Traveling Softball Tryout Criteria for 2009
14U/16U Information for 2009 (Tryouts held Fall 2008)
10U/12U Information for 2009
During the 2-day tryout process, the players will
be evaluated on the following skills.
Players should attend both Saturday tryouts if they are available.
Players unable to attend will need to contact the Director
((Jeff Delisle) before the weekend and explain their situation.
Players will be given a number prior to the tryout session.
They will retain this number for both days of tryouts.
Players will not be permitted to wear traveling
team clothing or any clothing with their names on it.
Players should arrive thirty minutes before their session
starting time in order to register, be assigned a number,
stretch and warm up.
As with all evaluations there is no perfect way to grade
out players when forming a team. Field presence, attitude,
hustle, and teamwork are also important.
Tryout Drills
Fly Balls:
Drill - 7 fly balls will be thrown from a pitching machine.
Players will start in 7 different locations. After catching
the ball, players will throw to a player on base.
Evaluators will be watching for: Proper use of the drop step.
Glove position at the point of the catch. Position of feet
at the time of the catch and also strength and accuracy of
the throw after the catch.
Ground Balls:
Drill – 8 ground balls will be hit to the player by
a coach. Balls will be hit to various locations. After fielding
the ball, players will throw to a player on base.
Evaluators will be watching for: Fielders ready position,
glove position with hands low, knees bent, player being on
the balls of their feet. Lateral movement left and right.
Charging in on a bunt. Strength and accuracy of the throw.
Bunting:
Drill – 4 balls will be pitched to the player. The
player should attempt to bunt the first 2 balls to the left
side without going foul. Then the player should attempt to
bunt the second 2 balls to the right side without going foul.
Evaluators will be watching for: Proper balance when squaring
up, hand position on the bat, bat position when attempting
the bunt. Ability to place bunts to the left, center and right
sides of the infield.
Batting:
Drill – Players will receive 10 pitches to hit from
a pitching machine.
Machine speed:
10U 40mph
12U 45mph
14U 50mph
16U 55mph
Evaluators will be watching for: Proper fundamentals in hitting
such as hand speed, stance, form, eye on the ball. Players
should strive for line drives and hard ground balls and avoid
fly balls.
Running time:
Drill – Players will be given 2 opportunities to run
from home to first. They will stand at home plate, swing a
bat, and then run to the base.
Evaluators will be timing the players from the time they
swing the bat until they reach 1st base. This is a 60 foot
distance.
Sliding:
Drill – Players will be given 2 opportunities to slide.
They will start at a base, run and slide onto the sliding
pad.
Evaluators will be watching the player "stealing"
and sliding into the base at the same distance of 60 feet.
Evaluators will be grading on acceleration, hesitation, fear,
position of hands as they are sliding, lying out flat as they
finish the slide.
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