Baseball Tryouts Checklist: What Coaches Look For
Baseball players arrive at tryouts with different skill levels and athletic ability. Those are variables that can’t be controlled. One controllable variable, however, is the way you carry yourself on tryout day. Arriving early, introducing yourself to the coaches, and letting them know what your strengths are as a player are some positive ways you can get noticed. All conditions being equal, a coach will always pick the player with the best attitude. Below are some ways to score points on tryout day.
How to Stay Confident and Focused Under Pressure
Tryout day is here, and your stomach drops. You have just a few precious hours to impress the coaches enough to get noticed. At baseball showcases, a one-time tryout where you have a chance to practice in front of baseball scouts and college coaches, there’s a limited time to get noticed. This kind of evaluation is typically done to see what kind of prospect you are, not to make a team. In this type of compacted time frame, it can be hard for players to relax. Dondre Yon, PLM, Team – Diamond Sports, Cleats, Gloves & Accessories at Under Armour, and a former college baseball player who coaches a travel team and runs individual and group training sessions, said that finding a theme to fall back on can help you get through the stress. Yon works with college players, professional players, top ranked high school athletes as well as coaches ranging from junior college to DI.
“Maybe write a saying on your glove,” he said. “Something to help you manage the emotions. I don’t tell the kids to fight their nerves. I tell them to ride it and trust their emotions and be who you are. If you’re fast, be fast. If you’re a power hitter, be a power hitter.”
Below are some tips for keeping your cool when the pressure is on.
Agenda: Ask the coaches how the tryout will be structured. If you’re hitting, find out how many swings you get. If you’re pitching, find out how many pitches you get to throw. At the very least, know what the parameters of the tryout are for your skill set.
Practice: Practice some scenarios you might encounter ahead of time. If you’re going to be timed from home plate to first base after contacting a baseball, make sure you get some timed runs in.
Arrive Early: Get there early enough to go through a pre-game routine. For some players, that could mean listening to a specific playlist in
the car on the way to the tryout. It could also mean arriving an hour ahead of time to stretch, play some catch, and do some light running. Having a routine to fall back on can calm your mind.
Trying to create a sense of familiarity for yourself is key. When you warm up, play catch with someone you know and try to recreate the routine you usually use. Staying focused on your routine can help you block out the stress of your surroundings.
How to Stand Out at Your Tryout
One way to get coaches to remember you is to wear something unique or have an unusual piece of equipment. That could be an orange arm sleeve or a glove that’s not the standard color. It’s a way to stick out among a sea of players. Of course, the best way to stand out is to perform well. Below are some ways you can help yourself get noticed for your tryout.
Coachability: Be respectful of the coaches who are evaluating you and be prepared to take constructive feedback. The coaches are trying to help you. Every coach wants players to improve even if they might not make the team.
Highlight Your Strengths: If you’re a power hitter, be ready to take some big swings for the fences. If you’re an outfielder and you have a great arm, make some long throws to home plate.
Hustle: Run out to your position if you're part of a fielding evaluation. Run every chance you get to run somewhere. This is a sign of enthusiasm. Everyone wants to play with a good teammate who has a passion for the game.
Maximum Effort: Make sure you leave it all on the field. You should be prepared to push yourself on every play. That could mean diving for baseballs, sliding into second base on a close play, and running out ground balls if it isn’t close.
Focus on Fundamentals: Don’t try to make flashy plays. Make plays that give you the best chance of getting the job done. Avoid making a basket catch when you can use two hands, and don’t sidearm flip a baseball to second base on a force out when you can toss it underhand.
Must-Have Equipment Checklist for Tryouts
It might seem obvious to bring a pair of cleats, a bat and glove, and a uniform and hat to a baseball tryout. Sometimes, kids forget, or they really don’t know exactly what they need to bring. For a national showcase tryout, there could be cross-country travel involved. Also, if you're nervous, you could forget an essential item. Yon said kids should be prepared the night before the tryout. “I always tell them to make sure their bags are packed,” Yon said. “You don’t want to have any surprises in the morning.”
Below are some tips for making sure you have your baseball equipment properly prepared for the tryout:
Cleats: Don’t show up in tennis shoes. You should have a pair of comfortable cleats that you have already worn. Cleats are essential for work in the field. You might be able to use training shoes if you’re just going to be hitting, but it’s preferable to be in game day gear.
Bat and Glove: You don’t want to use someone else’s bat. Make sure your bat isn’t cracked and bring your own glove.
Clean Uniform & Baseball Hat: Make sure your uniform is washed and pressed. It’s important to be properly dressed. Same with your baseball hat. It should fit squarely on your head with the bill positioned forward. Having a uniform and hat are signs of good preparation.
What to Wear to Baseball Tryouts
If you want to perform well, you need to have the right accessories and baseball clothes on. Below are some essential items to wear on tryout day.
Pants: Wear comfortable, stretchy pants that’re well ventilated. The pants should be sturdy enough to withstand sliding in the dirt. Make sure your shirt is tucked neatly into your pants.
Belt: You should have an elastic or leather belt that’s sturdy. The belt color should complement your uniform color. If you’re wearing white pants, a black belt always looks good.
Socks: Wear baseball socks. These are sometimes called stirrups. They’re long socks that fit well with cleats. If it’s cold outside, you might want to wear a heavier pair of baseball socks.
Undershorts: Slider shorts blunt the effects of having to be on the ground, which is where baseball is often played. They have extra padding on the outside of your thighs, which helps when you must slide.
One way to frame the challenge of a baseball tryout is to remember that it’s fun. Everyone tries out because they love the game. So even if your day doesn’t go as planned, it should still be a good experience because you’re playing a sport you’re passionate about.