''

 

[Momo'sDad]

A top program has a question in their Player Information sheet. It asks: "If offered a position today, are you ready to take it immediately?"

That pretty much weeds out some of those that are trying out in several places. Another tactic I have seen is the coach offers more spots to girls than they have positions to fill. He tells them all, it's a first come first serve. That way, you aren't going down to the alternative choices and having them tell you they already accepted a spot because they never heard from you because you were waiting on Lil' Susie to make up her mind and she chose to go back to her original team.

Once the offer is made, the average coach ought to give the player and her family some reasonable amount of time to give an answer. Naturally, what's reasonable to 1 coach may not be reasonable to another. By the same token, the player and her parents should provide a response in a timely manner. It does not matter how talented the player is.

There is a well-known program here that likes for families to commit on the spot and she does not try out for them until this weekend. We do not know what to expect from the others, but assuming she has multiple offers in hand, then a decision will need to be made by Sunday afternoon. If there are no other offers, then the decision has already been made.

With luck, she'll help form the core of a team that can grow together and compete well for a couple of years or more.

 

[shockcoach]

I wonder what the point of that question is. Is this team going to rule you out if you say no? And why would they want players in general who know before the tryout that no matter what happens during the tryout that they will accept an invitation on the team?

The best answer would be, "It depends on what I see. I'm trying you out, too.''

This is one of the top programs in the state. Their girls get recruited. If you're not ready to commit to them, they will pass you over and go to the next one who is ready. That's the point of the question. They really could care less if you are trying them out, because there is a line to get into their program.

 

[glf0845]

This is one of the top programs in the state. Their girls get recruited. If you're not ready to commit to them, they will pass you over and go to the next one who is ready. That's the point of the question. They really could care less if you are trying them out, because there is a line to get into their program.

That's been our experience....and unless your DD is a phenom your family has to have a good reputation.

 

[starsnuffer]

This is one of the top programs in the state. Their girls get recruited. If you're not ready to commit to them, they will pass you over and go to the next one who is ready. That's the point of the question. They really could care less if you are trying them out, because there is a line to get into their program.

It's not a binding contract. I always view that question more like, "If you found our organization to your liking, and a place where you believe you could excel and grow as a player, and we made you an offer today, would you be ready to accept?"

If it turns out to not be the case, you can still say no.

-W

 

[JAD]

If you are going to go to a tryout, go to one of a team/organization that is stronger than your current team. You can also move up an age group to see how your DD 'stacks up' against some better competition. Going to the tryout of a weaker team is a waste of everyone's time......

 

[guero_gordo]

A top program has a question in their Player Information sheet. It asks: "If offered a position today, are you ready to take it immediately?"

I understand the point of this, and their perspective, but it just screams out "car salesman" to me.

 

[GunnerShotgun]

It's not a binding contract. I always view that question more like, "If you found our organization to your liking, and a place where you believe you could excel and grow as a player, and we made you an offer today, would you be ready to accept?"

If it turns out to not be the case, you can still say no.

-W

Agreed it's not a binding contract. Unless they are collect a down payment the commitment doesn't mean a whole lot on your end.

 

[Momo'sDad]

This is one of the top programs in the state. Their girls get recruited. If you're not ready to commit to them, they will pass you over and go to the next one who is ready. That's the point of the question. They really could care less if you are trying them out, because there is a line to get into their program.

There is no such 10u team in our area. With the exception of a couple in the Bay Area, programs with that cache in 10u only exist down in SoCal. They don't even need tryouts. They select. Up here, it's different. The parents of the stronger 10u players get to enjoy the courting dance while teams are being formed.

 

[02Crush]

@ Momo: Knowing you are not interested and still going to honor an obligation does not make much sense to me. As a coach, I know when we are speaking prior to a tryout that it is an interview of sorts. If after discussing it with your family/player the decision is not to come out it is okay. I am certainly okay with it if I am shown some amount of respect in the form of an email or call to say you have chosen a different path. That is honest, up front and reasonable. m2c