"The team was picked before tryouts"

[O-townClown]

Goldy, thanks for your comments. You describe what we see for most of our programs here. They're called tryouts, but often it is really just registration. Also, we have program choice here. Showing up at a tryout is an indication of interest.

[Ugottobekiddingme]

It's an interesting thought Otown.

I think the problem comes when the tryout is thought of to be equal for everyone, we all know deep down it's not but are told they are. Kids and parents get their hopes up that this may be the year yet the teams remain pretty much unchanged from year to year which is funny because kids grow and develop at different rates.

Some try outs are borderline fraud because they charge a tryout fee even though the reality is the kids are picked beforehand and many don't even have to try out. My youth association charges for A tryouts, then again for B try outs, the A team is picked before try outs, the B teams aren't. Our high school picked it's team last spring, ran a it's summer camp at $350 per session for 2 sessions then cut nearly all the upperclassmen for sophomores.

I don't really have a problem with teams picked prior to tryouts, I wish the organizations would be honest up front about the tryout process, admitting how many spots are really open would help. Saying these 14 kids are on the team, then don't even have them there because they're not trying out, then everyone knows the kids on the ice are trying out for the remaining 4 spots would help.

Try outs aren't open and their not anonymous at the highest levels no matter what they tell you, I just wish they were honest up front about it.

Well boys, that might have a direct effect on association enrollment. Why the question towards a politically charged subject at the end of the year?...interesting.