Top 9 Things to Know about Club Try-Outs

by Sean Hall

1. It’s critical to do research before you tryout. With 90% of the tryouts being on Monday, August 9th you can’t afford to go to a tryout that you’re not really that interested in. If you really don’t have any genuine interest in a program you shouldn’t go to a tryout there. You would be wasting your time and energy as well as the clubs.
2. Know what questions you need to ask before making a decision. These questions are ok. Where do you see me fitting in on this team? What kind of pitching/catching time would I potentially get? How much does it cost? What does that include? Who would my coaches be? With that said, be prepared that you might not get a complete answer. The coach may not have all the answers especially early in the process of try-outs.
3. Go to your “perceived” favorite clubs as early as you can. Nearly all clubs will start offering roster spots on day 1. If you wait until day #2 there might be less spots available. Showing up to the first tryout day tells that club you want to be there.
4. Players will get offered different roster spots at different times. Just because you don’t get an immediate call doesn’t mean you won’t get a call.
5. The Clubs talk to each other. We share with each other in an effort to help athletes find a good home, and in some cases warn each other about potential concerns. If you haven’t paid your bill from the previous year or if a player or parent has a bad attitude there is a good chance we have been warned. Don’t try to play different clubs off against each other…most of us talk before, during and after tryouts.
6. You will likely get 24-48 hours to make a decision once you have an offer. Some clubs might give you longer. The sooner you are able to make your decision the more it helps ALL the programs you have tried out with. It also helps other players who may be waiting to hear about their options. It is in many cases a true domino effect.
7. There really is a team for everyone. We have a lot of amazing programs that cater to different types of softball players, different family priorities, budgets, etc.
8. It’s a year long commitment so make sure you do your due diligence with questions. As a club director I would always welcome a player back if they left at the end of the season and didn’t cause drama during the season. But that player that quits mid-season really puts the team in a tough position and would MOST likely not be welcomed back.
9. MOST IMPORTANT! DO NOT ACCEPT AN OFFER & MAKE A COMMITMENT THEN ATTEND MORE TRYOUTS!