Videotaping Tryouts

[Miss April]

I know this is probably the furthest thing from most coaches minds at this time of year, but I was wondering:

Do you video record your tryouts?

Why or why not?

What do you use the video for?  Do you ever post the video?  When do you get rid of it?

Thanks! 

[LCSD1 coach]

I sometimes video tryouts and put footage on my end of the year video to show how far they have come.  Some also video tryouts incase there is a problem parent and the judging is questioned.

[Pauliana]

I've seen tryout videos used at the end of the year, it's hilarious. My daughter's all star squad did this for their 10 year video. Some of the Seniors had been with them the whole ten years. Their first tryouts were on the video. It was great.

[Coach Sadie]

I have videotaped mine before..one year I had so many freshman tryout I was worried I would forget them when making a final decision on my freshman team. My AD warned me although it may seem to be good "evidence" to why you take or do not take a person, anyone who disputes the tryout might use it to their advantage, especially the parents of girls who were borderline since judging can be so subjective.

[coolcoach]

I do not videotape tryouts. I have too many trying out (I had 45 last year) and I use the "station" format. That's too many people, doing different things at different times. We can't possibly videotape everything.

[LCSD1 coach]

45 thats crazy.  I am lucky if I get 13 to try out.  Of course our high school only has around 200 kids total 9-12.

[Stunt Double 4U]

I don't videotape tryouts so my decisions can't be disputed, but I require all new girls (girls who have never cheered for us) to have a coaches' interview with me and the assistant coach.  I do tape that because I often forget what they say or exactly how they were acting or presenting themselves.  It's worth 30 points.  All my returning girls get their previous season's remaining merits multiplied by 2 for that part of their tryout score.

If you're worried about forgetting faces, take a close-up digital photo of each girl with her number on when they come in to the first day of tryout clinics.  Then print them out and bring them with you to the skill tryout so you can remember who they are after they tryout and you're trying to put your team together.

[CoachErin]

I have videotaped try-outs and taken photos previously. I like to have them more as a look back to see how far they have come. Plus I do think it can be used as a tool in a disputed team placement.

[RPCmme]

We only record tryouts that do not occur on the actual tryout day during the actual tryout time.  Our school's tryouts usually conflict with fine arts, whether a play/musical, or music contests for state.

The reason why we record these special tryout scenarios are so our judges (the coaches) can view the performance immediately after viewing the traditional tryouts.  Therefore, there are no excuses.  Judges/coaches didn't sleep on it and decide to be tougher or easier on applicants.  Judges/coaches didn't remind applicants, "Hey, yesterday I saw this applicant do this and it was wrong, so don't do that."  It's as fair as we can make it.

I would discourage recording tryouts.  There always seems to be a parent that's pushy and upset after tryouts.  He/she may want to see the tryout and point specifics out to you as the coach.  It may be more of a headache than a help. 

If you're wanting to record applicants, so you don't forget them ("now who was that--oh, yeah--the pink-bow-girl!"), I would suggest a random recording of an all-applicant review during clinics.  Not zooming in, just panning, so you can identify applicants and recall, "Oh, yes--I remember her!"

Surprised with 45 applicants?  Try 80-90 applicants with 8-10 teacher evaluations each, application, and physicals.  I carry around a mini-filing system during tryouts!