Make Tryouts Intense

by Miranda Roth

How do you run your tryouts? When? How long do they run?

I usually have the girls do some drills, incorporating throwing, catching, marking and downfield defense over the course of a week—usually about 3 practices. I also do some time trials for sprints (70 and 40) and agility. This ideally takes place in early January.

What are your goals coming into the tryout process?

The main goal is to make these tryouts significantly more intense than the fall practices were. This way, girls know what the rest of the season will be like. This also serves as a commitment check for them. My goal is also to see who should be playing what positions on the A-team and if a B-team is possible.

Who makes the decisions on the roster? How do you go about making those decisions?

In the past I have made the decisions on the roster with the captains and co-coaches. This seems to work well. I always make the end decision come from me so the players do not get blamed for any debatable roster decisions.

What is a good college team size?

I would say 20-24. Fewer than that and you run the risk of injuries impacting your play. More than that and people will certainly be upset about playing time.

Given an eager, but raw, rookie; how do you envision them progressing throughout the season? How will you decide who gets how much playing time in pre-Series tournaments?

I would hope that their eagerness translates into practice outside of team practice. We usually give rookies buddies so that they have someone to go throw with a lot outside of practice. I think this is the single best determiner for how many chances they will get in games if they are already athletic and excited. In pre-series tournaments, I like to get everyone lots of chances—I try different subbing strategies (O/D lines, in 2 out 2, cutting buddies, etc.) to see how people thrive and where they work best.

What are your season goals for a rookie? What kind of roles do you try to put them in?

For a rookie, my goals are mostly for them to be great teammates, learn a lot about the sport and to improve their skills. If they improve enough to contribute in games, that is an extra added bonus. I usually put them in mainly defensive roles and as cutters with the goal to transition them to offense and/or handling later on in their careers.

How do you check in with rookies throughout the season? What are major pitfalls that they commonly run into?

I personally check in with rookies about goals early on in the season, right after they make the team. Then I check in with everyone midseason (around sectionals) to make sure everyone is on the same page about their role and their likely p.t. Rookies who have been competitive in other sports often get frustrated when they do not immediately contribute to a team—I often tell rookies that they WILL contribute someday even if that day is not

today.

What factors tend to make rookie years successful or unsuccessful?

How much work the rookie puts in to improving and to making the team fun and successful and how much work returners (particularly rookies' buddies) put into developing the rookie and helping them feel like a part of the team.