Snow.....Is that the white stuff?

This is a good question. Our try-outs are indoor which makes it even more difficult to tell. My advantage is that I work at the local Boys and Girls Club as well as coach soccer and basketball, so I at least know the kids attitude and athleticism.

But at the try-outs there are a few things I look for. Non-baseball stuff: Won't pick a kid who has jeans on, wears a watch, or has his ball cap on backwards (sin of all sins). Jeans and watch have no place at try-outs, if a kid is wearing them he is not a ball player. I also watch how the kids act in line, are they talking while being talked to? Are they screwing around? If so I do not want them.

Also, I watch at how they act when they miss a ball or make a bad throw. I do not want the kid that pouts or throws a fit. I want the kid who hustles to get the ball and then hustles back to field the next ball. One player that I coached when he was 8 & 9 did something odd when it was time to try out as a ten year old. When fielding pop-flies in try-outs he called "I got it". Sure it got a few chuckles, but everybody there knew he was a ball player and certainly rememberred his name.

As far as skills go I look for the little things. Does the fielder stay low through the ball or does he stand himself up? Does he roll his glove up into his chest or are his hand out in front? Does he have soft hands? Mechanics aside, how is his arm strength? Contact aside, is the batter stepping in or bailing out? Does he have a slow bat or is his bat speed good? (BTW I will have a batter switch bats if I feel the bat he is using is too big).

These are just a few things. My philosophy is I have enough confidence in my coaching ability to take a player with potential and that wants to learn, and make him into a good ball player.