Tryouts. It’s that time of year. It’s stressful on Players, Parents, Coaches, Club directors, and even innocent bystanders. Clubs are forced to make difficult decisions, what will be best for the team, club, player athletes, coaches etc. Players & families are making these same difficult decisions, what team? Costs? Commitment? Major Travel vs less travel? Play with friends vs play with people of your skill? Play for that coach you’re not sure of vs. play with tried and true? Stay or switch clubs? In a lot of ways, it’s simply AWFUL!!
On the other hand, it’s exciting. On our end, it’s exciting to see old faces and new ones. To see the progress made over this summer or coming back from another club. It’s exciting to see the potential of the teams that could “be” if everyone you offer commits. To see old players returning because they like what you’ve provided or former players come back because they tried another club and came back around. It’s also a VERY emotional time. Players choose you or don’t. Coaches may not have an offer right away or an offer never comes, the waiting can be brutal!! Returning players don’t come back or Coaches have made their last contact to players who don’t return calls or texts. Really, WE (everyone involved) are all in a terrible spot feeling like “What did I do wrong? What’s wrong with me? ” It’s emotional when players get multiple offers or opportunities and are torn to decide knowing they have to live with those consequences for the next 8 months or longer.
Here’s what you need to know, once you play for me…
You’ll always be MY player. I’ll always be your fan. I will want you to do the best, have the most success, tap into your potential, and become the BEST volleyball player you can be. Either with me, or my club, and my team or BEYOND. I will see you on the court (my court, or another coach’s club court or video) I will be watching you play thinking, “Yes they finally got it” or “Girl, get that elbow up and snap!” I will watch your stats in the paper, silently routing for you. I will text you (if you still play for me) or I will fight off the urge to text you (if you don’t still play for me) to congratulate you on your success, ask you how it’s going, ask you how your hip, knee, ankle, arm, and shoulder feels. I’ll still have your mom’s number in my phone. It will say “Amy, Kristen’s Mom” or “Kailey – u14 vb” long after you are a U14. I will ALWAYS be a part of your Volleyball Journey, and YOU will always be a part of mine. No doubt we both will have learned things from each other, good or bad. We both will have had emotions and feelings, successes and failures. Whether things end well or not, I want what is best for you and your family in this sport,
Once you play for me (or my club)…you will always matter to me.
If you don’t come back to my club/team or I don’t have a spot for you because it’s no longer a good fit, or too many strong athletes come out and the team is more competitive: MY HEART IS BROKEN. 🙁 I’m sad for a while but not mad. And it’s not the Forever Broken, it’s just a crack. Time heals this crack but it will always sting a bit. Knowing you made the decision that you felt was right for you, or that I had to make a tough decision that I thought was not right for you, is what eases the pain. When I see you thriving on your new team smiling and laughing or watch your new coach explain something to you (probably the same thing I tried to explain) but you understood it better from them, that also makes it sit a little easier.
And if you make your way back around to my club/team/tryout know that I will ALWAYS accept and take a strong athlete. I don’t hold grudges, I’m not bitter. If you paid your dues, worked hard, improved, and had a good attitude, I will ALWAYS consider you for my team. I always make my decisions one season at a time.
With that being said, I wish you ALL the best during this tryout time and your future volleyball season. I’d love to see you at our tryouts, this year or next. It shows great maturity and passion to do this difficult thing, putting yourself out there to be chosen or not. Know that coaches struggle with this time too and that usually it all works out in the end. And if it doesn’t there is always next year. This is just a part of your life, not your whole life. Register for our tryouts online at: www.yakimaelite.com/tryouts
See you on the court!!
Coach Nicole