Sports tryouts—is this standard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son wants to try out at Westfield tomorrow. He registered awhile ago through the website, but hasn't been sent ANYTHING. All we know is what the school posted on the athetics website, which is a time and location for Monday only, along with a message to "be prepared!". Be prepared how? He doesn't even know what to bring. Just show up with soccer cleats? It seems unfair to be competing against kids who tried out last year and know exactly what to bring and expect.

They didn't have even one soccer green day all year unlike friends at other schools, so its not like he could meet the coach or ask anyone. I'm a little baffled b/c he did a fall sport that was SO organized.

Be dressed for the weather. Bring cleats and water and probably a ball. Hustle. Be early. Say thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son wants to try out at Westfield tomorrow. He registered awhile ago through the website, but hasn't been sent ANYTHING. All we know is what the school posted on the athetics website, which is a time and location for Monday only, along with a message to "be prepared!". Be prepared how? He doesn't even know what to bring. Just show up with soccer cleats? It seems unfair to be competing against kids who tried out last year and know exactly what to bring and expect.

They didn't have even one soccer green day all year unlike friends at other schools, so its not like he could meet the coach or ask anyone. I'm a little baffled b/c he did a fall sport that was SO organized.

Did your kid email the coach? Stop by their office or classroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its very strange to not have any green days for a sport all year.

How do you know for sure they haven’t? Green Days seemed to be a word of mouth thing in our kids experiences.

VHSL rules require green days to be open participation to any student at the school and they have to be listed or published by the school so students know about them.

Green Days are HEAVILY promoted on Instagram for almost every single FCPS sports team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't coaches know their teams before tryouts? Sure there can be a surprise player but tryouts are a mere formality

I think that's accurate for basketball but not the other sports.

Really? I am pretty sure that Coaches know the vast majority of who will be on their teams before try outs. Coaches tend to be aware of what is happening with club teams and rec teams and who has been standing out there. If they are not attending games, and that would be hard in this area, they have athletes and fellow coaches that are probably talking to them. The know the kids who stood out on the team the previous year. There might be a few new to the area kids that are surprising but that is about it.

My HS coach for basketball and softball were refs for the rec league in our area. They made some extra money on the weekend and were able to see who was playing at what level. They had a solid feel for what the incoming freshman were capable of in the moment. I know that the Softball coach talked to me in 8th grade and told me he hoped I would try out in HS and that I stood a solid chance of making the Varsity. I did try out and I did make Varsity. I was at a smaller school then the ones in FCPS but I wouldn't be surprised if this was normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son wants to try out at Westfield tomorrow. He registered awhile ago through the website, but hasn't been sent ANYTHING. All we know is what the school posted on the athetics website, which is a time and location for Monday only, along with a message to "be prepared!". Be prepared how? He doesn't even know what to bring. Just show up with soccer cleats? It seems unfair to be competing against kids who tried out last year and know exactly what to bring and expect.

They didn't have even one soccer green day all year unlike friends at other schools, so its not like he could meet the coach or ask anyone. I'm a little baffled b/c he did a fall sport that was SO organized.

Bring water, cleats, and shin guards. What else do you need to bring for soccer tryouts? Not a parent at your school but someone who knows what equipment is needed for soccer. Maybe your kid could email the Coach and ask, that would show some initiative.

NP-Usually soccer tryouts will tell kids to also bring running shoes, a plain specific color t-shirt, etc. Its not about "equipment needed for soccer", its about what players need to participate in an organized tryout for 150+ boys.

I get that it might be more than that. If you are really worried about it, the child should have emailed the Coach and asked. It shows initiative and an understanding that they need more than the basics. Should things be better advertised? Sure, but make a positive out of the lack of information.

So in your scenario, 150 boys should each be individually emailing the person listed as the coach (who does not work at the school and who they don't know)? This doesn't seem like a good system.

Sounds like 149 of them might have taken action and ONE didn't...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son wants to try out at Westfield tomorrow. He registered awhile ago through the website, but hasn't been sent ANYTHING. All we know is what the school posted on the athetics website, which is a time and location for Monday only, along with a message to "be prepared!". Be prepared how? He doesn't even know what to bring. Just show up with soccer cleats? It seems unfair to be competing against kids who tried out last year and know exactly what to bring and expect.

They didn't have even one soccer green day all year unlike friends at other schools, so its not like he could meet the coach or ask anyone. I'm a little baffled b/c he did a fall sport that was SO organized.

Did your kid email the coach? Stop by their office or classroom?

Westfield coach is new to head coaching this year and doesn't work at the school. There is literally no way this child could have met the coach ahead of time if they didn't have green days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. That’s what the lacrosse tryout process is like at our FCPS school too.

I think it is smart of the coach, so they are ready for when parents complain that Larlo didn’t make the team, they can point to the criteria that they used.

Lacrosse is no cut at most schools!

Not at the school I work at or the HS my kids attend. It’s very competitive at both!

My son and daughter played different sports and they had experiences similar to OP for tryouts. I think a lot was predetermined but they went in knowing what to expect in terms of running, general fitness, drills, etc.

Lacrosse in the Concorde District is extremely competitive.

Yes! This is where I work and where my kids attend school! I can’t imagine lax being no cut anywhere since I think of it as one of the most competitive sports for boys and girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. That’s what the lacrosse tryout process is like at our FCPS school too.

I think it is smart of the coach, so they are ready for when parents complain that Larlo didn’t make the team, they can point to the criteria that they used.

Lacrosse is no cut at most schools!

Not at the school I work at or the HS my kids attend. It’s very competitive at both!

My son and daughter played different sports and they had experiences similar to OP for tryouts. I think a lot was predetermined but they went in knowing what to expect in terms of running, general fitness, drills, etc.

Lacrosse in the Concorde District is extremely competitive.

Yes! This is where I work and where my kids attend school! I can’t imagine lax being no cut anywhere since I think of it as one of the most competitive sports for boys and girls.

At which Concorde district school does Lacrosse cut more kids than soccer or basketball? That's ridiculous. I have never heard of lacrosse being that competitive, and we are in that district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son wants to try out at Westfield tomorrow. He registered awhile ago through the website, but hasn't been sent ANYTHING. All we know is what the school posted on the athetics website, which is a time and location for Monday only, along with a message to "be prepared!". Be prepared how? He doesn't even know what to bring. Just show up with soccer cleats? It seems unfair to be competing against kids who tried out last year and know exactly what to bring and expect.

They didn't have even one soccer green day all year unlike friends at other schools, so its not like he could meet the coach or ask anyone. I'm a little baffled b/c he did a fall sport that was SO organized.

Bring water, cleats, and shin guards. What else do you need to bring for soccer tryouts? Not a parent at your school but someone who knows what equipment is needed for soccer. Maybe your kid could email the Coach and ask, that would show some initiative.

NP-Usually soccer tryouts will tell kids to also bring running shoes, a plain specific color t-shirt, etc. Its not about "equipment needed for soccer", its about what players need to participate in an organized tryout for 150+ boys.

I get that it might be more than that. If you are really worried about it, the child should have emailed the Coach and asked. It shows initiative and an understanding that they need more than the basics. Should things be better advertised? Sure, but make a positive out of the lack of information.

So in your scenario, 150 boys should each be individually emailing the person listed as the coach (who does not work at the school and who they don't know)? This doesn't seem like a good system.

Sounds like 149 of them might have taken action and ONE didn't...

Do you know any teenaged boys LOL? There is almost 100% chance that zero emailed asking about tryouts. They will just wander in with their broccoli heads, wearing shorts regardless of temperature and almost certainly most won't have shin guards or water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son wants to try out at Westfield tomorrow. He registered awhile ago through the website, but hasn't been sent ANYTHING. All we know is what the school posted on the athetics website, which is a time and location for Monday only, along with a message to "be prepared!". Be prepared how? He doesn't even know what to bring. Just show up with soccer cleats? It seems unfair to be competing against kids who tried out last year and know exactly what to bring and expect.

They didn't have even one soccer green day all year unlike friends at other schools, so its not like he could meet the coach or ask anyone. I'm a little baffled b/c he did a fall sport that was SO organized.

Bring water, cleats, and shin guards. What else do you need to bring for soccer tryouts? Not a parent at your school but someone who knows what equipment is needed for soccer. Maybe your kid could email the Coach and ask, that would show some initiative.

NP-Usually soccer tryouts will tell kids to also bring running shoes, a plain specific color t-shirt, etc. Its not about "equipment needed for soccer", its about what players need to participate in an organized tryout for 150+ boys.

I get that it might be more than that. If you are really worried about it, the child should have emailed the Coach and asked. It shows initiative and an understanding that they need more than the basics. Should things be better advertised? Sure, but make a positive out of the lack of information.

So in your scenario, 150 boys should each be individually emailing the person listed as the coach (who does not work at the school and who they don't know)? This doesn't seem like a good system.

Sounds like 149 of them might have taken action and ONE didn't...

Do you know any teenaged boys LOL? There is almost 100% chance that zero emailed asking about tryouts. They will just wander in with their broccoli heads, wearing shorts regardless of temperature and almost certainly most won't have shin guards or water.

100% accurate description

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its very strange to not have any green days for a sport all year.

How do you know for sure they haven’t? Green Days seemed to be a word of mouth thing in our kids experiences.

VHSL rules require green days to be open participation to any student at the school and they have to be listed or published by the school so students know about them.

Green Days are HEAVILY promoted on Instagram for almost every single FCPS sports team.

Why do we accept this? Instagram should not be considered official communication by the school nor should I or my student have to get on Instagram for official information. This goes for things besides sports by the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its very strange to not have any green days for a sport all year.

How do you know for sure they haven’t? Green Days seemed to be a word of mouth thing in our kids experiences.

VHSL rules require green days to be open participation to any student at the school and they have to be listed or published by the school so students know about them.

Green Days are HEAVILY promoted on Instagram for almost every single FCPS sports team.

Why do we accept this? Instagram should not be considered official communication by the school nor should I or my student have to get on Instagram for official information. This goes for things besides sports by the way.

100% An Instagram story should not be official communication. School sports programs need to do better, put it on the website and or send an e-mail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its very strange to not have any green days for a sport all year.

How do you know for sure they haven’t? Green Days seemed to be a word of mouth thing in our kids experiences.

VHSL rules require green days to be open participation to any student at the school and they have to be listed or published by the school so students know about them.

Green Days are HEAVILY promoted on Instagram for almost every single FCPS sports team.

Why do we accept this? Instagram should not be considered official communication by the school nor should I or my student have to get on Instagram for official information. This goes for things besides sports by the way.

Agree 100%.
Emails from the school admin should be sent weekly with important school information like this (including green days). Instagram is a private company and many people do not want their kids using instagram at all. What's next? Info shared on Tiktok only?

[Anonymous]

These schools have full time employees as activities directors. Communicating information is literally their job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its very strange to not have any green days for a sport all year.

How do you know for sure they haven’t? Green Days seemed to be a word of mouth thing in our kids experiences.

VHSL rules require green days to be open participation to any student at the school and they have to be listed or published by the school so students know about them.

Green Days are HEAVILY promoted on Instagram for almost every single FCPS sports team.

Why do we accept this? Instagram should not be considered official communication by the school nor should I or my student have to get on Instagram for official information. This goes for things besides sports by the way.

100% An Instagram story should not be official communication. School sports programs need to do better, put it on the website and or send an e-mail.

Spring sports tryouts have been posted on schools websites since the start of the year and every team I know has interest meetings after school months before the season. Instagram is by far the best way to get updates directly from coaches. If each message had to go through the school, the message would be so delayed or not sent out at all. I’m sorry but any kid that does not know about tryouts is probably not good enough to make a schools soccer team. Play lacrosse or run track but high school sports are intense seasons and have practice every day. If you are not ready for that as a parent your kid shouldn’t play