Well, we just completed them. I really can't think of one coach that enjoys doing it. We certainly don't. We gave them 3 days and they were allowed to tryout at 3 positions. If they pitched, they were allowed two different times to throw. Today, we played a scrimmage/coach pitch and gave the "Bubble Players" innings of 9 outs. Naturally, they had to field then as well and rotates since so many were trying out.

Some things people don't notice or don't think of about the coaching profession.

• That young man you cut is probably in your class. He is going to have a very hard time tomorrow dealing with it. As a teacher I will also have a hard time since I've built a rapport with that student in the classroom.
• There isn't a good way to do it. We posted a list tonight and had the players wait then come in and check the list. We were just inside the room where the list was posted. These young men were told that if they wanted to talk, just knock on the door. Naturally, many did want to talk and so, we went over our evaluation of their abilities. That's always hard because they are going to cry. I'm in this for kids. I never want to make kids cry.
• For the rest of their lives, they are going to hate you. I was cut twice. I'm speaking from experience.
• Cutting kids isn't an exact science. You never know if you are doing a service or disservice to a borderline kid if you keep them. If they practice for 4 months and don't play then perhaps it was better off for them to be cut.
• You are always going to have Seniors that have been passed up in skills by a younger player. Now, what do you do?
• What are your responsibilities to the kids that make the team? If you keep additional kids that aren't going to play then do you lessen the repetitions that the kids playing are getting?

Well I could go on and on. Certainly I feel bad and as badly as I feel, I don't even scratch the surface of what those kids are feeling. Well, just wanted to post some thoughts from a coach's perspective.

great perspective and insight coach. we dont have tryouts but at some point in time we have to experience those same thoughts you listed.

Coach Vogel has gone to where he starts practices just as if every kid that shows up is on the team. If he sees that this kid wouldn't make it, and isn't going to be able to help the team, he'll talk to him individually. He no longer posts a list in high school. Last year he only got rid of one kid in the entire program. 53 players in our baseball program's a lot. We have about that many out this year. We'll see what happens.

Of course, he'll be missing about 8 players for at least another week as the Bulldogs pulled one out over the Indians tonight in basketball! At least 5 of the players he'll be missing are starters on the baseball diamond as well.

CoachB25,

It is never easy to do what you do and I have been there. In the 2005 season we had 56 kids tryout. We usually keep 28 to 30 on the roster. Obviously the head coach allows a lot of walk-ons, but each and every one were pulled into the office at the end of the fall practice schedule. The entire coaching staff was there and we explained to the player whether they made the team or they did not.

It is one of the most difficult things I have done as it relates to baseball and it never got any easier.

Good luck this season.

O42

bulldog - thats the way we do it. if the kid gets through winter workouts, study halls, comes to practice everyday, etc we will give him a uniform. they eliminate themselves. we have around 40 kids in the program. a varsity team, a jv team, and a 8th/9th grade team.

Its never easy, is it? Cutting a kid has to be one of the toughest things a coach ever has to do. In summer ball, we just invite out the players we want for our teams, and have never had a tryout in years. Kids who inquire about playing with us, and there are quite a few, but don't have the ability we're looking for, we politely tell these kids that we are full already; and then I usually try to put them in touch with a team somewhere else they might get to play for.

It stinks... bad. I'm at a school now that is small and has a no-cut policy. I lucked out this year because 30 are out. we can service that many and I think everyone can have a good time.... Once I cut a kid who ended up being a great player ... Once I cut a kid who didn't have a dad (or mom really) to go home and talk to.... that last one still hurts me...
I really feel for all you guys who have to cut kids....

Great posts people!

Coach,i understand where you are coming from.Let me tell you how they do it where my son attends.He comes home this week and says there are 45 out for 2 teams.The coach is not making cuts but my son says it is obvious the coach is trying to get certain players to quit.This is so ChSht of the coach in my opinion.Be a man and handle this like a man,honest and upfront.I have seen to many coachs not take this path {the path you take}and it causes more resentment than being dealt with upfront.good luck coach,your players are lucky to have you.

bdt, I'm not perfect but your post disturbs me. Making kids quit? I know the type. You run them until they puke and then you scream at them for not being in shape. It seems that the "stars" are off to the side putting up equipment or... "Now they'll run later." Sure! When we talked to the young men we cut, we were able to share with them their evaluations (our opinions) and let them know what they needed to work on. Some agreed. Some didn't! We did the right thing in how we did it in my opinion.

My son did not make his high school team. He is an excellent short stop and probably is the only consistent curve ball pitcher in his freshman class. He told me that the coaches only wanted to see a fast ball and a change-up. Is that normal protocol for try-outs or should I talk to the head coach?

tryhard,
I can't speak to the shortstop situation but many coaches are looking for pitchers who can help their varsity team down the road, rather than pitchers who can get freshmen out. The reality is that wins and losses for a freshman team mean absolutely nothing. The only purpose of a freshman team should be player development. A curve ball pitcher with little velocity doesn't project well as a varsity pitcher. Most pitchers with a good fastball and change can develop a decent curve relatively quickly.

If you do not make the freshman team, can you still make the sophomore team? Does the coach just keep picking the kids from the freshman team? My son is going to some training things and will work hard to try out for next year. Is it possible?

Very good points made here gentlemen.

Don't want to bump a lot of old threads to the top, but this is my first year coaching at a new High School and I have been looking for a thread regarding how coaches handle cutting kids.

We have had sports all year at the freshman level and I am the 1st coach in the school that cut kids (There was a no-cut policy that I was not aware of I joined the staff in February, but I was able to justify my actions to the AD and the Principal)

I am coaching at an Inner-City High School in Chicago, I had 26 kids come out for baseball. I am down to 13 players and we are currently 5-0 (4-0 in conference)I lost 7 for academics, was forced to cut kids with 2.9 GPA's because they failed one course.

I cut 5 simply because there was no ability there. I asked one kid if he had ever played organized baseball, he replied "with my friends in a vacant lot" He picked up a bat and swung it cross-handed and moved out of the way of a thrown ball while playing catch because he thought the other kid threw the ball too hard. I sent him home for his personal safety.

The others I asked if they really thought they were cut out for the sport and they all answered "no" and I sent them home. Most were there because their friends tried out.

I had another player who did not show up for practice for 4 days and saw me in the hallway everyday and said nothing (That Monday he tells me he is going to cut practice because his stomach hurts) I told him not to come back.

I have another young man who spent last Friday in detention.

My Policy: if you have to serve a detention you do not practice, if there is a game on Saturday you do not play. Young lad decides not to show up for the game this Saturday, the kids who live near him tell me he is not showing up because he is not going to play. I will have his uniform on Monday.

Yes it is frosh ball but I have to have some foundation to get my program established, we will have a JV Sched next year as the school expands and a Varsity Sched when they are Juniors.

I still have 5 kids on my team who have NEVER played organized ball (surrounded by 3 studs)and they have the advantage of getting varsity reps in practice and it is showing when we get out on the field against other frosh teams across the city.

Am I on the right track with this?

Coach


I am with you all the way---there are no givens and freebies in baseball


Keep up the good work

I believe Henry Aaron started out hitting cross-handed. Did you just cut Aaron?

More seriously looking back at the original post this brings up a question. One of the most overused sayings in baseball is "It's for the kids." I don't say that it is over used because there's anything wrong with it. I say that it is over used because so few people really mean it. We've had a couple coaches post here who probably really do mean it but how many coaches are really in it for the kids and how many are in it to post a good record regardless of the kids? (Posting a good record and being in it for the kids are not mutually exclusive.)

I guess another way of putting it is what is a coach's responsibility to the kids who come out, work hard for 4 years and are never quite talented enough to start? I don't know what the answer is and I don't know if there is any one right answer, but I'd sure be interested in hearing what coaches have to say.

cadad....Our we also have a purpose as to what is best for the team. Does starting that kid who has been in the program for 4 years hurt the team by doing so?

I have a sr who does not start. What do you do when you have more than 9 sr.s (but that is for another topic)? His parents have thanked me more than once about how thankful they are that their son had the opportunity to play for this team. So, I guess it is what you expect to get out of your season.

d8,
My assumption, which I didn't make clear, was that a kid who is not talented enough to start is not going to start a league game unless he can help the team that day. I'm wondering if a coach has a responsibility to give some of those kids significant innings in non-league games or if it is more important to get more reps for the starters so they can be better prepared for league.

The second stringer as a rule is not headed to the college level

The coaches responsibility is to put the best team on the field and attempt to win---nothing more --nothing less--- this is not little league---it is HS baseball

I agree this is not LL it is high school baseball. Just yesterday our coach sat four starters one a kid that had been 4 for his last 4, all doubles so he could get some kids playing time. How do you think the kid that sat was feeling, he had done everything,hitting and making great plays in the field. Both he and his dad were good about it saying he understood but was it right. Not a chance, it was done because they didn't cut anyone. Not to get kids ready for anything. My son was pitching, how do you think he felt about his defense? Once again this is HS baseball not LL.