“Freshman, on the line.” The underclassmen are being put to work, tested on their abilities and showing their coach what they can do. They are trying to make the roster, and to do so they are giving all they have, with sweat dripping down their faces and their hustle on full display.
And the upperclassmen? Huddled in a corner, all reclining and on their phones, not a care in the world about their potential future teammates giving all they’ve got. They know they don’t need to try out; after all, they did make the roster last year, so their spot is automatic. For all we know, these returners are just about ready to take a two-hour nap for the duration of tryouts.
Is this really what tryouts should be like? Tryouts are the beginning of the season, which makes it part of the season. If you skip tryouts, you’re essentially skipping practice.
Even if coaches come into the season with a general idea of who they want to have on the team, it still benefits them to have a tryout period. Coaches might not know everyone who’s trying out in advance, as there’s always new people. Aside from skill, coaches are often looking for players who hustle, fight for more tryout reps, or give more effort than most. A tryout period gives coaches an opportunity to see if there are any of those athletes in the mix. Throw away a tryout and coaches are lost of said opportunity.
Upperclassmen need to be the role models for everyone else. Even if you’re a senior captain or a star player and your roster spot is almost a guarantee, you still need to be there to support your teammates.
As a track and cross country athlete myself, I see the benefits of good captaining. Last year when I joined the track team, I came in with little to no running experience. But I had teammates who were there to guide me through it, always having my back during practices and runs. Those teammates didn’t just make me better, they helped me to enjoy running, which is why I wanted to return this year.
Teammates are supposed to support each other and motivate each other as my teammates have done for me. Sports are designed to push you to your limit, bringing out the very best in everyone. To do that, people need their teammates to push them and encourage them. And if you’re a captain, that includes leading by example. Skipping tryouts just because you are already going to make the team is not considered leading by example.
High school athletics should be all about inclusion and equity. While this can’t always be achieved due to teams only having a fixed roster size, teams should be doing everything in their power to provide an inclusive environment for as many students as possible.
While in some cases tryouts could potentially be “rigged” if coaches know who they want, tryouts are absolutely necessary for coaches to have a fair evaluation of all players trying out and not just the players they’re familiar with.
Don’t count the underdogs out. They might have a bigger bark than you’d think.
