Friday, August 26, 2022

Pitfalls of Picking Players and a Truth Tweetstorm

You're the new coach, charged to explain your process. What's the worst thing that can happen? You're done before you're even started. 

We can't do blind auditions. Abbie Conant auditioned blindly as a trombonist for the Munich Philharmonic. She literally blew people away, but the judges were horrified when it was revealed she was a woman. The orchestra literally spent a decade trying to undo their choice. It wasn't about ability, only gender. 

How do we proceed? 
  • Established players have an edge.
  • Seniority system...older players get first consideration. 
  • Meritocracy. Every job is open. 
Parents of established or older players prefer systems favoring their children. It's not about fairness but DNA. 



When you don't, "you'd be killing yourself." 

Why presume that older  players have paid their dues? Young players sometimes bring more size, athleticism, and skill. 


The Girls' 2-20 growth chart explains why young players can be ready early, because most achieve their height by age 14-15. 

Coach Brian Williams explains, "this is not a union job based on seniority."

Coach Carl Pierson in The Politics of Coaching, conducts tryouts including measures of speed, strength, and jumping ability. "Why didn't my daughter make the team?" Pierson can respond, she finished in the bottom five percent of all measured standards. 

The AD warned the coach that he should conduct more days of tryouts. Why? Because the son of a School Committee member would be trying out. The politics of parenting led to a kangaroo court which the coach survived. 

Parents sometimes exclude younger players from summer programs, trying to avoid both development and exposure. 


"Life finds a way." You can bet Jurassic Park on that. 

Lagniappe. Tweet storm... 
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