WebBall.com - Tryout Prep & Set-Up

Running Your Tryouts - part 1

Planning Elements

Coordinator's Role
Give everyone an equal chance to perform, then leave evaluations to the coaches.

Advance Notice
Give players two to three weeks advance notice - with conditioning reminders.

Prior Warm-Up
Establish mandatory warm-up period (1/2 hour) - prior to start of actual try-out session - and after players have had a chance to sign-in.

Number Bibs
Provide assigned numbers on bibs - to make observations and note-taking easier.

Alloted Time
Give everyone enough time - to see and be seen. How long each session runs depends on how many players are registered and how many teams are being chosen. A suggestion - you want to have 2 minutes (on average) to observe each player at each station or discipline (fielding, throwing, running, hitting, bunting, etc.). So each team-worth of players (at 12 to 15 per team) needs about two hours to view.

Set Up

Stations
Run multiple stations - to keep players moving through a variety of events (no standing time).

Bullpen
Consider a separate try-out just for pitchers and catchers - so drafting coaches can make these important decisions without distraction.

Observation
Have these stations supervised by assistant coaches and willing parents/volunteers. That way team coaches can roam - to see what they want to see, and make their picks.

Field Use
Give everyone room to perform by confining hitting to a batting cage or screen drills (outside of backstop if possible) and running pitching tryouts from sideline bullpens or on other day. Remember screens have two sides, and fielders don't need the whole field to practice.

Players in draft	Teams to pick	Hours req'd	Camp Days
15-22	1	3-4	1
23-32	2	4-5	1-2
33-45	3	6-8	2
45-60	4	8-10	3
60-75	5	10-12	3
70-90	6	12-15	4