| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
homerunmkd
9 Posts |
 Posted - 08/28/2008 : 08:32:02
|
| two of my boys tried out for the first time this year and i am completly new to this,they both play 2nd base very well, the 9u can pitch also, they both are good batters but not homerun hitters. when do you know if they made it or not and do you have to know someone to get on a team or can a new face get on. from a scale of 1 to 10 they looked to be about a 7 or 8 compared to watching all the other guys. |
|
|
WJrWolverines
53 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 09:23:09
|
quote:
Originally posted by homerunmkd
two of my boys tried out for the first time this year and i am completly new to this,they both play 2nd base very well, the 9u can pitch also, they both are good batters but not homerun hitters. when do you know if they made it or not and do you have to know someone to get on a team or can a new face get on. from a scale of 1 to 10 they looked to be about a 7 or 8 compared to watching all the other guys.
How did the coach leave it as far as notifying the parents of roster decisions? Did he meet with everybody after tryouts to explain? |
 |
|
|
bball2008
100 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 09:27:02
|
| At what park did the 9u tryout? |
|
|
|
bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 10:23:53
|
| Unfortunately, a lot of coaches don't make the call back. If you haven't heard after a week, you probably have not made the team. Call the coach and ask so you can move on to other alternatives. |
|
|
|
homerunmkd
9 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 15:09:56
|
| they tried out 9U and 16U at East Cobb.The youngest got two calls from coaches for a second look and of all the kids there(approx 10) maybe two were better and they are picking up 5 but he is not interested I think because one guy he wants really bad comes as a package with two other guys that he doesn't want. The second tryout was an hour after the first, and he was tired so he didn't do as well but was still good. It just seems so political to me. We don't know anyone or much about it, and quite possibly we should have been taking them there for batting lessons so they could get to know some people. They both did very well at the tryouts but it all seems to be who ya know. Am I right? |
|
|
|
Topscout
59 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2008 : 06:33:24
|
| In my experience, tryouts are like a championship boxing match. If you are the challenger (new to the coaching staff) you have to clearly be better than others that they know in order to make the team. |
|
|
|
bigcatsdad
22 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2008 : 10:39:11
|
| topscout, you are exactly right!!!! |
|
|
|
dblinkh1
39 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2008 : 16:22:05
|
| As a parent and a coach I have been on both sides of tryouts. Every time a player doesn't make a team it must be political, daddy ball or some other excuse. First, all coaches are looking for something specific when they have tryouts. We aren't just randomly looking at players. Ask them what they are looking for in players. Does your child fit that description? You mentioned your son was better than the kids trying out. I tell my son during tryouts he has to be better than the kids already on the team not the kids trying out. Just because they are the best trying out doesn't mean the coach needs them. In real life companies interview hundreds of candidates for jobs. That doesn't mean the ones not chosen were all bad candidates. |
|
|
|
homerunmkd
9 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2008 : 22:21:01
|
dblinkh1,
I am not whining or anything i was simply curious about the whole ecb deal because we were new to it. I do however appreciate your knowledge and opinion. the thing that really bothers me is that a friend of ours brought his 7 year old also and at the main tryout he was the best one there, their might have been one better trying out for the 8u. This kid never got a call either and he made some plays that made all the parents scream and yell of excitement. We live about 45 min away and i wonder if that is a factor and the fact that none of us knew anyone. I like the facilty and liked the coaches I am not saying anything negative about it (that is why we were there because we liked it) but if we do not know someone or never had lessons there, it makes me wonder is that what we need to do is get to know them from lessons so maybe we have a better shot? Surely you see my point and you see why i wanted to know what the way in to ECB is. |
|
|
|
greglomax
1031 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2008 : 20:47:49
|
Homerunmkd,
The deal with EC for the two age groups (9U and 16U) are signigicantly different. The 12U and below are still teams being put together by dads and there is no pecking order on picks so ALL the teams are putting there players together primarily before the tryout. They don't really have the luxury of waiting and "Hoping" good kids show up. The unfortunate part is some really good players can get left out because a team had no advance notice and no open spots. Even if the kid getting left out is better than half of the kids on the team. My advice to any parent having their kid try out at EC is to do some research and find the teams, and coaches from the previous year moving up and reach out to them. Ask them if they are returning to EC and, if so, do they have any availability. That your son would be interested in trying out.
As for the 16U, this is different. There is a pecking order. It still would not hurt to reach out to the previous year coaches to see if they are moving up.
My suggestion for both your situations is to e-mail Guerry Baldwin to ask about the situation and see what he recommends. He should know the status of all the teams. |
|
|
|
jay
177 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 15:26:42
|
Lolll... Homer, kindly disregard "some" of what Greg posted. I've been to a LOT of ECB tryouts and drafts and contrary to popular belief it's a RARE event when a team is full prior to the Tryout/Clinic.
During the draft the coaches have to explain to Guerry why EVERY player not chosen was not chosen. There were a lot of 13's not chosen. So, you can imagine how long that draft took. Having said that, EVERY draft that I've been to has always had at least one team still needing kids when it was over and when a player like the one that you've just described was still available there's been a scramble.
Obviously you saw something in the tryout that the evaluators missed and by no means are we perfect. So, absolutely if for nothing other than peace of mind drop ECB an email and very likely Guerry will have that feedback available. Heck, who knows, maybe this was the one time in the last, God knows how many years, that every team was actually full going into the tryouts; stranger things have happened.
|
|
|
|
homerunmkd
9 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 17:13:02
|
gregomax,
Thanks for the advise, we will work on that. Had any catfish sandwiches lately? LOL |
|
|
|
homerunmkd
9 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 12:46:46
|
| Jay, then they should NOT have called it a tryout if the teams are full! This has become very stressful, and just think of the boys whose hopes were high actually beleiving in that word tryout. They give it all they've got to just raise money and then get set up to fail. It's not the money for me because I fortunatley do not have to worry about. It's the efforts put forth to end up being misled. I would have rather have sent the money and spared the stress if the teams are already full, ya know. |
|
|
|
greglomax
1031 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 16:23:28
|
Jay,
First, my point was related to the younger age groups first, when I said ALL were being put together ahead of time. Apparently my point taken out of context. My point was ALL teams had started looking at players ahead of time or had an idea of their foundation. NEVER did I say they were ALL full. As you pointed out it is a rarity that ANY team has 100% of their players before the tryouts. However, it is the same rarity that a team would have 0% of their team picked.
It's not a knock on the EC process it is that way anywhere.
Next I just said, that I would recommend anyone having their player try out to do some research and put feelers out. I am sure you cannot disagree that this would be a good practice.
Finally I recommended sending Guerry an e-mail to get his input. This you also said.
These were all points to keep a player from dropping between teams and getting missed. It is hard enough to make a good impression on a coach in 2 days. My advice prior to the tryout is make some contact. Don't just wait until the tryout and hope for the best.
I realize this does not help homerunmkd but it might in the future and might also help others.
Jay, you have been around there for a while. How about getting Guerry to implement a Director for each age group that would coordinate the teams and tryouts. They would need to be someone that was not playing at that age group but who could help decide which teams would be playing out of EC for the following year, help coordinate the tryouts, and who could answer questions for parents. That person could help determine the right number of teams for their age group and help determine the right coaches to lead those teams. Just a thought. |
Edited by - greglomax on 09/03/2008 16:31:54 |
|
|
|
jay
177 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 17:01:39
|
Homer,
You lost me or maybe I lost you. I thought that I said NONE of the teams were full when the tryout started; which meant that is was a tryout. I'd even wager that every one of those teams evaluating kids was looking for players.
Greg,
I'd agree that most teams had a good head start from returning players etc and while I wasn't at the really young drafts, past history has shown that the more teams there are the more teams with 5 or fewer players accounted for. At the age groups that Homer's referring to likely 1/2 of those were looking for 5 or more players. Regarding researching in advance, that should be a given with anything. |
|
|
|
homerunmkd
9 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 22:16:11
|
| Jay, reguardless of who lost who, it will be interesting to see how many new guys they picked up. I printed some rosters from last year out of curosity. Gregomax has a good idea with the directors. Perhaps the tryouts could consist of 4 or 5 days. It's a great place to play and plenty of guys want to play there. that would give a better advantage for the not so familar faces. The repeat player have probably had better opportunities to show off what they have to offer to a team, whereas the new face only get such a slight chance. Thats why it looks as though they are being set up to fail. Do they pick up any new player before spring from time to time? Do we just check the post or is that a rare thing? |
|
|
|
sandlot
21 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 10:50:16
|
| I heard that the 13U Astros team was already picked back in early Aug.! Looking at the roster, I would say that, all but 4 was! So I would say that the tryouts was just looking for some players to round out or fine tune the team! |
|
|
|
clg003
79 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 16:10:16
|
| I can tell you this from a 12U perspective. Although East Cobb does not want you to know this most coaches’ goal is to have their rosters filled before the tryouts. They don’t want to have to compete with other EC teams for kids. The park knows this and they know it’s an issue. They warn the coaches against it but not only does it happen it is the norm. The teams which have problems picking up the elite players may still have some openings by the time tryouts roll around but they are still not banking on using the tryouts to fill their teams. Of course if a quality player (who can demonstrate such) shows up to the park wide tryouts they can make one of those spots. But my guess is that would even be a disadvantage to that player. If you want to make a legitimate EC team you need to go to the individual team tryouts. If you make the team you will still have to pay for the park wide tryouts as well. I know this because we spoke with many of those teams during this off-season and each one validated this. We were even offered spots to multiple teams and we were told this by each one. From a building a team standpoint it’s the only logical approach for the coaches to use. I mean this is East Cobb and those teams are as competitive against each other as they are with any other team. Maybe it stems form all the infighting over field time or maybe it’s the nature of those seeking to be on one of the best teams around. But from the perspective of the unknowing parents which show up a these tryouts fully expecting that they have a shot at making a legitimate East Cobb team it is a bit troublesome. The funny thing that I saw was that a few of the teams posted there rosters the night of first day of the tryouts. They knew who was already on the team but they couldn’t post it until the tryouts officially were underway. Most of the other teams posted there rosters within a day or two of that. The negotiations had already taken place and the spots had already been filled it just wasn’t official until the tryouts were underway. |
|
|
|
homerunmkd
9 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2008 : 08:20:03
|
clg003
That makes sense, so how did you get offers from teams? Did you just call the coaches and ask to come to their practices prior to the park wide tryouts? What if a new team is developing, how do you get in contact with those coaches? |
|
|
|
13UECBparent2
8 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2008 : 09:03:37
|
Homerun, the best way to do it is about 2-3 weeks before the ECB tryouts, go to the ECB website and look up the ECB teams from the prior year (i.e. if you're son is 13U, take a look at the teams listed on the ECB team page for the prior Spring's 12U) and send out emails (their email addresses are on their team links) to the teams you think your son might be interested in playing on. Tell them a little bit about your son and ask them if they would be willing to let your son come to one of their practices/tryouts before the clinics. Some hold practices/tryouts before the clinics, and some wait until afterwards, but at the very least you can ask if they would be on the lookout for your son at the clinic tryouts, and if they would be interested, allow your son to come to a post tryout team practice/tryout. You could also ask them if they are aware of any new teams forming for the upcoming season - the coaches, while competitive in a "friendly way,"  are very helpful and would be all to willing to share with you what they know about the teams, new and returning, and what they know about what they're looking for. Hope this helps.
This is my son's 3rd year at ECB, and I was "flying blind" my first year as well about not knowing what things I could do before vs. after the clinics in order to help my son's chances of getting invited to a practice or tryout. I didn't know who to call or reach out to, and while my son was wanting to try out for an 11U team a few years ago, I closed my eyes and picked a coach, and actually called a 15U coach to ask his advice, and he was very helpful in guiding me through how I could reach out to an ECB coach. |
|
|
|
homerunmkd
9 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2008 : 09:49:56
|
| Thats great advise and the best I have gotten. Thanx! |
|
|
|
Hook Em Horns
105 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2008 : 10:46:42
|
Yup, Clg003 is right on. Just about all teams are looking IMMEDIATELY after their world series event. Come the 1st of July you better be on this board looking under the proper age group and the individual teams sites inquiring about openings, tryouts, positions needed and your kid. You could also do yourself well by introducing yourself via email or at games to the coaches in your age class for networking purposes. Go to as many as you feel are good fits and put the work in, especially if none of the coaches know your son.
Sage advice as well from 13UECBParent.
Good Luck. |
Edited by - Hook Em Horns on 09/12/2008 13:07:42 |
|
|
|
humanitarian2112
11 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2008 : 00:37:24
|
I've found that the best way to get offered onto an ECB team is to have your son on an opposing team that puts a beat down on them while your son goes 4 for 4 with 2 homers, 6 rbi's, 2 stolen bases and no errors.
The offers come in piles. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
tryouts
