High school softball tryouts vary in scope and intensity from program to program. Some coaches may scout players at their select team games prior to the tryouts or evaluate them at softball camps. Others rely more heavily on the tryout process to make roster selections. Players trying out for the first time should learn as much as possible about the program, the coaches and the school's talent pool. Generally, though, position players can expect to be tested for speed, hitting mechanics, bunting ability, fielding mechanics, arm strength and overall athletic ability. Pitchers are specialists who often face their own set of criteria.
Hitting Mechanics
High school coaches typically grade players on their full-body swing mechanics, bat speed, contact and power. Players may hit against a pitching machine and against live pitching in batting practice and scrimmages. They may also work with coaches in a soft-toss drill.
Bunting And Slap-Hitting
Some coaches place great emphasis on "small ball" and will weigh bunting skills heavily. Some coaches may also look for accomplished slap-hitters. Osbourn Park coaches graded players on bunt placement and technique as well as the ability to slap-hit or bunt for a hit.
Infield Defense
Tryouts commonly include extensive infield drills. Each field position presents unique athletic demands, but some skills are universal with all infielders. Osbourn Park coaches graded players on their mechanics of fielding ground balls and pop-ups, lateral quickness, ball transfer and arm strength and accuracy. Scrimmages test each player's ability to field in game situations.
Outfield Defense
Tryouts usually include outfield drills. Coaches test fielding mechanics and range by hitting fly balls, pop-ups, line drives and ground balls at players. Coaches will gauge speed and lateral agility in addition to the players' ability to read balls off the bat. They will usually test arm strength and accuracy too. Scrimmage test outfielders' ability to react to game situation and communicate with teammates.
Speed
Most softball coaches covet speed, so players should expect to be timed running from home plate to first base. Some coaches will time players on an entire lap around the bases as well.
Pitching
Many high school coaches already have some knowledge of their incoming pitchers, due to the critical nature of the position. Still, coaches typically use the tryouts to grade pitchers according to fastball velocity, quality of breaking pitches, quality of change-up and general pitch command. Pitchers should expect to throw in scrimmage settings in addition to their throwing on the side.
Catching
Coaches usually test catchers on their ability to receive pitches, block pitches in the dirt, catch throws to the plate and field pop-ups and bunts. They often test catchers for arm strength, throwing accuracy and quickness of their exchange and release. One common yardstick is how many seconds it takes a catcher to get the ball to second base from behind the plate.
Preparing For Tryouts
In states that play high school softball in the fall, players may prepare by playing "select" softball. Most of the major sanctioning bodies hold their national tournaments before school tryouts start in August. But in states that play softball in the spring, such as Illinois, players may use clinics and group training sessions to prepare. In the Chicago area, White Sox Training offered a four-week program featuring one-hour offensive and one-hour defensive sessions. It concludes with a mock tryout session to prepare players for the coaching scrutiny to come.
Interacting With Coaches
Through tryout interaction, coaches gain an idea of which players take instruction better than others. This can be a tiebreaker in team selection. "All coaches agree that you have to factor in other variables to predict athletic success," veteran softball coach Marc Degenais said. "One such variable is personality which includes coachability and character."
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