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Bball11
10 Posts |
 Posted - 07/19/2011 : 22:25:44
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I’ve registered my son for the East Cobb tryouts being held August 13-14. However, on this forum I see that teams are having tryouts prior to those dates. How do the tryouts work? Is there a general East Cobb tryout or specific per team tryouts? My son is new to travel ball. He’s played fall and spring recreation leagues for 10 years and is ready to move to travel. He’s an infielder and has most recently played 2nd and 3rd base.
I’d like to understand the tryout process for East Cobb and other teams. We live in Cobb so would like to stay in this area. Any insight anyone can provide is greatly appreciated.
You can send me an email or call my cell 404-405-7951. |
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Mets69
70 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2011 : 23:13:56
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| Check out the thread on the "ECB Evaluation Process" in the General Discussion Forum. |
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dmb350
135 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2011 : 09:27:01
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Ok, my son played at ECB for 2 1/2 seasons at Major/Elite so here's how it works:
ECB teams you see advertising "workouts" before the ECB tryout. Typically, they are first year or weaker teams (AAA or they may "call" themselves Major) but they are simply trying to get players on the team prior to tryouts. Most are coached by Dads and it's a coin toss on the coaching. It's a good time to go see where your son falls in regarding his skill level in comparison to those teams and networkIng never hurts. Just DO NOT feel obligated to commit. Just be honest about your intentions.
Tryouts- split into 2 groups by last name typically. One goes in the morning, one in the afternoon. The top teams (Astros 13U and up, Titans at 14U) will have someone there to see in a superstar shows up but there's a lot of players so unless your kid shines bright don't expect them to approach you son. The rest of the coaches are just a mix of guys looking to complete their roster. Some ECB teams will be full already and the coach won't be there at all. Your son will go thru the basic stuff (timed 60yd run, catch/throws from the outfield, infield in his position, radar gunned pitching (if he pitches) and hitting front tossed pitches to show his ability to hit to different fields and for power).
That's about it. The coaches interested will either approach your son at the tryouts or you'll get a phone call from the interested coaches over the next couple of days. Then you got to start asking your list of questions about the Coach and team. Bottom line is there is a lot more teams at ECB now and if your son is a AAA or above player someone will pick him up. Just tell him to be polite, my son spent his 14U tryout telling coaches "no" your team sucks. Kids. Hope this helps. |
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Bball11
10 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2011 : 16:42:19
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dmb350, thanks for the info. Where are these "workouts" advertised before tryouts? On the ECB website or on this forum? The ones I saw were on this forum. I assume the "workouts" are not part of the official tryout process?
I agree with your comment on being polite LOL! |
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dmb350
135 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2011 : 19:41:26
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Bball11,
This forum and the team's website (if you have a particular team in mind) are pretty much the only places youll find them advertising. You are correct regarding them not being part of the official workout. That's why they want to see you BEFORE you go. You do not have to attend the tryouts to be on an ECB team. If the coach offers your son a spot and you like the team then it saves you the cost of the tryout.
Here's what most people get confused on, ECB (the program/park) is completely separate from the teams. The teams are essentially independent contractors that pay to play there and sport the logo. ECB is all about ECB. So yes, ECB wants your son to tryout because it makes them money. Now there have been times where teams that pick up player before tryouts still had to pay the tryout fee even if the player never attended tryouts so they get there money most times anyway BUT the benefit for the coach is that he locks your player up before the other coaches can see him.
The tryout is an excellent way for you to see where your son is skill wise. There are a lot of good players that show up. The 2012 14U Astros will be there for the tryouts too. The boys are already on the team but since the Astros are a park paid professional coached team then they go by the rules, so all of them attend. Again, it's a good measuring stick for your son as those kids are literally some of the best in the nation. |
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bbmom2
119 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2011 : 23:04:30
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Unless they've changed it - anytime you join the team, whether you attend the tryout or not, you have to pay the $100. Even if you join later, not sure about last year (we just paid it and went) but year before you had to pay if no matter if you joined in August or joined in November. Can't speak to spring since you pay a spring registration fee.
I've also heard rumors that alot of the coaches are not making offers until after the tryouts (yes, some of the major/elite as well) because of the cluster that the season was last year. Lessons learned. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here - just repeating pure out and out gossip!
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Bball11
10 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 08:10:22
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| You all have been extremely helpful. One final question: should I be actively contacting 14U teams now to get my son into some early tryouts and not wait until the ECB tryouts on Aug 13-14? If so, what's the best approach? do a blast post here or go to individual team websites and contact the coaches? I'm not even sure which teams to approach. Thoughts? |
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mrthnlck
7 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 08:19:45
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Go to a few workouts. Even though the teams are from ECB, does not mean they are all good places to land. There are great coaches and not so great.
At a workout you can learn about the coach, philosphy, organization etc. By watching a workout you can learn a bit about how a practice will be run. It is just a snapshot of course. Everyone is on best behavior, or so we could hope. It is also a way to give exposure to your son and have him looked at for more than one showing. Most of these boys have been playing together or against eachother for years. If yours is new to the travel game he needs to be seen.
You will be better educated for when/if your son gets offers after tryout. |
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gamefanatic
40 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 09:06:19
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Check out the coaches please thread started on the general discussion. Started out more as a vent but has turned into a great thread. Good helpful items to watch for when trying out - whether it's at ECB or not. Don't be starstruck by the ECB letters - really pay attention to the workouts/tryouts.
Yes, the best way is to email the coaches or watch the posting boards. Divided opinion - every coach I've seen usually will leave one or two spot up in the air until after the big tryout or after the Astros make their selections. Also, watching the postings all throughout the year, most every team - for just about every facility - all throughout 13U looked for players. We just finally said this year that if something doesn't look right, we may just wait until after the "tryout" season is finished then see what falls. The 13U players that can't make the transition for whatever reason will be leaving or getting cut or people move - whatever - and space will open. Happens every year. |
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Bball11
10 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 09:37:43
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| Where are the workouts? |
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bbmom2
119 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 11:14:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Bball11
Where are the workouts?
They can be virtually anywhere. If an organization has a home field, they will be there if they can get field time. They can be at softball fields or at some of the indoor facilities. We even had a tryout in a backyard! Hey - it worked at the time! The postings under Teams looking for players will usually say where they are or the coaches will ask you to email them for directions and some player information. That way they can do a little pre-screening as well. |
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bestplayinbaseball
67 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 11:19:22
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Another tip is that many teams change names after the season ends. Be careful of name changes, but nothing else changes........how many players are left from last years team. If it was a complete implosion that cannot be good. Who was on your team last year, and the year before, why the name change (or changes), and I'd like to talk to the parents. The parents won't be that hard to find either b/c like it or not it is a small world. If it is just the coaches kid and a few others that are the core now, then that might be something to consider. Do the coaches kids have to "earn their spot too?" They can't hide their reputations, good or bad. It's different if they just added a new coach or 2, or are looking to fill just a few spots (4,5-6,7 even). That's why it is appealing to play for a coach with no horse in the race.
The long running clubs, have legitimate open tryouts. I am confident, In their mind, they may have carry over players that will be with the team as long as the kid and parents want to stay, but the kids have to make a show at the tryouts. You'll often hear "we give one year/season commitments", "they have to earn their spot." Those good clubs are looking for talent to compliment the core of athletes that they have confidence in, history with and usually every year even a good team looses a few for a variety of reasons, but more stay than go...........instead of the other way around.
Lots of false information and blowin' smoke. Don't fall for the sales pitches previously mentioned. The team needs a resume and so does the coach/mgr. It takes at least 4 organized adults to run a team or the admin duties to fall to the admin department that many of the clubs actually have. |
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