Tryouts - How to Handle "Cuts"

Cutting a player from the team is probably the “worst” part of coaching a team, but in reality it is the most essential responsibility. Selecting the best players so your team can be competitive should be a coaches highest priority (as long as the process used is a fair one). Check out this suggested method on how to handle cuts!

The First Step:

Communication –Coaches must ensure that parents and players understand that “cuts” will be made and then explain the process that will be used!  The process coach’s use for evaluating players and how they will be making “cuts” should be outlined in detail.  Good communication helps eliminate any guessing, confusion, and surprises.  Explaining the process right from the start, then ask the parents to sign a separate copy for you.  This will ensure that all parents acknowledge that they have received a copy. The memo should cover basic information that parents and players should be aware of, understand, and expect at tryouts.  There is no easy way to cut a player, especially the younger players.  The very least that a coach can do is to communicate the process of how they will be handling “cuts” right from the start!

 CLICK HERE - SAMPLE TRYOUT MEMO TO PARENTS  

The Second Step:

Player Evaluation – Coaches should have a method to document a player’s abilities and skill level during tryouts.  One way of evaluating players is to use the form below – the “Tryout Info / Scorecard, or simply make up your own evaluation form.  The bottom line is that documenting player information will give you an accurate account of the talent of the players trying out for the team.

Using an evaluation process / form can accomplish many things:

1. Coaches will have information on players abilities (speed, ball handling skills, etc.) that can assist them with decisions on which players make the team, and which players will be cut. 
2. This information can also be used once the team is selected, to determine the fastest players, best shooters, etc… 
3. If a parent does not understand why their child was cut - Documented information will be available to assist the coach with explaining how they came to this decision (if it ever gets to that point). 
4. Shows that the coach used a “fair” system and process for selecting the team. 

Note: The form shown below allows for players to run a drill or skill test 2-3 times so results can be averaged out (allows players to make mistakes, but also allows them to recover).  The ScoreCard Log Form is for coaches that want to total up all the information on one form to see the all the players stats prior to deciding on cuts.

  CLICK HERE - TRYOUT SCORECARD FORM 

   CLICK HERE - TRYOUT SCORECARD LOG FORM

 

The Third Step: 

Selecting the Team / Letting players know if they made the team or not? There are many methods of cutting players, some can be “brutal” some embarrassing, but some can be fair.  I prefer to use the "face to face" method for high school basketball since there is more time for discussion, and it is a different atmosphere.  Another method would be to just post who made the team on the gym door (but there really isn't any feedback being provided to the players with this method). The method that I started using for AAU basketball (after all the others proved to be agonizing) was to use the forms below.  All decisions are marked on the forms and sealed in an envelope with the players name on it.  The envelopes are given to the players at the end of the last tryout. The players are told not to open the envelope until a parent picks them up and they are driving down the road!  

Do not allow the players to open the envelopes inside the gym – this can cause problems!

Made the Team:  CLICK HERE - MADE THE TEAM FORM 

The form below is used for these reasons:

a)       Informs a player that they have made the team.

b)       Informs parents about the fees, and information to bring to the first practice. 

c)       Informs the parents and players of the date / time / location of the first practice. 

d)       Includes how to contact the coach (phone #).

Did Not Make the Team:  CLICK HERE - DID NOT MAKE THE TEAM FORM 

The form below is used for these reasons

a)       Informs player that they have not made the team.

b)       Encourages work on skills checked, answers the question of “why did I get cut.” 

c)       Encourages the player to try again next season.  

This form basically lets a player know that they need to work on certain skills (the reason for being cut) in order for them to make the team next year.

Suggestion on how to handle “weaker” players: 

Many times players will show up at tryouts that do not have the skills to make the team.  When this occurs, coaches should have a conversation with the player’s parent.  Ask the parent what basketball experience their child has (Recreational Leagues, church leagues, etc).  Explain that their child shows potential, but you really need to run some more skills tests, and would like to evaluate the player during the scrimmage (you want to give their child every opportunity to show what they can do).  Explain to the parent what you are looking for so that they can watch for the same things, and let them know if you are concerned about the player getting hurt.  Let the parent know that there is an option that you like to use for beginning players to avoid the “embarrassment” of the “cutting” process (there is a way out). 

One Option: The parent and coach “mutually” agree on the player’s abilities – and offer a way out for the player (without getting cut).  This agreement can occur at anytime – after the coach has finished evaluating the player (mostly after the parent has witnessed whether or not their child is ready for competitive basketball).  The parent now has the option of either allowing their child to continue (knowing that there is a good chance of being cut) or the option of bypassing the “cuts” process and explaining the situation to their child in their own way (damage control). In my previous experiences, the parent usually understood and wanted to avoid having their child upset by getting cut.