By Dr. David Hoch, CMAA
Holding team tryouts and making necessary roster cuts can be the most trying task a high school coach performs. Dealing with fallout from angry parents and players who don't make the team is no fun--for the coach or the athletic director. However, with a transparent, well-thought-out evaluation and selection protocol, the experience can be less traumatic for all involved. Here are some tips we give our coaches before each preseason.
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Prior to each season, we hold a coaches' meeting. During this meeting, I present an agenda featuring 35 to 40 items designed to ensure that our coaches follow department procedures and policies, and are prepared to deal with risk management issues.
One of those items is advice for conducting tryouts and tips on to handling the extremely difficult task of cutting players from a team. This task of selecting and notifying athletes who don't make the team is usually one of the most unpleasant things a coach has to do. No one wants to tell a young person that they aren't good enough and that there is no room for him or her on a team. Therefore, we want our coaches to perform these duties in the most positive and straightforward way possible.
To help, we make the following suggestions:
1. Prepare a matrix or list of criteria to use during the evaluation phase of tryouts. It usually helps if the items are specific for each position. For example in basketball, we include 10 measurable items for forwards and centers, and 10 items for guards.
2. Get the list of criteria approved by the athletic director before it is sent to potential athletes or their parents. This allows the athletic director an opportunity to provide suggestions for change and improvement.
3. When selections are made, post a list of those players who made the squad, not one indicating which young people were not selected.
4. Always offer those players who are not selected the opportunity meet and discuss the reasons why they were cut. This is the time to explain the process and to offer suggestions for improvement. It is also a good idea to thank the candidate for trying out for the team and invite that person to try again next season.
5. Provide the athletic director with a list of those athletes who did not make the team. The athletic director can make this information available to coaches of other sports, for example wrestling and indoor track, who have room on their rosters and are looking for additional athletes. This "channeling process" allows young people to participate in athletics and be part of team, even if the sport isn't their first choice.
Even though cutting a squad can be difficult, with some thought, preparation, and communication, the negative impact can be lessened. When parents and athletes know beforehand what criteria are being used to make team selections, there is less room for debate. A more transparent process means less aggravation for your coaches, and for you.
David Hoch, CMAA, is Athletic Director at Loch Raven High School in Baltimore County, Md. He is a frequent contributor to Athletic Management.
FEEDBACK:
After reading the article on the process of making cuts I would like to add one comment. After coaching for 27 years and being an Athletic Director for 15 years, I have come to the conclusion that posting a list is not the way to deal with cuts.
For about the first 10 years I did post a list because that is the way I learned to do it. The problem is student-athletes will rarely come and talk to a coach and there is no closure for them. I remember the upset looks by athletes or turning the other way by athletes who were cut as I passed them in the halls. For the last 17 years I have done it differently. After the first 4 days of tryouts I begin calling 5-6 student-athletes out for a conversation after each practice. I meet with every player individually over the next week or so. I explain to some that they are on the team and here are the things to work on (I always focus on 2-3 items).
For others I need to thank them and explain why I no longer have a spot for them on the team. It may be skills, it maybe lack of commitment to the program, it may be a senior who I don't think will get enough playing time to make them happy. There are many reasons. I give them a chance for feedback, questions and comments. Because I call 5-6 players some who will be kept and some who will be cut no one knows until the next day at practice who was told what (unless the player tells them).
Because of this system over the last 17 years I have only had 2 bad situations with cuts. In both cases it was good players who I had repeatedly discussed their attitude with them who chose not to change. They further reinforced my decision when they acted totally inappropriate after our conversation. For the rest of the cases, there were conversations and good feelings after the conferences. Rarely have I felt the hostility I felt when I just posted the list.
I hope that many other coaches will try having conversations with their student-athletes. If they take the time and effort to try out for your team I think they deserve a 5-10 minute conversation as to why they did not make the team.
- Randy Gilzean
Varsity Boys Basketball Coach
Pleasant Valley High School
Chico, Ca