Grant Baseball Tryout Information- PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

How do I register?

Players must be cleared by the GHS Athletic Office prior to being allowed to try out. Players must have an updated physical on file every two years. Check with the GHS athletic office for all inquiries. Players must register through FamilyID. Baseball registration info can be found here: GRANT ATHLETICS WEBPAGE

Schedule:

Tryouts will be held March 2nd-4th. Teams will be announced in the evening on March 4th.

Players should bring all necessary gear; Hat, Glove, Bat, Helmet, Turf Shoes, Clothing for WET, COLD and RAINY conditions. If a player doesn’t have gear, please communicate with the coach to develop a plan for full participation a week prior to tryouts. Players should ALWAYS be prepared for outdoor and indoor workouts. Bring warm clothes and be prepared to go outside in wet and cold weather.

The tryout schedule is fluid and could change on a daily basis due to weather and facilities access due to basketball activities. Please be flexible and know that we will do all we can to create a solid plan. If it rains, we plan to continue on with baseball activities outside. Bring clothing that will keep you dry and warm in the rain! There may be decisions made on tryout times and locations in advance the night before (indoor vs. outdoor and early am vs. late). Schedule information will be communicated via the program Remind app and through email list.

Evaluation Process:

Each player is evaluated throughout the 3 day event by the entire coaching staff on 5 different skill sets. The coaches rate each player on these different skill sets to help aid in making the decision on team placements.

These categories include speed, hitting, throwing, defense and attitude.

Speed

• 90 Foot Dash (home to first time)

• 60 Yard Dash

• 80 Foot Dash (steal time)

Hitting

• Hitting for Contact (We prioritize solid, consistent contact first, followed by power)

• Hitting for Power

Throwing

• Throwing, Accuracy and Strength

• We are looking for high quality arm action.

Defense

• Catch Play

• Fielding: Infield

• Fielding: Outfield

• Pitching

• Catching

Attitude

We will watch each player 's demeanor and hustle carefully. We are looking for:

• Team First Attitude

• Engagement/Attentiveness

• Positive Body Language

• School Attendance patterns that show players are responsible and committed.

Understanding Roles:

Conversations about players' projected roles, and acceptance or rejection of those projected roles, may be a determining factor in a player being part of the program or not. All players need to fully embrace their projected role to be a part of the program. Players can still work to change their current role to meet their personal goals.

Roles- Players who make the team should not expect an equal amount of playing time.

All players should be prepared to answer the question “Will you accept the projected role of being on the team, but not playing much in the games? Would you embrace this role and accept the opportunity to improve your skill set in practice?”

Roster Size and Cuts:

Unfortunately, we are unable to maintain the large rosters that some other sports can handle. As such, our program will usually carry between around 48-52 players on 3 teams. In some extremely rare cases, we may carry additional players as practice players only. Our coaches will make every effort to ensure a fair tryout for all players. Bar none, the hardest part about being a coach is telling a player that they will not be able to be part of the team this year. Players will have the opportunity to meet to discuss specifics of the decision if they choose.

Does everyone make the team?

No. We have a limited number of uniforms, equipment, and facility time.

Do returning seniors automatically make the team?

No. While we’d love to keep everyone who comes to tryouts, it’s just not feasible. With seniors only eligible to play on the varsity team, spots are extremely limited. As hard, as difficult, and as tough as it is, we may end up having seniors who do not make the team each spring. Baseball, like life, is competitive, and our job as coaches is to find the right fit for each player in our program. This may mean upperclassman do not make the team.

What if my child does not make the team?

Please understand that being cut from a sports team can be a difficult and emotional experience for a student-athlete. However, it does not define who they are as a person, nor does it determine their future happiness or success. For many athletes, this moment simply becomes part of a larger story, one that helps shape their character, perspective, and direction in ways that often prove meaningful later in life. We recognize that students may feel disappointed about not being selected or not being placed on a particular team, and those feelings are valid and understood.

Parents, please remember that your child’s identity is far greater than baseball or athletics. Their worth is not defined by the team they make, and as parents and adults, our own identities are not tied to our child’s athletic career.

If your child is not selected to be part of our program, we understand that this can be a disappointing and emotional experience. We are fortunate to have a highly competitive program, and not making our team does not mean your child lacks the ability to play high school baseball. Rather, it reflects the limited roster space available for the current spring season.

In these cases, we will notify the athletic department. Any fees paid to the GHS athletic department may be refunded or applied toward another sport, such as Track and Field.

Students who are not selected for baseball are strongly encouraged to consider Track and Field, which is a no-cut sport. In past seasons, many athletes who were cut from baseball and went on to participate in track discovered a new passion and achieved great success in their events.