West Potomac Baseball

Tryout Details–2017

Overview: Tryouts for both the varsity and junior varsity teams will start on Monday, February 20th and are conducted together. BRING WARM CLOTHES. Depending on the number of players trying out and skill levels, cuts may be made as early as the conclusion of tryouts on Wednesday, February 22nd. If you miss a day of tryouts you will hurt your chances of making the team. We expect to complete selection of the teams by Friday, February 24th, unless unusual circumstances arise. All students are eligible for the varsity team. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors are eligible for the junior varsity team. Practice starts on Saturday, February 265thand the first scrimmage is Friday, March 3rd.

  1. Tryout/Participation Requirements:

1.1.The following is required in order to try out:

1.1.1.Physical

1.1.2.Emergency Care Card (ECC)

1.1.3.Concussion Education Briefing (Completed by player and one parent)

Failure to complete and provide this information will preclude you from trying out for the team until it has been completed which may impact your ability to make the teams.

2.2The following must be completed before you are permitted to participate in practices, scrimmages, or games:

2.2.1Weight room form

2.2.4Team Standards form

2.2.5 ImPACT test

2.3Baseball pants, baseball cap (worn correctly) and an appropriate shirt with sleeves are required for all tryouts and practices. If you do not have a pair of baseball pants for tryouts or you need a spare, we will provide them. Cleats (metal or rubber) are recommended when we are outside. Athletic shoes are required when we practice inside or if we are on the turf (Running drills).

2.4All players are expected to wear a protective cup at all times. This is a requirement for all players (not just catchers) after the completion of tryouts and throughout the season.

2.5Other basic equipment needed for tryouts (bats, gloves, batting helmets) will be provided if you do not have your own. We do notrecommend that you purchase equipment specifically for tryouts before you have made the team.

  1. Tryout Plan:

3.1 Monday, 2/20: If we are outside, we will meetat field – Freshmen and Seniors in the 3rdbase dugout, Sophomores and Juniors in the 1st base dugout. If we are inside, we will meet inthe parking lot behind the school (near Exit 6). Tryouts will start promptly at 12:00. The locker room will be open at 11:30 and closed at 11:55. You need to be checked in and know your assigned tryout group before 12:00. Players should come prepared with any equipment they desire to use for tryouts – helmets, bats, gloves, etc. Tryouts on day 1 will consist of 4 evaluation stations for all athletes: 1) batting cage;2) running;3) outfield; and 4) infield. Each athlete will be graded on these skills by one or more of the Varsity and JV coaches. The same coach or coaches will be at the same station throughout the first two days of tryouts whenever possible in order to provide a consistent evaluation and grading of each player. Pitcher and catcher tryouts and bullpens will start at the completion of the basic tryouts on Monday and Tuesday. The pitcher and catcher tryout schedule will be posted on the locker room door and the website by February 15th. If you have any questions, contact me by the end of school on the 17th.

Oncea group has completed the tryout at a station, they will move to the next station, as a group, and continue the tryout evaluation.

In addition to skills, all players will be evaluated on hustle, attitude, enthusiasm, teamwork, preparation, and knowledge of the game at all tryout stations and throughout the duration of the tryouts. These factors will be considered during team selection.

11:30-12:00Coaches and managers set up for tryouts. Player check-in, confirm assigned tryout group and confirm players who will be trying out as pitchers and/or catchers on Monday. Tryout schedule will be posted on the bulletin board in the locker room and dugouts.

12:00-12:10Messages from Coach Sullivan and Coach Nelson

12:10-12:25Jog; dynamic warmup as an entire group, warm up by assigned group (freshmen, sophomores; Junior/Seniors); baserunning, band/arm hangs, ladder/agility.

12:25-12:40:Report to your first station and conduct throwing warm up. Equipment (other than catcher’s equipment) should be taken with you through each station. For the running station you must wear athletic shoes or rubber cleats – no metal cleats.

12:40-12:45:Coaches explain tryout station procedure

12:45-1:05:1st station assignments:

Group 1Hitting (in the cage)

Group 2Running (on the turf practice field) – no metal cleats

Group 3Outfield

Group 4Infield

1:10–1:30:2nd station assignments:

Group 1Running

Group 2Outfield

Group 3Infield

Group 4Hitting

1:35–1:55:3rd station assignments:

Group 1Outfield

Group 2Infield

Group 3Hitting

Group 4Running

2:00–2:20:4th station assignments:

Group 1Infield

Group 2Hitting

Group 3Running

Group 4Outfield

2:30–2:40: Meet at the dugouts to discuss the next day’s plans.

2:40-2:55Assigned pitchers and catchers warm up. All others field maintenance

3:00-4:00:Pitcher and catcher tryouts

4:00-4:15:Field maintenance.

Tuesday, 2/21

3:00 – 3:15:Coaches and managers set up

3:15 – 3:30: Jog; dynamic warmup as an entire group, warm up by assigned group.

freshmen, sophomores; Junior/Seniors); baserunning, bands/arm hangs,

ladder/agility.

3:30 – 3:45Report to your first station and conduct throwing warm up. Equipment (other than catcher’s equipment) should be taken with you through each station.

3:45 – 4:05: 1st station assignments:

Group 1Bat speed tee drill (right field cage)

Group 2Infield

Group 3Outfield

Group 4Situational hitting in the batting cage

4:10 – 4:30:2nd station assignments

Group 1Infield

Group 2Outfield

Group 3Situational hitting in the batting cage

Group 4 Bat speed tee drill (right field cage)

4:35 – 4:55:3rd station assignments

Group 1Outfield

Group 2Situational hitting in the batting cage

Group 3Bat speed tee drill (right field cage)

Group 4 Infield

5:00 – 5:20:4th station assignments

Group 1Situational hitting in the batting cage

Group 2Bat speed tee drill (right field cage)

Group 3Infield

Group 4 Outfield

5:25 – 5:35:Meet in the dugouts to discuss the next day’s activities

5:40 – 5:55:Pitchers and catchers warm up – all others field maintenance

6:00 – 7:00:Pitcher and catcher tryouts

7:00 – 7:15:Field maintenance.

Wednesday, 2/22

3:00 – 3:15:Coaches and managers set up

3:15 – 4:00: Freshmen report tothe 3rd base dugout by 3:15 and warm up. Players are expected to be finished with warm-up, stretching and progressive throwing and ready to continue tryouts by 4:00. Jog/dynamic/cones/ladder/sticks.

4:00 – 5:15:Simulated games and on-field scrimmage (coach pitch).

5:15 – 5:25:Field Maintenance

5:25– 5:35:Meet in the dugout to discuss the next day’s activities.

Everyone leaves together.

4:40 – 5:25:Remaining players report to 1st base dugout by 4:40 and warm up. Players are expected to be finished with warm-up, stretching and progressive throwing and ready to continue tryouts by 5:15.Jog/dynamic/cones/ladder/sticks. All warm up done outside the field.

5:25 - 6:25:Simulated games and on-field scrimmage (coach pitch)

6:25–6:35:Field maintenance

6:35 – 6:45:Meet in the dugout to discuss the next day’s activities. Everyone leaves together

6:45 – 7:15Coaches’ Meeting

Player discussions with Coach Sullivan will start on Wednesday.

Thursday, 2/23:

3:00 – 3:30:Coaches and managers set up

3:15 – 4:00: Freshmen report to the 3rd base dugout by 3:15 and warm up. Players are expected to be finished with warm-up, stretching and progressive throwing and ready to continue tryouts by 4:00. Jog/dynamic/cones/ladder/sticks.

4:00 – 5:15:Simulated games and on-field scrimmage (coach pitch).

5:15 – 5:25:Field Maintenance

5:25– 5:35:Meet in the dugout to discuss the next day’s activities.

Everyone leaves together.

4:40 – 5:15:Remaining players report to 1st base dugout by 4:40 and warm up. Players are expected to be finished with warm-up, stretching and progressive throwing and ready to continue tryouts by 5:15. Jog/dynamic/cones/ladder/sticks. All warm up done outside the field.

5:25 - 6:25:Simulated games and on-field scrimmage (coach pitch)

6:25 – 6:35:Field maintenance

6:35 – 6:45:Meet in the dugout to discuss the next day’s activities. Everyone leaves together

6:45 – 7:15Coaches’ Meeting

Individual player discussions with Coach Sullivan will continue on Thursday.

Friday, 2/24:

3:00 – 3:30:Coaches and managers set up

3:15 – 4:00: Freshmen report to the 3rd base dugout by 3:30 and warm up. Players are expected to be finished with warm-up, stretching and progressive throwing and ready to continue tryouts by 4:00. Jog/dynamic/cones/ladder/sticks.

4:00 – 5:15:Simulated games and on-field scrimmage (coach pitch).

5:15 – 5:25:Field Maintenance

5:25– 5:35:Meet in the dugout to discuss the next day’s activities.

Everyone leaves together.

4:40 – 5:15:Remaining players report to 1st base dugout by 4:20 and warm up. Players are expected to be finished with warm-up, stretching and progressive throwing and ready to continue tryouts by 4:55. Jog/dynamic/cones/ladder/sticks. All warm up done outside the field.

5:25 - 6:25:Simulated games and on-field scrimmage (coach pitch)

6:25 – 6:35:Field maintenance

6:35 – 6:45:Meet in the dugout to discuss the next day’s activities. Everyone leaves together

6:45 – 7:15Coaches’ Meeting

Player discussions with Coach Sullivan will conclude on Friday.

Final team selections will be made by the end of tryouts on Friday if possible. Extended tryouts for select players will be scheduled if determined necessary by the coaching staff.

  1. Notes: Players will be evaluated by the Varsity and JV coaches.

Varsity / Junior Varsity
Jim Sullivan / Rob Kerr
Jason Hescock / Rafael Martinez
Wes Yeary / Chris Giblin
Scott Nelson / Mark Klucharich
Jared Bolden

Initial cuts could be made as early as Wednesday. Final team selectionswill be made at the conclusion of tryouts on Friday if possible. Team selection will be based on the observation of the coaches using graded and timed criteria for each of the elements of the game – hitting, fielding, throwing, running, field presence and game knowledge as well as attitude, hustle, teamwork and enthusiasm – including during warm ups and field maintenance. While objective criteria will be used to establish each player’s individual tryout scores, some subjectivity is inevitable.

All available coaches will participate in tryout evaluations of each player. Team selection will be made by Coach Sullivanin consultation withthe assistant coaches based on sport-specific skills, athletic abilities and attitude. The final responsibility for team selection rests with Coach Sullivan. Players not making the teams will be provided individual feedback on areas needing improvement, in writing if desired.

Assumptions

  1. Approximately 55 players will try out for the WPHS baseball program.
  1. All WPHS baseball coaches and managers will be availableto run tryouts.
  1. Weather permitting;tryouts will be conducted using the outdoor batting cages, bull pens,baseball field and practice areas.
  1. If weather prevents us from using the above facilities we will use any playable area at West Potomac including one or both gymnasiums. We can only use soft baseballs inside the gyms except for pitchers and catchers and there must be padded mats around/behind the catchers. Dimple balls may not be used for soft toss drills indoors.
  1. Any player catching will need a hockey-style catcher’s helmet (to provide ear coverage) and throat guard along with cup, chest protector and shin guards. Team catcher’s gear will be available for use.
  1. The equipment/materials identified in the Equipment and Material Liston page 14will be available.

Player Groupings

  1. Players will be assigned to groups by class. Based on the numbers of students we will have three groups – freshmen, sophomores and Juniors/Seniors. The following table provides a summary of known players trying out.

StationLogistics and Scoring Criteria

  1. Hitting in the batting cage(Monday)

1.1.This station will be run in the indoor or outdoor batting cage.

1.2.Coach Nelson will run the hitting station in the cage outside the center field fence. Either a manager or player will feed the pitching machine. Coach Nelson will evaluate the hits and record the scores. We will use the Hack Attack pitching machine for this tryout station. Pitching machine operator and all hitters must wear helmets.

1.3.Players will hit away on the first day of tryouts. Bunting and situational hitting skills will be evaluated on the second day and during scrimmages on subsequent days of tryouts.

1.4.Each player will take2 rounds of 5 swings each. Scoring will be based on the 5 point scale provided below. Theplayer’s score will be the total score received for all 5 pitches.

  • 5 points – Line drive off the L-screen or back net
  • 4 points – Line drive to the pull or off side
  • 3 points – Hard hit ground or fly ball
  • 2 points – Routine ground or fly ball.
  • 1 point – Weak ground ball or pop-up.
  • 0 points – Miss or foul tip.
  1. Situational Hitting in the batting cage (Tuesday)

2.1 This station will be run in the indoor or outdoor batting cage.

2.2Coach Nelson will run the hitting station in the cage outside the center field fence. Either a manager or player will feed the pitching machine. Coach Nelson will evaluate the hits and record the scores. We will use the Hack Attack pitching machine for this tryout station. Pitching machine operator and all hitters must wear helmets.

2.3Each player will be given 2 rounds of 5 different hitting situations. Players will be tested on their ability to perform in each of these situations. In some situations, such as the lead-off hitter in an inning we will be looking for a base hit. In others like a sacrifice bunt, we will judge the location of the bunt and that the hitter bunted a strike. Scoring will be based on the coach’s evaluation of the player’s ability to properly execute the situation and will be scored 0 or 5 points. The player’s score will be the total score received for all 5 situations.

2.4Situations – all assume a 0-0 count.

  • lead-off batter in the inning – goal: base hit
  • Runners on 1st and 2nd, nobody out- goal: sacrifice bunt
  • Runner on 3rd, less than 2 outs – goal: sac fly or ground ball up the middle
  • Runner on 1st – hit and run – goal: ground ball
  • Runner on 3rd – suicide squeeze bunt – goal: bunt in play on the ground
  1. Outfield (Monday and Tuesday)

3.1.This station preferably will be run outdoors. If run indoors we will use “incredi-balls” to avoid damage to the gyms.

3.2.Coach Kerr will run the outfield station. Coach Kerrwill feed the pitching machine to provide fly balls and outfield grounders. Players will rotate to field throws and act as cutoff from the fielders. Coach Kerr will evaluate the playersandrecord the scores.

3.3.Each player will receive 3 fly balls and 2 outfield grounders (base hits - the first assuming no runners on base and the secondassuming the winning run trying to score from second base (do or die). Fielding efforts will be scored on a 5 point scale based on the coach’s evaluation. Each player’s fielding and throwing scores will be totaled per ball so the grade for each fielding effort will be on a 10 point scale. The player’s score will be the totalscore received for all 5 balls.

  • Fielding Routine Fly Balls
  • Elements on which the score is based
  • Tracked the ball well
  • Got to and set up behind the ball quickly
  • Break down and get under control
  • Caught the ball cleanlyabove throwing shoulder
  • Got the ball in quickly to or through the cut-off man
  • Fielding Line Drives and Base Hits
  • Elements
  • Tracked the ball well
  • Took proper path to ball – cut off ball or got to ball as quickly as possible
  • Used the proper fielding technique for each situation – emphasized safely fielding the ball if no runners on-base (the first situation above); fielding the ball on the run with glove only if the winning run was on base (the second situation); picked the ball up cleanly – used glove if ball was still moving, used bare hand if ball had come to a stop.
  • Was able to make a throw quickly but not wildly and hit the cut-off man.
  • Used crow-hop appropriately
  • Throw
  • Velocity
  • Direction (accuracy)
  • To or through the cutoff man
  1. Infield (Monday and Tuesday)

4.1.If this station is run indoors, it can only be done using “incredi-balls”.

4.2.Coach Hescock will run the infield station. Coach Hescockwill hit ground balls and evaluate the players. One of the managers will record the players’ scores. Players’ throws will be measured using a radar gun and recorded by Coach Hescock. The second highest speed recorded will be used for evaluation purposes.

4.3.Players will field from the shortstop position. Players will throw to first after fielding/catching the ball. An empty ball bucket will be placed at first to put balls in. Three players will start at first base and rotate to the end of the fielding line after catching a throw at first. After making a throw, players will rotate to the end of the line at first. Players will be evaluated at specific positions on days 3-5 during simulated games and scrimmages.

4.4.Each player will receive 5 ground balls and their fielding efforts will be scored using the5-point fielding and throwing scales provided below. One scale is for fielding grounders and one scale is for throws. Each player’s fielding and throwing scores will be totaled per ball so the grade for each fielding effort will be on a 10 point scale. The player’s score will be the total score received for all 5 balls.