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bbmom2
119 Posts |
 Posted - 07/13/2011 : 11:34:20
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| With tryout season here - we've got a great list of questions to ask the coaches. Now, what do you look for in the PLAYERS that are trying out? We've been burned twice by teams that advertised a AAA or Majors then when all is said and done, they were not at that level. We will be looking for another team this year (former team disbanded) and just curious what the opinions on this forum are. Obviously, if the coach/team has a history, we can check records and to our eye, we can tell the different level in some players, but not all. What are the key factors you look for in players (and/or parents for that matter) you look for. (We all know parent behavior can make or break a team as well.) One of the teams advertised last year as a major - the coach came from a single A team and most of the players trying out were A players and AA in some cases. Is this a good indication - keeping in mind players do develop and good coaching can improve players? Would love to get opinions on this...thought it would be a good topic of discussion as well as helpful to those of us moving around this year. I'm mainly talking about older ages - 12 and up- primarily because players change so much below that and it's hard to tell with growth and that big ole puberty question. Inquiring minds would like to know. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 12:39:09
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I would look at the tournaments the team entered last year and how well they did. If they entered a bunch of no-name tournaments in the middle of nowhere, then they are probably not a top level team. If they were in the bigger tournaments with top notch teams participating, it shows that they want to compete with the best and are not running away from the tough games.
In terms of what to look for in players, look for the most athletic kids you can find. I have seen colleges recruit almost all short stops because they can wind up playing anywhere. Fill in the gaps with a couple of kids that are bigger and can play 1st base for their stick. Look for kids that can pitch and play defense. You can never have too many pitchers on a team, especially if you wind up going far in a tournament. And of course look for kids who can swing the stick. Hard to win without being able to score runs. Learning that big time this year. |
Edited by - bballman on 07/13/2011 13:13:57 |
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baserunner
115 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 13:00:35
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The 3 most important things....
Hustle
Natural Ability
Baseball IQ
A little bit of speed and power wouldn't hurt, too. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 13:33:35
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quote:
Originally posted by bballman
In terms of what to look for in players, look for the most athletic kids you can find.
You can never have too many pitchers on a team.
This right here. Not a perfect formula. Baseball IQ helps a lot, especially as they get older, but if you just do these two things, you'll probably be OK. |
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Zcoach
151 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 16:31:29
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1) attitude
2) ability
3) parents
Only 9 can play at a time. Can you (the player and the parents) sit and still contribute to the team ?
Always go back to Herb Brooks... |
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12uCoach
357 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 19:37:13
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Watch a player warm up before the practice/try-out/clinic starts. In 5 throws you know everything you need to about the players current abilities. You see their natural throwing motion, their glove work and how serious they take themselves and the game.
First impressions are important. |
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itsaboutbb
164 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 20:40:29
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quote:
Originally posted by bbmom2
With tryout season here - we've got a great list of questions to ask the coaches. Now, what do you look for in the PLAYERS that are trying out? We've been burned twice by teams that advertised a AAA or Majors then when all is said and done, they were not at that level. We will be looking for another team this year (former team disbanded) and just curious what the opinions on this forum are. Obviously, if the coach/team has a history, we can check records and to our eye, we can tell the different level in some players, but not all. What are the key factors you look for in players (and/or parents for that matter) you look for. (We all know parent behavior can make or break a team as well.) One of the teams advertised last year as a major - the coach came from a single A team and most of the players trying out were A players and AA in some cases. Is this a good indication - keeping in mind players do develop and good coaching can improve players? Would love to get opinions on this...thought it would be a good topic of discussion as well as helpful to those of us moving around this year. I'm mainly talking about older ages - 12 and up- primarily because players change so much below that and it's hard to tell with growth and that big ole puberty question. Inquiring minds would like to know.
As bballman says you have to look at what they did last year. USSSA is a real good start. As you are looking on there look at the roster, that gives a lot of info as well, ie where the kids that played on that team came from. |
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gabulldogs
29 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 22:15:20
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| They only advertise that their playing in higher level to try and draw in better talent. See if the coach stays with the same team and has several same players through out the years. A lot of kids do move around, thats normal to test the waters, but when the coach jumps from place to plce and always seems to start from scratch with his son and one other, you might want to question that one. |
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ramman999
241 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2011 : 14:26:07
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quote:
Originally posted by 12uCoach
Watch a player warm up before the practice/try-out/clinic starts. In 5 throws you know everything you need to about the players current abilities. You see their natural throwing motion, their glove work and how serious they take themselves and the game.
First impressions are important.
I agree 10000% They are EXTREMELY important... The kid cutting up at tryouts already has a strike against him as far as I am concerned.. If he can't take making the team serious, what makes me think he is going to take my instruction/coaching serious?
Same goes for parents - you shouldn't have to quote your son's previous 3 seasons statistics to justify his swing, or his throw |
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Hurricane
351 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2011 : 07:59:26
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| At Tryouts during the team meeting when you have all the players on a knee and are talking to them, look for eye contact. This is a great place to start. |
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Tryouts - what to look for in players?
