Wildkit Baseball Player Evaluation
Although coaches continually evaluate player performance and communicate with players about skills, strengths, and areas that need improvement, there are specific time frames wherein the process is formalized. In general, these time frames include pre-spring season (after tryouts), post-spring season, and post-summer season. As part of these evaluations coaches meet with each player individually to review performance and discuss the player’s development in the program, as well as ongoing academic standing -- always an important consideration. Below you will find a brief description of how coaches evaluate players at each stage of their Wildkit baseball career. These evaluations determine who is invited to be a part of the program, which team players are assigned to, which positions they play, and where they fit into our program-wide depth chart. While the process and the metrics used may seem complex, our goal is simple. We strive to provide all of our student-athletes many opportunities to improve their baseball skills; provide as much coaching and instruction as possible; develop leadership, collaborative skills, and other life skills that will benefit our student-athletes throughout their lives -- well beyond their baseball careers; AND build a winning tradition for Wildkit Baseball.
Pre-season evaluation
Those students intending to try out for the baseball team who are not playing a fall or winter sport are expected to participate in the strength & conditioning program. This after-school (and sometimes pre-school) program is led by our strength coach Mark Feldner and upperclassmen and includes sport-specific workouts as well as opportunities to work on baseball skills. Coaches will gain information about player work ethic, self discipline, leadership, and commitment as well as metrics on increased strength and speed.
Baseball Tryouts
The multi-day tryout held in the first week of March is open to all students and is an opportunity for each player to showcase individual skills. Objective measurements are gathered throughout the tryout process. Additional subjective evaluations are made by observation of skill demonstrations that include, but are not limited to, batting, fielding, throwing and overall baseball IQ. The tryout evaluation form is below for your viewing.
Varsity/JV Player Evaluation Form
Name____________________________ Level____ #_____ Throwing- R /L Hitting- R/L Spr +/- Summer +/-
Winter Workout +/- ________ Position 1_______2________3________ Score_________/105
|
Knowledge |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
Hustle |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
|
Focus |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
Coachable |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
|
Throwing |
*Radar Gun |
Score |
|
*Arm Strength |
1_______ 2_______ 3_______ |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Accuracy |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
|
Arm Mechanics |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Hitting |
*Radar Gun |
Score |
|
*Bat Speed |
1_______ 2_______ 3_______ |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Contact |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
|
Batting Mechanics |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Fielding |
Radar Gun |
Score |
|
Catching/Hands |
n/a
|
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Throwing Accuracy |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
|
Fielding Mechanics |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Running |
Time |
Score |
|
Home to 1st. |
1- 2- |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Home to 2nd. |
1- 2- |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Approach |
Score |
Score |
|
Two Strike Approach |
N/A |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Bunting Technique |
R1- R 2- |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Pitching |
Radar Gun |
|
Throwing off mound |
1- 2- 3- |
|
Catching |
Time |
|
Home to second |
1- 2- 3- |
Notes-
Freshemn Player Evaluation Form
Name____________________________ Level __F_ #____ Throwing- R /L Hitting- R/L Winter Workout %_____
Position 1_______2________3________ Score_________/70 Attendance_____ Safety Concern Y/N
|
Throwing |
*Radar Gun |
Score |
|
*Arm Strength |
1_______ 2_______ 3_______ |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Accuracy |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
|
Arm Mechanics |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Hitting |
*Radar Gun |
Score |
|
*Bat Speed |
1_______ 2_______ 3_______ |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Contact |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
|
Batting Mechanics |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Fielding |
Radar Gun |
Score |
|
Catching/Hands |
n/a
|
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Accuracy |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
|
Fielding Mechanics |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Running |
Time |
Score |
|
Home to 1st |
1- 2- |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Home to 2nd |
1- 2- |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Bunting |
Score |
Score |
|
Technique |
N/A |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Bunting Test |
R1- R 2- |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
Pitching |
Radar Gun |
|
Throwing off mound |
1- 2- 3- |
|
Catching |
Time |
|
Home to second |
1- 2- 3- |
Notes-
|
|
Cuts and Team Assignments
Freshmen: Our policy is to keep as many freshmen as possible. In most years, the only players who are cut from the program are those deemed to be at high risk of injury due to their inability to adequately protect themselves from thrown or batted balls. In years when the number of players trying out exceeds program capacity, additional cuts must be made. Initial team assignments are made following the opening weeks of practice and are subject to change throughout the season (see the “Rosters” and “Level Structure” tabs on the web site).
Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors: Coaches maintain a dynamic Depth Chart that ranks every player in the program at their positions. Players may be listed at multiple positions. As players ascend through the program, their positions on the Depth Chart become increasingly important. Coaches have an ever-growing body of data and information upon which to base Depth Chart positioning. Sophomores must be considered able to earn playing time and make contributions at either the Soph-Frosh or JV level. Juniors must be similarly able to compete at the Varsity or JV level, and Seniors at the Varsity level. Players not meeting these standards will be released from the program.
Initial team assignments are made following the opening weeks of practice and are subject to change throughout the season. Click "Rosters" and "Level Structure" for more detailed information.
Post Tryout Evaluation Meeting
After tryouts are complete coaches will meet with players to discuss their performance during the tryout process. Coaches will discuss the following at this meeting-
-Player Evaluation Form
-Cuts
-Level Placement
-Spring Developmental Gameplan
Post-Spring Season Evaluation
At the end of the spring season, Freshmen, sophomores and juniors will be evaluated in all major categories, relying on statistics accumulated throughout the season as well as coaches’ observations. Statistics used in the evaluation include but are not limited to [list stats here]. Coaches observations include but are not limited to such items as bat speed and batting mechanics, amd batting contact; throwing strength, accuracy, and mechanics; baserunning; and overall speed and agility. Coaches will also evaluate intangible attributes such as leadership, attitude, effort, grit, and the degree to which the player is a good teammate. This evaluation, together with coaches’ observations during a two day workout in early June are the basis for team assignments within the Naturals summer baseball program.
Post-Summer Season Evaluation
In addition to a statistical and subjective review of each player’s performance during the Naturals summer season (basically the same as described for the post-spring evaluation, above) This evaluation provides an opportunity for broad discussion between coaches and players. Topics may include Depth Chart positioning going into the off-season, suggestions for more specialized focus on a specific position, things to work on in the off-season, and just about anything else on the minds of players and coaches. Coming at the end of an intense nine month period that started with the strength & conditioning program the previous November, this interview is a time for player reflection and self-evaluation before some much needed rest. This evaluation meeting genaerally takes place in the fall.
