07/10/2022
Great Tips from an A+ program!
It is HS and youth tryout season across the area and there are hundreds of options out there…probably very overwhelming for parents who are interested in select baseball….take your time, do your research, and find a program that fits your son / daughter….Here are a few tips :
1. If they charge you to tryout, cross em off the list and don’t look back. There is no good reason to charge for tryouts in our opinion. they should be thrilled that you have interest in their program.
2. If they are having HS tryouts in the middle of the current HS summer season ( June / July for HS ), cross em off the list. Major red flag !! Most youth seasons have ended so youth tryouts in July is definitely appropriate !
3. Do they have a website where their staff / coaches are listed online so you can see what type of people will be coaching your kids ? What are the coaches backgrounds / resumes ? Research the coaches, don’t just take their word for it.
4. Do they have facilities ? Indoor ? Fields ? Website ? Social Media Following ?
5. Research their claims….don’t just take their word for it….make sure what they say is actually true.
6. Ask around to baseball people in your area…email the local HS or college coach…get their opinion. If they claim they have college commitments / alumni, ask for the list..
7. Make sure their costs are reasonable and fair. Too many are way overpriced
8. What services do you get for your inclusion in their program ? Facilities ? Recruiting Help ? Online Profiles ? If it’s just a schedule of games, you can do much better
9. Look at the programs history and actual player results before picking a program…don’t just go for the sales pitch. See what they have actually produced. Many false claims out there
10. Pick a program where your son will have to compete and be surrounded by other good players / people….if they are telling you your son will be guaranteed anything, go the other way. Competition is healthy for preparing your son for life.
11. There is no perfect organization / team out there…there will be bumps in the road…make sure the place you pick has a support team in place who has a lot of experience in this crazy environment. It will matter more than you think.
The Knights program will enter our 17th year in 2023 and we have learned a lot along the way. Our program isn’t for everyone and we are far from perfect so this isn’t some plug to join the Knights…..just want to share some tips on navigating this crazy tryout process for parents / players.
Best of luck to all looking for the right spot for your son / daughter…there are many great options out there but there are even more not so great. Take your time and choose wisely!. Please feel free to reach out if we can help in any way!
